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


wanton impressmenls. Whilst she has done
this, however, she has never pretended to de-
privc Grea,-B Britain OF the allies lance Of her
subjects on the contrary, America has AL
ways avowcd k,rself ready 20 enter into
convention that should secuie to both nations,
IN that particular, their respective rights.
1t is not The taking of British subjects, but
the imtressmens Of American seamen, that
constitutes the essence of the wrong. And
here the addresscrs have the old apology
" with the English nation (they tell US, page
81 the people Of the United States are close
ly assimila,ed, in blood, language, inter
course, habits, dress, manners and chasac-
ter" And what is the conclusion Why, |
suppose II is meant, that where such great
simiiitude exists in SO many particulars, ms
takes 7viH hafhen ! Yet, il it be so difficult TO
distinguish between subject aud citizen, be.
tween an American and B.iton, tina, very
difficulty ought 10 induce the British 10 de-
cling The practice. But the pamphlrleers
add, thvr-A-Englond is engaged in war, sp-
parenlly for her existence" Even this shah
by subterlugc is>trprivcd Of its pIausaoity.
In her proudes, 9sy, when all Europe was
connected with (ber In coalition against
France, and before that time, she exercised
the same injustice towards US. Ii happened,
very opportuney, that on the fourth day OF
July last, the Senate Of the United STATES
passed resolution calling on the President
for information On the subject OF British i'm
prcssmenl from American vessels, and IN
pursuance of it the President made CON"
munication TO that body cn the sixth. This
communication embraces diplomatic CORES
pondcnoe Of the government Of the U.Sia,cs,
and other papers, from the year 1898 TO the
year 1902 inclusive. In 1872, eat-Britsin
was at peace she was not, II is notorious,
engaged in a war for existence nor, indeed,
in any war at all. Yet in that year, in the
first Presidency OF Gen. Washington, : ind
Mr. Jefferson, who was Secretary Of State
under that venerable man, writing TO MIR
Thomas Pinckney, in the following words,
under date Of June II {" In order to urge a
settlement of this point iimpressmentl be-
fore new occasion may arise, 1t may not be
amiss To draw their attention TO the peculiar
irritation excited on the last occasion, and thc
dNcniy gopeidiny our making ipimediote re-
Hr'saLs on fher ssemta here" On the sixth
of tIoyembcr, 1892, Mr.. Jefferson, writing
TO Mr.. Pinckney, on he same subject says,
" IL Is unnecessary 10 devclopc TO you the in-
conys n:eDces of this conduct, and me iofoS.
si6Hty Il letting IL go on" So that in peace
as well as IN war, fighting for existence, the
Brush have manifested, In relation 80 i'm
pressmcut, the same tyrannical conduct TO-
ward, lhe United States. Aud with respect
to ,he interrogltory PVT Cat page 81 by the
addressers, whether war, for such IN ab.
strsct lighi Cot excmp,ion) be jus,if.bl,, be-
fore attempting TO guard against is Injurious
tendency by legislative regulations in failure
OF treaty J" the opinions Of w AshlngtOu him
self will furnish an answer for we see that
Mr.. Jefferson, or the lth of June, 1893, by
his directions, stated to Mr.. PinckDey that
there was great difficulty in preventing repri.
sails being instantly made OH British scamen
in the United States, without the least hint OF
previous Legislative provisions. why, IN
fact, should such provisions be made, unless
there was n,ufual and satisfactory undcrstan-
ding on the subject According to the argu-
mcnt of the addresscrs we must First suffer
wrongs, and in order to obtain redress, We
must pass an act of Congress laying resIric-
lons upon our navigation, without the prom
isc that our enemy will be in the least degree
moro tolerant. Gen. Washington had very
different sentiments In the same letter,
June IL, l792,) Mr.. Jefferson, by command
of the President, in,imated very clearly the
opinion Of Washington on this head, when
speaking of the proposition on the part OF a
British minister 10 compel our scamch to be
furnished with what arc fam,liarly called f,ro-
teefians. The words (Which follow ars me-
morab.c and pertinent +" We entirely reject
the mode which was the subject of CONVEX
sa,ion between Mr.. Morus and the British
minister, which was, that onr seamen should
Always carry asom thens certificates Of their
citizenship" This disgracsful practice, new
crtheess, was subsequently adopted. On
the gath Of May, 1926, Gen. Washington
for the sake of scacc, approved and signed an
act, the fourth section OF which authorized the
collectors of every district to grant cerlili-
Gates of citizenship. The resul, has been, as
Washington and Jefferson had, in the tirs'
A 4 xl..,< la, ~E ko