Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-10

and spon every matter forming a par,
of the present controversies. There
has been such an interchange of senti.
scents between the two countries upbD
the matters in difference, that little or
nothing will be left for discussion as to
the principles. ~.
I'd Congress being now in session,
may pass statute relative to British sea-
men, as shall be cfcctual to render it
unnecessary for an examination to be
made in American merchant ships after
British seamen-FOr this purpose, none
but native Americans or those British
subjects who were here during the re-
evolutionary war, or were naturalized
here in times when Britain was at peace
with France, shall be permitted to ma,
yigatc any American ship in any capaci-
ty on the high sea.
This act is tobe suspended until peace
shall be made, and until Great Britain
shall pass similar statute, relative to
American seamen being employed in
their ships which would repeal as to A.
merica their present statute concerning
American ssaHen. 1t should contain
penalties upon the disqualified mariner
for serving, and on the ship-owner for
employing him in the American ship /;
and every vessel should have its roll
containing a description of each men
of the crew duly certified by the collec-
tor of the custom, whose power should
extend in cases of we'll grounded suspi
cion, to an ocular examination of each
navigator to be produced at his office.
This sketch is not supposed to be o.
therwise but very imperfect.
But some statute on this difficult point
is said by Mr.. Monroe to be necessary
to give strength TO any article OF "a treaty
of the like import; if SO, the sooner it
is passed the better. 1t will enable
Great Britain to decide whether those
means will be efectual to exclude Bril-
fish seamen from American ships, and
thereby renderit wholly unnecessary to
seek after their seamen in our ships.
Further the law will ex hibit not an as
surance but an act Of our nation, mani
testing its earnest desire to close the
war and such measure being taken
on our part, if still the practice of i'm
pressing in our merchant ships shall be
persisted in the American people will
be united and animated in all the trials
and measures of the war.
Upon what do the nation. now diss-
gree, that no advance should be made
towards peace on our part?
The orders in council are revoked,
upon condition that the non-importation
law shall be put out Of force, and upon
condition that our ports shall be open or
shut against public armed ships Of Great
Britain, as they shall be open or shut in
regard to France.
A lawful blockade cannot subsist by
proclamation only, but there must be an
adequate naval force actually applied to
the declared objects Of blockade; of
which, netice must be given and a
breach of blockade cannot happen, un-
less the violation is after notice.
1t is unlawful for any impressment to
be made ola British seaman on board of
any American public ship of war. tits
unlawful to impress any native Ameri-
can citizen in any American merchant
ship Whenever it is done, it is an abuse
of power These are the known rules
of the British government. and SO far
they are satisfactory to us. But there
is some contrariety Of opinion as to Bri-
fish subjects naturalized here during
their wars'in Europe, and since oug in
| dependence. And until we exclude Bri.
fish subjects from American merchant
ships, Britain claims the right of exa-
mining eur ships and taking her own
subjects. In doing this, mistakes are
made, and power is wilfully abused by
I ,he;r .Hcers in tnanv instances. UDon