The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-14
[Vol. 9-----No. %.

with the English nation e ey tell us. pape
the people of the United States are close.
~ assin,ilated, in blood, language, inter-
course, habits, dress. manners and chsrac-
ter. And what is the conclusion r..
why, suppose it is meant, thas where
such great similitude exists in So ma
| NY particulars, Misf0kes nil hahhen -.
Yet, if it be- so difficult to distinguish be-
tween subject and citizen, between an A.
merican and Briton, that very difficulty
ought to induce the British to decline tho
practice But the pamphlereers add, that
England is engaged in a war, apparently
| tor existence" Even this shabby subter-
fuge is deprived of its plausibility. In her
proudest day, when all Europe was con-
neoted with her in coalition against
France, aid before that time, she exercised
the same injustice towards US. 1t happen
ed, very OPPORTUNITY, that on the fourth
day OF July last, the Senate of the u. States
passed resolution calling On the Presiden,
| ~ information on the subject OF British in-
pressment from American vessels, and IN
pursuance of it the President made a COM
| muncation to that body on the sixth This
communication embraces diplomatic CORE
sPGndencc OF the government Of the U. S.,
| and other papers, from the year 1892 tn the
year $500 inclusive. In 1922, G. Britain
was atpeace she was not, it: is notorious,
engaged in war for existence nor. in
deed, IN any war at all. Yet in that wear,
in the first presidency of General Wash
ington, we find Mr.. Jefferson, who was Sc.
cretary OF State under that venerable man.
| writing to Mr., Thomas Pinckney, in the
following words, under date of June II -
: In order to urge settlement of this point
limpressment] before new occasion may
arise, it may not;be amiss to draw their at
tention to the peculiar irritation excited on
the last occasion, and tie difficulty Of q
Uotding our making immediate renrisals on
their sednien here" On the 9Th of Novem-
Der, 1872, Mr.. Jefferson, writing to MIR.
pinckney on the same subject, says ' 1t is
unnecessary to deveiope to you the incon-
veniences OF this conduct. and The inrtiossi-
bihty of letting h go on" So that in peace
as we'll as in war, fighting for existence, or
not lighting for existence. the British have
manifested. in relation TO impressment, tina
same tyrannical conduct towards the u s.
And with respect TO the int rrogatory put
(atpage 81 by the addressers, f" whether
war, for such an abstract right (of exemp-
| tiou) be justihable. before attempting to
guard against its injurious tendency by le-
gislative regulations i'm failure If treaty >''
The opinions OF Washington himself will fur
ish an answer; for we see that Mr. Jeffer-
son, on the 18th of June, 1892, by bis direc-
tions, stated to Mr.. Pinckney that there
was great difficulty in preventing reprisals
being instantly made on British seamen in
the United States, without the least hint Of
previous Legislative provisions. Why, in
fact, should such provisions be made, unless
there was a,mnfnak and satisfactory uhder-
standing oRthe subjec According to the.
argument of the addressers we must first
suffer wrongs, and in order to obtain re-
dress, we must pass an act of Congress Law
ing restrictions upon our navigation, with
out the promise that our enemy Will be il
the least degree more tolerant. General
Washington had very different sentiments.
In the same letter, June II, 1922 Mr.. Jef-
terson, by command of the President, init
mated very clearly the opinion of Washing
ton on this head, when speaking of the pro,
position on the part of British ministers to
compel our seanen to be furnished with
what are Familiarity called fretections,- 49,
| I.he words (Which follow are memorable
and pertinent 1--WE entireiu reject tbs
mode which was the subject of Converse
ton between Mr.. Morris and the British
Minister, which was, that orr $eaazen should
Always carry a6oatt them certificates offhe5r
cittzeashif." This disgraceful practice,
nevertheless, was subsequently, adopted
On the 28th of May, 1896, Gen. Washing
ton, for the sake of peace, approved and
signed an act, the fourth section Of which
authorised the collectors of every district to
! grant certificates of citizenship The result
mas been, as Washington and Jefferson had,
| IN the first Instance, supposed. Indepen-
IDENTITY Of the tax of twenty-five cents Ola
every seaman for a certificate, the very
granting OF them operated as rule of con-
duct tor the British, swho claimed the rghe
OF impressng into their service every ma
riner that was not furnished with one of
them.* This rule of seizure was soon en-
larged multitude Of abuses crept in i; &
the various causes Of impressment and de-
teution of seamen, forms list at once Gu:
rious and contemplate of this list, the
following are authentic items; and nave
all been assigned, at one time or another,
as reasons for carrying American citizens
into bondage, and keeping them in slavery
| i Having no documents.
| 2 Said to be born in England.
Having used the sea before being
! bound.
- t,.+ NOTE.
, Nr. Madison IN his letter TJa1uoz7,s
1904, 10 Mr.. Monroe, contr11dS, verv sTrc<
nuonSiy, that certifca:es Of citizensbih are
| "p2f meant ~ hr6fect scomen under fhefr
oqon, or eUeE dny-othsr neutral tar on tic
high seas" But that 'the doc1smenf is given
10 froUe their real character, IN situations
| 10 which neither the lou of aafiots nor me
! ta7u OF their eE0h country are anhfcQbfe.
! In otheT 7Vords, 10 protect them qgifhi,, me
Jursctetion OF British taSys, AMI 10 secaye
10 them, s0ifhtH eVery ofher jurjsdictiot. mr.
\ TJDIfg and inn IN, 81