The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-12-24


sacturcrs, TO emlgrate 10 her shores in deh-
ancc Of our laws. Really, sir, can see no
lust cause Of complaint against her because
our men desert 10 her ships. IL IS Tor us TO
keep our men, IL we wish them not TO 80 into
her service and not to complain OF her Tor
receiving them.
II is practice wholly unknown in this
world. We have never, that have heard OF,
attempted to exercise such power against
any nation but America. Il is true, that all
our officers who may visit her ships may not
conduct themselves in manner such as she
has complained Of but il is not less true, that
they ara iej7 entirely 10 their own discretion.
They are, it is true, not authoflzed to take
americans out of American ships but, then,
1t is left to them and must be wholly iclt to
them, to decide who are, and qoho arc nor, IL
n,ericans. This being the case, AS clear
that every American ships crew whomct an
English ship of war at sea, are at MeWrcy
of the commanders of that ship of war 10
more need be said for no man likes toUe e
the mercy of another. The English capital
has, in this case, the power OF seizure, OF
IMPRISONMENT, of banishment, and, indeed.
what power has he not over the American
crew : They may produce proof Of being ma
zed 70 seize Aye hut he, alas is the sole
and absolute ,udge Of The hrooG which he may
think bad, and then 1t may as well not be pro-
duced.
This Is the view take OF the matter,
sir.--The corrupt press OF London may, and,
will, bewider the minds of the people, by
talking about the right Of search and the like,
but the plain fact, is this :that, in consequence
or, AZ. IN. nj n
take persons out OF American ships at sea,
the crew of every American merchant ship
that went TO sea, or even from one port to "a
mother in America, were at the absolute mer-
cy of the commander OF the first English ship
OF war that happened to meet them Sup
pose the case, sir, of an American captain
sailing out Of the Delaware for the East In
dies With his complement OF men, being 90,
all his neighbors, met by an English sloop of
war--supposc him TO have six OF his men ta-
ken in spite Of all his assurances OF their be-
ing native Americans suppose him to pur-
sue his voyage with only ID hands suppose
the s seized men be taken Off TO the West
indies suppose two or three die of the yell
low fever another to be killed another
lose all arm, and the sixth released by the in
terven,ion Of the American consul at London.
qulas may haze hahhened. 1t was possible for
such cases to happen and that wa, enough ;
but il was thing which admitted Of being
rendered impossible 1t is sufficient to say,
that in consequence OF this pnws-, mn Amer
! ican could, in merchant ship, sail the sea III
safety TIc nevcrwas, for one single hour
secure against captivity and Punishment. To
people SO situated, war must be relief.
The American scamen will prefer war, be-
cause il captured in war, the laws OF war pro-
tect him and feed him as hrisoner---whereas
he was before liable, not only TO be seized and
carried from his calling and country, but at
the same time, compelled to act as seaman
on board of our ships |; compelled to labor
and TO risk his life in our service, where IL
might be his lot TO assist in serving others Of
hi. own ccuntrymen as he himself has been
served.
Sir, when you take a dispassonatc view Of
this matter, l am quite sure, that the justice
Of your mind will decide you in favor Of an
abandonment, frank abandonment, OF the
exercise of this power, which is, ann satis-
fed, without a precedent in the usage OF ma
,ions, and which, under the present circum.
stances, can do nothing towards the safety OF
the country.
IF this point were once settled, il appears
to me that uuch difficulty would not remain.
But, as had the honor to state TO your
Royal Highness, it is not to be supposed, that
war is TO cease, the moment we cease 10 do
surong to America. ! have not taken upon
me to say whether our orders In council were
wrong, or not but by the repeal, we seem
10 have acknowledged that they were. 1t
then, they were wrong, the cessation of
them cannot be considered as sufficient to in.
dace America TO put up the sword at once,
and without further ceremony. When pub
lishcd what was called libel, in the year
1912, that is to say, when published an ex-
preston Of my feelings at what had then been
described as having taken place, at the town
Of Ely (whcrc the bank has since broken,)
with resnect 10 the local militia and the Ger