The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-11-25
MISCELLANY.
O.,f IIiE BOorU.r emo, LcLE.
MANSTEALING!!


The most atrocious outrage that one ma
ton can commit on another,is the murder, ol
stealing, of lis citizens or subjects. la com
parisoa 10 rhis,,hc pluo6er OF property is tri
vial offence. The chief duy Of eyory gov
ernmsn,, is to afford personal safety to its sub
Jects. This may with truth be said TO be tiis
iirst and main object for which government
Is instituted. SO clearly is this fact establish
ed IN the minds of the British, that they pun
ish with DEATH the y/eion who shall kidnap
British subject. Bu, while they are thu:
prompt to protect their own people, they base
ly break In upon the dearest rights OF others
They seize the unfortunate American sailor
drag him on board their (loa,ing bulks,aod by
means OF Lashes, ssarvafion and irons, compel
him to enter their accurs9d service, and hgh,
their battles, eVen against their ozvn eonntry !
The Federal Legislature Of Massachusetts
In the pleniude Of their pa,riotisn," ap-
peared dcsirovs at their last session OF volun-
teering in defence Of England, and against
fherr o7on counfrv0,en, on this important sub
JcCt. They endeayored 10 make IL appear tha.
there had not been so many Americans i'm
pressed as had been represented /; that there
bad been much exaggera.ion, &c. &c. ;---ba.
we say, and every American will say 'he same
that ONE such instance Of fbapbarisy and vflany
as is detailed below, is suffic REM Cause of war,
and would fully justify any governmcn, in the
declaration. II osght here, however, to be
observed, that as the Federal Legislature of
massachusetts, appear anxious to defend e'
Britain in inprcssing our seamep, it IS rea-
sonable TO couclude, sh.t H the Government
of the Union we're also in the hands Of Fede-
hev ff, tk Here
the Republicans and Federaists are com
pletely at issue the former are fighting a..
gainst Britain TO secure the personal safety of
our gallant seamen, and protect them from
British press gangs, while the latter are Will
ing to surrender them to foreign slavery, and
to the injuries and insults Of every petty En-
glish midshipman. The following is the case
we alludc to; and the man who can read it
without feeling the glow Of honest indigna-
ton mantling on his cheek, Is unworthy the
name OF q free AMerican. We call on the
Editors Of the Centinel, Palladium, Gazette,
and Boston Daily Advertiser, to give place to
this single instance Of authenticated impress
men,, and then they may excuse tho eaemy
as they will. .........
JAMES TOMPKINS, Of Dutehess coun.
ty, Penn. being sworn, saith, tha, he is q ma
tive OF Ulster county,opposise Poughkeepsie;
that he sailed out OF New-York in the month
of April, 1919, in the ship Minerva, bound TO
Ireland; ihat on her homeward bound pas
sage, in July alter, this deponen,, with three
other American seamer, Samuel Davis, vii.
liam Young, and John Brown, were impress
ed and taken on board Of the. British ship Ac.
teon, David Smith, captain. We were taken
on Saturday evening ON Monday moroing we
were brought to the gangway, and inform
we must enter Oh board the ship and live as
other seamcn, Or we should live ON oatmeal
and water and receive 6ye dozen lasbcs.-
ibis deponent saysg himseH and the other s
impressed with him did refuse TO enter, and
each of them were then whipped Eve dozen
ashes. On Wednc sday following we were "a
gain all brougba up aud had the same oiler
made to us TO enter, which we refused, and
~e were again whipped four dozen hshes
zach. On. Saturday after, the like offer was
made TO Us, and on our refusal, we were again
whipped three dozen lashes each. On MONDAY
still refusing to euter, We were a.
gain whipped two dozen each. On Wcdnes-
lay following we were again whipped Que
lozcn each, and ordered to be taken below
md put In irons till we cid enter and the
apsam said he would punish the damned
lsn&se rasesis til they did enter We were
hen put fn irons, aud hid in irons three (
nonths> During the time of ouu imprsssmen,
he ship had an engagement with aud cap
nred . French ship Bsfore this action we
'cre taken ouu Of the irons and asked TO fgh,
ut We refused and ader the action we were
gam ironed, where We remained ,ri the ship X
rived at Lonsloa After arriving there VIC
rs; heard Of the war with Aperica, and tha,
,e Gaerriers was taken. This depoaent took
Is shirt, Samuel Davis and William Young
ok their handkerchiefs, asaae stripes and
ass be- the Anerigses sslbss, asd hsnsc IL