Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-03

oh .b;eh we could not, consistently WIN
the duty and fidelity to our county no. n;,o
originally concurred in the aes .o,a Cd ID.
Of war, and on which we eannos NV ,hsv
vocat, it. continuance, because 1ney
are no, truly and purely American . re-
nit me sir, said he, in order 20 ~
this to call the attention OF the houss ~, "e
the particular provisions OF that par ~ -,
the hin. in which the ground in taken IN
relation to the controversy aoo ." 81.
men. The FIRST section OF the o'll' '. w
a general prohibition 10 employ on ,s Uo
Of public or private vessels oil inc "
States, any persons whatever go asssrai
by way of exception, to state 'ne So
descriptions of seamen, for the PRIV
ledge of employing whom in cur ve s.
sels, and for the personal protection OF
whom by the mantle Of our flag, we arc
according to the manifesto OF the coni-
mittee Of foreign relations and the oos :
tgine of the gentleman from tennessee
to wage eternal war, until this pom, =: -
conceded to us. They are embraced III
three classcs-l. Native American sea
men-2. Foreigners by birth, who arc
now, or shall become citizens by ma
,uraIizstion before the termination OF TIC
present war by a treaty OF peace
5 Foreigner. who shall, pending the
war, notify in the manner prescribed oy
existing laws, their intention to become
naturalized ; to which may be added a
fourth class, resulting from the necessac :
~ construction, and manifest import OF
the I'd section, viz. All those io'
reirners, who shall come to this coan-
try after the termination of the present
war, and become naturalized in the man
ncr prescribed by this bill, that Isl alter
FIVE wears continued residence within
the limits of our country. Taking this
bill then as having particular RELATION to
the present controversy with Great Bril-
tain, and the term, seamen, as used IN
reference to the same controversy, we
are called upon to commit ourselves to
wage an endless war, for the protection
by our fac of, |. native Americans
2. British born subjects, who now are,
or shall be naturalized before the end OF
the war, 5. British barn subjects who
shall, at any time during the war, de-
clare their intention to become natural
lied. 4. British born subjects, who
shall come here after the war, and be-
come naturalized after five years CONT
nucd residence in the country. On the
subject thus presented to view, he avail
ed himself of this opportunity, eandidly
and explicitly to express his sentiments,
and to state his views of the true policy
Of this nation, and the duty Of the Anne.
rican statesman. For the protection OF
the first of those classes OF men, the ma
tive Americans, whom alone, Mr.. u.
said, of the whole enumeration, he could
consider as being fully and completely
of the same political family with him.
self, he would go as far as any rational
man in that house; or in this nstlon.-
Such of ,i.:t class of seamep as had not
abandoned their native land, and volun-
,ar,Iy transferred their allegiance or SER
vices to some other country, ne would
secure, in all their rights, both OF per-
son and property, against the violence
and outrage OF any foreign nation, whe'
Their at home or abroad; whether at sea
or Oh land, by every practicable means
afforded by the resources and strength
of our country. He would protect them
from impressment by the British; from
compulsion by the French, by means OF
chains, imprisonment and, starvation, to
enter on board their privateers, serve
in their vessels of war, and also from
the wanton burring of their vessels on
the ocean. For the protection. however,
OF native American seamen from Bril-
fish impressnent, no war was necessary
to be made, or is required to be CONT
nued. G.. Britain has never asserted a
right to impress native Americans. On
the contrary, she has always disclan'ed
any such pretension; and therefore their
protection affords no pretext for the
continuance Of the war They con-
stitute no part of the controversy be-
tween the two nations. 1t was The
claim insisted on by Great Britain,
and objected to by our government, to
the seamen born within her own domi-
MONS, and who owe to her, as she con-
tends, perpetual and inalienable allie
glance, that form the real ground Of the
dispute. And it ought to be distinctly
known, to the American people, that it
was not for the protection Of native a.
mericans, but Of those who were origi-
nslIy British subjects, and who had be-.
come, or should declare their intention
to become nsturalized citizens OF this
country, that We are called upon to car
~ on an interminable war. With res.
pect to those he could not admit, that
we were under obligations ofprotection
equally extensive and annaliv sacred