Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-05
From the Termjat Westinghouse.
IMPRESSED SEAMEN.

One orthe most veXatious, at least, II not
" distressing modes Of exertins power a
sainst right" on the part of the beliiser-
ents. is by the impressment Of orr seSne'''
and compelling them to enter into foreign
service. This the British have done
and. perhaps, in some instances, stu con
tinue to do IL. No wonder then. tha' II
creates a glow of honest indignation a.
sainst those who practise it. But are we
not deceived ON this subject Are 'he
eases as numerous, and the circumstances
as aggrarated as many of our leading poll
tieians would have Us believe We have
taken some pains to procure the follow
ing important. and we bslleve correct
statement Of facts. respecting the SUBJECT.
II is an extract of letter from respect
able correspondent at Washington. Ii our
readers will peruse it attentiyely' they
will probably find, that they have iaooreu
under some erroneous impressions, Win
regard to this fruitful and just topic OF
complaint against the British. we WISH
rot to pallidte their conduct. but to place
it in its true light. 1t is said, that we
ought to ''gi,e even the DEVIL has due'"
British Imprsssments Of american Seamen.
{. In order to understand the true ma
ture of the question of impressments' IT
will be necessary to state the claims oil
the several governments, with respect TO
their rights upon this subject. The Bri-
fish government claims as beiligerent
right, the visiting Of the merchant vessels
Of neutrals, for the purpose OF searching
for their enemies in actual service. for
enemy's property, and for goods contra
band OF war. So far the right is not
denied them by the American Government
as neutral nation-but the beliiSerent
claims also the right of taking from the
vessels of neutrals its own subjects. not
the citizens OF the Y. otaru'. III INC eA-
a,a:--~vf ttis claim. it is said. that such
is the similarity. of language, OF manners,
and of habits, Of the seamen OF the two
nations, that it is impossible, in all cases to
discriminate between them the conse
uuence is that with the British. some Of
our own seamen are impressed. 1t is also
said that discrimination is rendered
more difficult, on account of the defect of
our laws, regulating the certificates of eli
tizenship, commonly called projections !:
and on account Of the frauds practised I'M
der them by foreign seamen who have no
right to these projections. Our Govern
ment claim the privilege Of the American
flag, as protection of al the seamen sail
ing under it, whether they are American
citizens, or not. 1t is not my intention to
make any observations upon the justice or
Injustice of these several claims but
merely to state them.
By the act Of Congress. approved May
aS. 1895, the collector Of every district
shall keep books, i'll which, at the request
OF any seamen, being citizen OF the u
nited States, ard producing proof OF his eli
tizensl:p, he shall enter the name OF such
seaman, and deliver to him certificate OF
the form prescribed by the act, describing
the said seaman, as particularly as may
be, and certifying, that he is a citizen OF
the United States, and shall send Il list OF
the seamen so registered, to the Secretary
Of State, once every three months. And
in ease Of the impressment, or detention,
of any seaman, by any foreign power, the
master ofeyeryvessel of the nited States,
before he is admitted to an entry, shall
make oath thereto, and make a protest
thereof, and Shall immediately transmit
the same to the Secretary Of State"
1t is we'll known that much fraud has
been praetised by foreigners in obtaining
certificates Of citizenship, under the law
Of the, limited States. by false S7ceapine
for each other. by purchase. and by forge
ri and in all these eases, as well as those
of real citizens, the persons impressed,
claim to be, by cur government, relieved.
THE name Of every seaman impressed or
detained, is transmitted to the Office of the
Secretary Of State whether his protec-
tien is genuine or not. 1t is thence in
,>ible to discriminate between the real
pretended citizen, without other proof
these certificates.
> | is calculated, that IN times of our