The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-09-03

ment and detention of seanen, forms a is,
al once curious and contempuble OF this
list, the following are authentic items and
have all been assigned, ~ one time or anoth-
er, as reasons for carrying American citizens
into bondage, and keeping them in slavery
]. Having no documents.
2. Said to be born in England
8. Having used the SEA before being bound
4. Not being Americans and under this
prelencs, natives OF Sweden, of Africa,
Of the West.Inaies, of Italy, and oi
Prussia, have been torn from our vessels
S. Protection being irregular.
6. Being ignorant OF America.
T. SAID 10 be impostors.
8. Said 10 be married i'm England.
9. Not answering description In projections.
TO- Having ATTEMPTED 10 desert.
What will the addressers say to this list !
If there be such simlitude between Ameri.
cans and Eng ngishmeD, as 10 justify so many
mistakes, what will be sale 10 the impress
meDl from under our hag of men who are
neither Englishnen nor Americans ! BY this
practice the doclrine would be, that Great
Britain had right To seize and carry into
captivity from on board American merchant
vessels, all scamen, of whatever country,
who, no, being Americans citizens, were not
the ,ubjects OF his Britannia majesty and
that citizcns of The United States should be
liable 10 impre sment 100, unless they were
luinished with trofeciions, which, when they
were furnished with them, would be disre-
garded. And what reciprocity does Great
Britain ofiei for these monstrous pretenslons
None She offers none at all. In Great
B,itaia (says Mr.. Monroe to Mr.. Foster, un-
der date OF June 8lh, 1929 We know from
exnetienoe, that no provision exists Tor re-
r, snng American seamen to our merchant
vessels, eveH 10 the JaJfiiment Of their volin-
tary ENGAGEMENTS.
legislative provision, the crore, on our
part, unles. the British cooperate, is ont OF
the question. In the fist instance General
Washington, as We have seen, entirely rctc-
red u. But that great man afterwards acqui'
esccd in the propositions proposition sug-
gested Uy British minister III del the cxpec-
ta,;on, no doubt, that G.ea; Britain would
square her conduct most slri tly by rule oi
decision designated by herself. Ii has been
seen, however, that the act OF Congress auN
thorzng certificates of citizenship, and TAX:
ing the sailor for his freedom, 10 accommo-
date aforeign power, has only made the grie-
vance worse for the sct virtually put out Ot
the pale of protection all those who hud no
certificates add, as the law was not tompul-
suly, many natives, (and more native ,han
naturahzed cilizcns,) relying on the rights q
their 6rfh, went TO sea without them, and
thus became the victims OF BRUSH despo,ism
Ii would be vain TO try the experiment further
That, from first 10 last, the practice OF I'M
pressnient has been considered, Contrary 10
the assertions of the addrcssers at pages
and l0,) Us one that would, II not abandoDed
lead TO war, Is distinctly proved by the com
municalion Of The President Of the Senate o
the United Staes on the 9th Of July last
This com munica,ion l have no doubt the
djior of the National In,eligerce er Will, ir
due time, lay at large, before he public.
hve already quoted from it the represents
Sion OF Mr.. Jefferson to our minister In Lon.
don OF he difficulty, in l792, Of preventing
immediate rci.risats on EritiSh se0men. The
minister of the United States then at the
cosr, of ST. James was Mr.. Thomas Pluck
| ney !: In writing TO the Secretary Of State in
the year 1893, having had n conversation with
| Mr.. Bond, who had been appointed by Lore
Grenyilie TO confer With him on the topic o
| impressment, he says, "I answered, that un
! less wa could come to some accommodation
WIN" u'iSht "su'S ouI oea'hch aSa'hot '"i'
| oppression, measures gvouId be taken TO canSt
the Inconvenience 10 be equally .feh on 6oti
sides" This, certainly, was a hostile indi
| cation and it is conformablc to the sentiment
Of retaliation expressed by Mr.. Jefferson the
year preceding.
MIR. Pickering, when Secretary Of State ,ir
wiring TO Mr.. Rufus King, then our minis
Ter in London, on the 10Th OF Septcmbe
l7s6, tells him, - II the BI itish government
have ary regard TO our rights, any respect IL
our nation, and place any vaiae on our friend
shif they will even facilitate TO us the mean!
Of relieving our oppressed ciizcns." Doe
this not squin, at the probability Of an ulti
mate redress Of the grievance by force, it i
| should not be otherwise cured /?
| Judge Marshall, when acting Secretary o