The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-07-18

Vic PSttt vi tuiS DiItQ.. 1t MIN
selftook his station on the binnacle-" drcst
as ne was. in a little brief authority" his
countenance and mien bespoke all the haugh-
ty and sapercilious airs of the Oriental Des-
pot on his throne His Janissaries were
placed to his right and left, with pistols and
Tcutlasses to execute his proud behests,-
The moment his eye light upon my person,
saw that my fate was sealed. / was the
halest and healthiest man of our crew. Care
had not yet assailed my constitution, nor had
the lash of slavery yet sounded in my ears.
My cheek was then suffused with the blush
Of health, and the fire of an adventurous spirit
famed in my eyes. 1t soon became appa-
rent, thatI was too precious a treasure to be
readily relinquished. from any nice pune
tito of principle or decorum.
Thefirst words which he uttered, were Of
an alarming import. He addressed himself
to me, "You know my business. am the
head OF a press gang-commissioned to beat
up recruits for his majesty's service. You
must 60 along with me."-My Indignation
was too big for expression--at length with an
uncontrollable impetuosity, poured forth'tbe
sentiments of my heart by what right
do you claim it Where is your commission
to take me Where are the articles which
/ have signed. and bound myself to your SER
vice! Know you not that ain the citizen of a
country free, sovereign and independent as
your own! What shadow of allegiance do
owe you or your; masters? My own
government has no right to press me into its
service. 1t is one of tine privileges of my
birth-right TO use my limbs. and to seek my
fortune at my own discretion: If my govern
ment wants searheh TO man their ships, what
right have they to use compulsion Let them
give wages sufficiently high to draw us into
the serrice-even they dare not lay us under
the requisition OF such pests as'yourselves.
Whence then do you derive the right to exer-
else power over my person, which my own
country dares not usurp l-Besides, even
admitting that the pretensions which i claim
to the birth right of an; American citiac@,
are covered in doubt, is this the way I'M which
| you dare'to rebut themf Is it in this sum
mary form of trial. that you are about to d.
vest me OF the name of an American citizen?
| Is 1t for you to pronouncemy DOOM pro-
test against your jurisdiction. What right
have you To call me before this miserable
tribunal! You call yourself the Judge pa
lramount-the absolute arbiterof my liberty.
the most precious boon which belongs to me
\ under heaveh-and these smiling minions.
torsooth. are to be- the constables of this re-
verend court, the flaming ministers of YOUR
wrath and Jastice.' / abjurc the decisions
| Oh such court. What if were the most
common piece of goods ON board OF a hulk,
Dale OF canvass or a barrel of pork, YOU
would not dare To- proceed in this way against
me. You would not dare to try me--nor
pronounce upon the neutrality of the cargo
lit would be more than your commission
would be worth to assume the power to con-
dsmn me. No! before you would dare to
appropriate even a piece of goods to your
service, you would be compelled at least to
subject il to the mock solernnities of a repu-
/ f,f,Ec - r
your admiralty courts-and let one of its
Constituent authorities be called In to seal its
tate and am then to be considered of less
accotntt hana piece of goods! Ismy ,liber-
~ ct less value in the code of eternal
Justice, than barrel of pork Infamylirht
/ upon such want Of disccrnmcnt-Aand shame
upon the wilflil bIindnessof your government.
which suffers die horrible aggressions of such
petty tyrants as yourself, to escape with i'm
purity i''' =. - -.
What flashes Of resentment shot from the
eyes OF this infuriatedinquisitor, whilst ad {.
! dressed him thus: '.Avast my lad cried
he; no more sof your DID palaver. If
yon scere rebellions Yankee, as Won pretend
to be, would care -ho more for you and your
cursed country,'d'ye see, than this old Quid
ouch rascals as you oght to be hung up at
the yard arm: Such rebels as those chaps
are, deserve no better from his maiestv's
mercy. -Howsomevef, l don't mind one
word OF your cursed lingo You amt. even
haf so good AZ ions of those. chaps. l take
you, my lad, to be as arrant deserter from
ms maJestyS government, as ever laid nv
eyes upon. Ipu area fascaly Irishman''-
interrupted this wild torrent of abuse. I
iaid beforeEIm my fir0tecfion, the authenti-
Gated pledge of my American citizenship.
/ lmight as well have addressed the pinnacle
on which he reposed. He did not hesitate to
say that my protection was forged---or that
had got it from a brother tar, the descripti-
on of whose person had been some what SINH
lar to.mine own, perhaps for can of flip-or
Z; that had procured it through some niposi
ton on the Collector He refused to give the
least authenticity or respect to the Passport
OF my government. He tore it into pieces.
and gave it to- the winds.
Iappealed to my comrades, the living and
speaking monuments OF my truth. One of
them mad known me IN my cradle at the beau
THU village OF Poughkeepsie; another had
known me at the school, where had acQuir-
J edthe earliest elements of my education the
captain himselfhad been my companion to the
oiice OF the Collector, who had granted my
/ protection. But, 10 NV Judge was pleased
to say, that he would not believe title of all
this l'ngo-that we were base association of
liars and thieves, bound together by mutual
interests and pledged to defend each others
lies.-My cheek burned with Indignation. A
deep sigh rended my heart, as my eye hap
pened to light upon the flag of the U. States,
which was then waving over my head.
| Penetrated as my whole soul was with
resentment at such brutality and insult, /