The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-18
From the .Mcnonat Infeihgcneer-
REVlEW

the .4weriea,l House of RetresensGfives
og1ifst War lvith Greaf Britoins
BY A REPUBLICAN.
(coNTIAUEo.) Il
have thus traced the progress of this
wrong, from Gen. Washington's first Pre-
MIR. Jetferson's political ministry have
shewn, from incontestible documents. that
ever since the operation OF the national go
vernment, under every President, that is to
say, under Washington, Adams, and Jeffer-
son, the object of impressment has been
viewed in the same lights; that. under
Washington Sc Adams, threats of retaliation
were held out; that under Jefferson twas
made a sine qua non in negotiation and
that the uniform idea, inrelation to it., has
been, that it would be redressed by a re-
sort to arms, if not otherwise adjusted.
This is the fair Interpretation of all our iii.
plomatic correspondence with respect to it.
And If" it was (as the addressers say)
reserved for the present administration TO
press this topic to the extreme and most
dreadful resort Of nations" it is because, as
judge Marshall expresses himself, the A
merican people had become weary Of g un
successful remopstrancc and unavailing
memorials ," it is because the present adj
minissratiou exists at a period when other
wrongs, combining with that of impress
continued forbearance only invites continu-
ed aggression, and that difficulties which
p acific efforts merely serve to augment
must, like the Gordian knot, be Cut to be
overcome.
Recurring, for moment, to the princi-
pie that the flag shall protect the mariners.
It will be matter Of surprise to find that
this very doctrine was advocated by Mr..
Timothy Pickering, when Secretary of
CfoSa In q loftA ~ NJ. inv NJ ,tno
1896, he states that "The simplest rule
would be, that the vesseL being american.
should be euidrnce that the sednen on board
are such But, (et the reader mark y it
will be an important point gained, if on the
high seas oar flag can froteet those Of
xRATEvER M rIoN, rvho shoN,scH under it.
And for this. humanity as well as interest
powerfully plead" Here is the principle,
IN its broadcast extent Not only Americans,
but every. description of persons, wherever
bern or bred. Conld administration desire
greater triumph--could the addresscrs
experience a more humiliating dondemna
tioh, than is thus furnished by the most fla
ming champion of their own party Z
The language of the addressers fat page
D. is a singular compound Of undenable
rruth, of suppression of the truth, of false
differences silly insinuated. and, OF cvasions
of the question. At this stage of the dis
cussion, the Study Of the pamphle:eers has
been to confuse or perplex; and to give
chem due credit, they have certainly work
ed up jargon TN lat leaves even pettifnsging
behind. l have no disposition to swell this
IeView to a volume, but no combination of
words can do justice to page 9, except the
combination which there exists. Authentic
quotation, therefore. is indispensable Give
che addressers, then, good reader. formal
audience.
the exercise of right, in an unre-
gulated manner, be, IN effect, a standing in
vitation TO the subjects of foreign power
to become Seserters and traitors, rs IL no
snyuryso fhaf ttosDer ?"--Page 9.
g fna practical view, and 80 long as The
right of fag is restrained by no regard 70
she infeyrsfs Of Others, a war on account of
impressments, is only war for the right of
employing British seamen on board Ameri-
gan mer, liant vessels.-B.
The claim of Great Britain pretends to
no fnrthcr extent than to take British sea-
men from private merchant vessels. In the
exercise of this claim. her officers take A
mericau seamen, and foreign seamen in the
American service; and although she dis
claims SUCH abuses, and fyofere redress
chen known. yet undoubtedly grievous inju-
xics have resulted to the seamen of the u.
., But the question is, can war be proper
for such cause, before all hohe or REASONABLE
accommodation las .janed 2'-B.
IS The undersigned are clearly of opinion
that the employment Of British seamen in
the merchant service of the United States
is as little reconcilable with the permanent
rs the present interest OF the United States.
The encouragement of foreign seamen is the
encouragement of the native Americans"
Consid ering these quotations fairly, they
Sesolve themselves into the following pro-
positions:
First A right, exercised injuriously
70 another, is an jury TO that other, The
inference is, that it ought not 60 be insisted
on.
Secondly: To contend for the right of
Hag which protects British seamcn. is to
make war for the right Of employing British
seaulen.
Thirdly: Great Britain only claims to
take British seamen from private merchant
vessels.
Fourthly: In exercising this claim she
seizes Americans and others.
Eifthly: She disclaims such abuses, and
proffers redress when known.
Sixthly But grievous injuries have ac-
crued to the seam en- of the u. S.
SeventhIy War, ought not to be made
for these injuries until all hope of accom-
mediation has failed.
Eighthly: British seamen ought not to
be employed to the exclusion of Americans.
These are the points, expressed or i'm
Piled, that the ninth page presents for con-
sideration.
Al - r.