Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-11-20


inpressment is limited to British sub.
lscts only, and that they are willing as
to America, to agree on substitute for
the ancient practice, provided an effee-
tual substitute shall be proposed. Ofall
the avowed causes Of war, this is the on
y one remaining unadjasted, and New
Jersey has declared its opinion that for
this cause alone the war ought not to be
continued, but that an offer to treat on
peace should be made on our part, with
out insisting on any preliminaries to be
performed by Great Britain.
The continuance 9th war is brought
to single point. Ought it in justice, in
honor or in conscience, to be continued
because Great. Britain will not cease the
practice OF impressing her own seamcn
from American merchant ships, found
on the sea, the great high way ofnations,
although Great Britain is willing to treat
upon an arrangement which would su-
percede their practice Of impressment,
if both parties shall agree upon such an
arrangement.
Let this point Of controversy be stated
conciscly, and the conscience and under
standing of every unprecedented man will
concur in the same decision.
Every nation has right to the ser
vice and assistance of its own citizens IN
time of foreign ssar, ard that indiVidu-
al who leaves his native country in times
of war and of danger to its existence
without its consent, and settles in ano-
'hcr, acts unlawfully, acts against his
natural duty to the society which pro-
.ected him at his birth and during his in
fancy, and is branded with the opprobri-
Gus term of dessrier.
This principle is principle of the
law of nations and ought to be cherished
under republican governments more
than under any ether forms. 1t is the
duty Of every member of a society, to do
all he Can for the safety and felicity o.
that society to which he belongs, and
therefore he has no right to desert the
society in the hour of its conflict with
foreign enemies, without the consent oil
The majority expressed or implied lhis
is Fundamental coEdillon Of the social
compact.
Great. Britain has right TO complain,
that during her wal with France, the u
nited States have received British sea.
men, who have entered into the service
Of American merchant ships as well rs
public ships. and have naturalzed them
under their statute law against the con-
sent of their native country. Great
Britain asserts her tight to the service OF
British seamen by impressmens without
excepting those naturaized by America,
and so long as such are employed In A.
mer;can merchCnt ships, she insists on
searching fos them and imprcssing them
into her own service. In fact, there are
more British seamen in the American
Service, than Americans in the British
service. ard therefore an arrangement
fer excluding each from the service OF
the other, would be more useful to Il
Britain than to America. On account
of her lntl rest Great Britain may be be-
lieved 10 be ,incere and anxious IN her
desire to agree on > pi.,n OF effcctual ex-
clusion. AS she eniv searches for her
own seamCn, let them be e%Cluded COM
plelely from our service. and poae would
ever be found In our Ships, and the SER
vice of none would ever be lost to her by
ceasing 70 search, sftc: such an arrange
ment shall be made. Great 6:itain does
not claim or exercise the tignt OF I'M
pressing Americans, under the:plea of
retaliation for Our practice of naturaliz.
ing and employing her subjects during
her war with France. On the contrary,
Great Britain declares that ne Ameri-
eau is subject to be impressed by Ter
officers. She torbids 1t To be done.
An equal and mutual provision by
treaty aud by statute concerning searnen,
misnt put an end to the complaints Of
both parties on this topic, To make the