Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-10-28
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2s. 1918.

OF BRITISH Seamen Ois BOARD our vessels. Il he
act authorizing certificates. was moreover,
voluntary, and such a measure as Great
Britain could not require us to- adopt So
far at least, it was indicative of an honest
intention. If Great Britain still found her.
self sufferer, she ought to have proposed
the adoption OF further precautions. If the
United States had refused to do SO, then
Great Britain might have reasonably Com
planned You must, however, admit. that
whilst the British complain of injury by our
naturalizng and employing their seanen,
they ought TO have shewn an upright dispo-
sition on their side, By ceasng to naturalize
Americans and by discharging frnm their
own vessels every person who was citizen
of the United States. Regulations OF this ma
ture between nations, can only be fair and
lasting when they are recitrocuk
CT. Yet, all tins does not prove that Great
Britain has not right to her o7Vn subjects.
T. do not question that right. / am
discussing the question OF allegiance. Ale
glance IS question between a subject and
his sovereign. Permit me, nevertheless. in
going along n observe, that il 4 government
may transport man or hang him, for his
crimes, it seems nothing bur just that the
subject should be allowed to abdicate go-
vernment for tyranny. On this head, it has
the protection which the sovereign affords.
| II, then, for crime. the tie may be cut by the
one party why may il not, for the same Cause
| be cut by the oiherI The same reason holds
| good in both cases; and tyranny is crime
as enormous as highway robbery. But, it is
not my intention to discuss the question of
| the sovereign's rights to his ozu,l subjects.
| All l contend for is, that he has no right to
| impress our citizens.
| CT. Alb, my friend now you are coming
round to my side If cur citizens are taken
it is bv mistake And as soon as they are
froUed, they are Siven M ! They are as
| sure you.
| It Oho! Provcd, say YOU What then :,
the British are to be permitted 10 seize their
| subjects on board Our vessels zyi hour proof,
but if they ca. ry off our citizens by violence
| they may keep them till we hroUe them.
Very well, Gaiss: that's your logic, isitf
! G Why did you not admit that the king
had right To his owns
! L. Yes; But no right at all 10 ours. Let
| the king have his own and welcome but
let him not touch ours. II our citizens are
led into captivity, it is the same % me whe-
Their it is done by mistake or design. Hook
to the fact of their being taken.
G. Why. then. do you opPs-e imPressmen,
| geperaIlyf
/ +. In the first place, I oppose it because
| il IS Contrary to the laws of nations. In the
| second, 7 oppose it because impressment j.
a mode of declaring British subjects which
| inevitably involves the taking CT Americans.
| 1t is the made which IS obnoxious National,
like individual, rghts, 10 be enjoyed, must
be reciprocally compatible. The king has
| right to his subiects--the republic right
| TO her citizens. Now, it is clear that if one
| of these rights is SO exercised as to impair
the other, there is wrong done to the par
| ~ whose rights are impaired. The mode
of exercising the right by which the wrong is
| done ought, therefore, 10 be abolished, and
some other mode substituted
| G. And pray what is your model
| L. Il is this. Ii Great Britain naturalizes
| American scamen that we should natural
| ize Britsns. If Great Britain viii exc ude
| American born citizens from her ships, we
| win exclude British born subjects from ours.
| IT Great Britain will agree not 10 employ
| American seamen, We viii agree not To EN-
pioy British seamen. The mode of doing
this shall be fair mode. Before any sea-
| man is shipped he shall produce proof Of
/ citizenship to the collector of the customs
! "a British consul or other age;it, shall have
the right of being present, and may bic 20
the shipping of any individual on establish
ing the fact OF his being British subject the
man shall not be employed.
g. Your plan seems fair enough.
Il. FAIR enough Can any thing be fair
| ERR Only compare it for moment with The
mode of irnpTess nen..-By impTessment, a
] British officer takes man b. violence, up.
on his own bare assertion, which in general
las no better foundation than that his ma
jeStg zuanfs n,H aud DiuSf haze them. The
poor ssilor is borne away into servitude and
frequently does not OBTAIN his iiberszion for
| several years. But according 90 NY method,
there is a regular tribunal before which the
parties can be heard ;--where evidence
may be produced the seaman is with
in hearing Of those among whom he was
born where the British consul may soruu~
nice his proofs, detect his frauds, and reclaim
him to the kings service. Another advsn-
tage results from my mode Of ascertainmg
the citizenship of a man before he sail. (; the
merchants voyage is not delayed or broke
Up, and tile peace and happiness g families
are not destroyed ] want the trial of sub
ject or citizenship to tike place on land. be-
fore regular commissioner on each side
and not at sea. where there is no court what
ever Let a sailors nativity be determined
6eJore aud nor ofIeT he sails
G. But will your administration consent e
thi, model
Il. Consent, why they have consented. i
is what they offer Great Britain at this mo
ment.
G. But as Groat Britain has right to hei
own subjects. and her taking our citizeu
j - e. L..