Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-05-20

WArs rs tnlS, SIT, COfIcGt SNate W0nt
either Of the proclamation, or of the
question it involves in which our right is
concerned! The king Of England's
right to the service of his subjects in time
OF war is nothing to US. The question
is, whether he has right to seize them
forcibly on board Of our vessels while
under contract of service of~our citi-
gems, within our jurisdiction upon the
high seas ! Aud whether he has right
expressly to command his naval officers
so to seize them-Es this an acknow-
lodged principle' certainly not. Why
then is - proclamation described as
founded BON uncon.es,ed prineiple?. and
Why is the command, so justly offensive
to US. and so mischisvous, as it might
then have been made in execution, Alto
grther omitted!
But it is not the taking Of British sub
lects from our vessels, it is the taking
under color Of that pretence our own, ma
tive American citizens, which consti-
tutes the most CALLING aggravation of this
merciless practice. Yet even this, we
are tollIs but a pretence-for three rea-
sons.
l. Because the number Of citizens
thus taken is small
2. Because it arises only from the
impossibility Of distinguishing English.
men from Americans.
3. Because, such impressed Ameri-
CT" citizens are delivered up, on duly
authenticated proof.
1. Small and great in point Of num-
Der are relative terms. To suppose that
the native Americans for m a small pro.
portion Of the whole number impressed
is n mistake-The reverse is the fact.
Examine the official returns from the de.
partment OF state. They give the
names Of between four and FIVE thousand
men impressed since the commencement
of the present war.-Of which number
not one fifth part were British subiects-
The number of naturalized Americans
could not amount to one tenth-I hazard
little in saying that more than three
fourths were native Americans. If it
be said that some Of these men, though
Appearing on the face Of the returns A.
mericsn citizens, were really British
subjects, and had fraudulently procured
their projections Irepiy that this num-
Der must be far exceeded BY the eases of
citizens impressed, whish never reach
the department Of state. The American
consul in London estimates the number
Of impressnents during the war at near.
~ three times the amount of the names
returned. fine nature ofthe offence be
considered IN rs true coiers, to a peoble
having AUST sense Of personal liberty
and security, 1t " IN eoevy single in
stance, ia moEgni'y not inferior to that
q murder. The very same act, zvhen
committed by the recruiting officer Of one
nation 1o'thin the territories Of another,
IS By the universal Latv and usage of ma.
lions punished with death. Suppose the
crime had IN every instance, as By its
conse9aences it has been in many, deAbe.
rate marde'. Would it nuswer or silence
the ocice o four complaints to be soathot
the nn'qbeT IU0s small
2. The impossibility ofdistinguishing
English from American seamen is NOT
the only. nor even the most frequent oc.
easion ofimPressment. Look again into
the returns from the departing ut of state
you will see that the officers take our
men, without pretending to enquire
where they were born; sonnet times mere
ly to shew their luminosity, or their con-
tempt for our country sometimes from
the wantonness of power. When they
manifest the most tender regard for the
neutral rights Of America, they Lament,
that they want the men. They regret
the necessity, but they must have their
complement. When we complain of
these enormities, we are answered tia,
the acts OF such officers were uaauthori.
sed; that the commanders of men Of war
are an unruly set of men, for whose VIC.
lence, their own government cannot al.
waVs he answtkAhle tha& a..,.: n,