The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-14
DOMESTIC.
From The National IntsMgeneer.

From The National InteNieencer.
REVIEW go. -
Of an address Of the Federal Minority lin
against Wor with Greaf Britain.
BY A REPUBLICAN.
(coETINUED.) =. -.
First in order, and first in interest, i.the
topic OF fnffreSsmenf. The manner i'm
which the addressers treat this subject, is a
curious intellectual phenomenon. BY long
train of philosophical studies, by a habit of
mental abstraction, man may, it is pcssl-
BILE, bring himself to view the greatest enor-
mites with calm and speculative indiffer-
ence. But the gentlemen whose productions
criticise, are individuals " no mix with the
world; they can feel, they tell us, like vul-
gar mortals, for the miseries of their coun-
try, fer the happiness of the people, and
groan, in anticipation, for the fate of poste-
rity And YET, singular caprice of the hu-
man mind they coolly sit down to array
upon paper the pretexts and apologies of an
enemy for the preparation of injustice. 1t
| is impossible to explain this contradictory
isensibility upon moral principles but il
may, perhaps, be accounted for upon phy-
steal grounds. Where theSsentient bias of
the mind runs against equity, the public
expression of that bias is checked by shame
land, in resisting each other, like curren
and commencement, the two sensations
form confiuX, restless and rehuent, In
this uneasy situation reason is tossed to al i
| troEand seeks for repose by endeayoring to
tranquiize opposing excitements. Hence
| 1t IS, that on the same page the addressers
=" Symfdthlze with our unfortunate seamen,
the victims of the abuse If pow err" and We
declare that if the right of exempt IN from
limpressment Z" to the full extent of it's alb
stract nature, be inconsiste emit with the safe
ty OF another nation, morality seems to re-
quire. that, in practice, its exercise should,
in this respect, be modified" Thus, these
gentlemen Will give to American citizens,
to the ''Dietims" of British oppression, their
require it they will agree, in theory, that
the doctrine of impressmcnt is an abuse
of power But, Sin faracficc," they insist
that the right of exemption must be " mo-
djfed." -.
The form in which the adArcosers state
the question of impressment, is an artful E.
lvasion of the point at issue. The govern
ment of the United States (say they, at page
| y asserts the broad principle that the flag
of their merchant vessels shall protect the
mariners" 1.-The British government as
serts (they continue) thattbe allegiance of
their subjects is inalienabe, in time of war,
@iiO ttttI lhGlT SCdiiltl, on the sea. the
common highway of nations, shall not be
protected by the flag of private merchant
| vessels" In the fullness Of zeal to plead
the alien side of the topic, the pamphleteers
pass over the arguments in favor of their
! country-they deem it unnecessary (page
| 81 to discuss the question of the american
claim for the, immunity of their flag. But
| lmark the. sly i,sinuation y they cannot
refrain from viewing 1T as q principle OF a
nature very broad and comprehensive, to
the abuse OF which the temptations are very
| strong and numerous" To Justification
| OF the claim of England, however, they are
by no means ayersej and they go, into it
with pithy sententiousness that indicates
heartfelt satisfaction. I" The claim of
Great Britain (they say is neither novel
nor fecuiiar. The doctrine of alleeiance
for which ste contends, is common TO aHthe
goDs 7nmente of EUROPE. France, as well
as England, has maintained it for Centuries.
Both nations claim, in time of war, the SER
wees OF their subjects. Both by DEGREES
forbid their entering into foreign employ
Both recall them by proclamation" Is
this the language OF impartiality ? Is II the
tone of candid judge? i will not ask, Is
It the. language of true hearted Am orleans :
! pass over, with an implied censure, the
American claim--to cOrroborats English
uOCtrlneS--to become the advocates of the
enemy against their countrymen--are cir
cumstances that will assist in explaining the
views Of the men who undertake to condemn
the acts of the majority.
But, beg the reader to believe that ]
have not made these quotations because
they present the question in real shape
have made them only because they tend
to unveil the artifice Of the addressers. A.
meriea, Il is true. has designated the FLAG
AS the rnke Of protection to. her seamen -
because, in that alone can be found aneffec-
| tuaIremedy against wanton impressments
Whilst she has done this, however, she has
never pretended to deprive Great Britain o
the allegiance other subjects: on the con
trary, America has always avowed hersejl
ready to enter into convention thatshould
secure to beth nations, in that particulars
their respective rights.
it's not the taking OF Brifish sE5jccfs, bnt
the mf'ress01Hnt a I1tcritan secn,cn, fhat