Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-01


The Legislature of South Carolina, at their
late session, elected the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States
respecting titles of Nobility, pensions, sc.
During the discussion the following resou-
ton was proposed by A. Blanding, Esq
Rrsoived, That this house do not agree to
the said amendment, and that the following
reasons for its rejection be assigned:
The principle which would exclude from
any office of profit or trust any citizen who
should receive any title OF honor or OF nobility,
or any present, pension, Office or emalument
from any foreign power, this house admits to
be correct, and did this amendment extend
no farther, no objection would be here made
to it Rut this house cannot consent, that up
on the acceptance:o of such present, &c. man
shall " cease to be citizen of the United
States" for the reasons following:-
LIST. Believing that every government has
right to command the services of its citizens
on. every emergency, this house cannot con-
sent to principle which will authorize
change of allegiance under any circumstan-
ces, and without any previous notice.
I'd. This amendment will enable any man
to avoid the penalties of treason, which always
presupposcs allegiance for after the .accep-
tance of the smallest present from foreign
power, the act, which before would have been
treason, loses its cri nlnal character and be-
comes Iawful-Nay, the very act of treason
may in some cases exempt the traitor from
the penalties of ii. Such, for instance as leav-
inc the country and accepting conmi sslon
in the army of an enemy. He may then re-
turn TO carry devastation and ruin through
the land of lis nativity or adoption, not In the
character of rebel but ofan honorable enemy
and should the chance oil war throw him IN
the power Of his country, he must be treated
not as a rebelliGus ctlzer, buias prisoner OF
war.
Sd. Should this amendment prevail, in vain
NAV the government of the United States at
tempt to support an impartial neutrsiity by
prohibiting our citizens from joining the
standard OF one belligerent aud Garry on war
against another With whom we are Ga terms
Of friendship; for the very act of accepting
a foreign service will place them beyond the
reach of the law of their country, which can
punish none but its own citizens for acts done
beyondits jurisdiction.
4th. By this amendment we shall release
the hold we now have on gu ns'urahzed CT
tizens, many Of whom we know haze become
citizens more from iRteles, than attachment
10 our country In Case Of g WEI with the
country Of which they were originally subjects
after accepting iisfranchisiag present, they
NAV return to our courty. i aiding and direct
ing our enemies aid be freed from the fear
not only of merited punishment, but even of
violating their oaths of allegiance, from which
this amendment gives them discharge.
5th-This amendment will, in n,apy instan-
ces defeat the exertions ofour government in
favor Of its impressed seamen. For when an
extorted receipt is produced by foreign CO.
vernment in answer to orr demand OF release
the question instead of being one fgreat ma
tionai, right, will degenerate into dispute a
bout the fairness of the receipt in which with
the abundant means of proof in their power we
must be sure to fail.
For these reasons, and because this house