The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-03-16
ENQUIRER-OFFICE, March 10.
SEAMEN..


We lay before the reader the important
act passed by the last Congress respecting
Seamen.
II any man should ask why such a step
was not taken before. We ask in return why
ms America always to take the first step |?
| why has not q. b taken some step on her
part to punish the officer Who have impress
led American Citizens from our ships. Is
there one OF the IN who has been fined, i'm
prisoned or disgracedt Has not, OH the
contrary, every insult that has been lavish
ed upon the Americans, been passport to
favor and promotion Great Britain was
more strongly bound to pass her laws to
punish the abuses of her practice of i'm
piessnent, than we were to limit the en-
pioyment OF her seamen on board of our
ships. Yet, we have again taken the first
step towards Cancellation. Is this the svar-
SHIRT which has been charged to the re-
publican party?
The reader is invited to examine the
law before Kim. Does it not speak the
9I'Tf OF oopeiiiation and heace ? All sea-
men are dTiven from our service, but citi-
zens OF the y, S-cOmmercal agents of G..
d. are to reside III our porte and are privi-
legged to object to any particular searnan's
going into our ships-the public commander
or private captain who employs any sea-
man. Contrary to this law, is to be amerced
The one IN fine of $1,000, the sother Of 500
IS this provision strict enough for the friend
OF u. britain? In penal law, the intenti-
on has always been held to be the gist of
tt,= Hence, bat in the case before US the
penalty is to fall alike upon the innocent or
the guilty. upon the captain who EMPLOYS
a British seaman whether he knows him
to be such or DOT. Does this satisfy the
friend of Britain?
M Eri5iSh suhiact ;c have, I
rallied, unlesa he has resided five success
i've years IN the u. S.-This provision will
operate as almost complete bar to the
complaints OF the British ministers, about
! their runaway seamen Mot one British
seaman, therefore, in 10000, can be pri-
vlleged to enter our service for, which of
them will remain five years or shore to
accept the boon of citizenship?
These restrictions are extremely rigid
the penalty upon the innocent captain is
perhaps the most severe one which We have
ever seen III penal code they are almost
! too greet concession to be made on the
| shrine Of pcace--and yet there is one point
OF view in which the law, as il now stands.
strikes US as being altered for the worse
From the original bill.--The bill as il went
J into the II. Of Il, forba1 the employment of
any seaInen, after the treaty OF peace" ex-
| cept natural born citizens of the u. S. or
citizens OF the y. s., az tie time Of said trey
| ~ ofheGce being made and concluded, or
I persons" who had declared their i,ltetl,ion
to become citizens &c. The last clause has
beer, and we think very properly. struck
| OUTPUT along with it has been struck out
the previous clause restricting the use OF
| British born subjects to such only as were
/ cifi@e7s a. tie lime of the treaty of peace
! The law, as 1t now stands, does, to be sure.
/ fRFS T. aim nGt fo no l..
deny ing HafnrahzGfion to British seaman :
who viii scarcely rcmaim years on shore
! to enjoy 1t. hut It was best to 30 the whole
! length ID the law, and to- exclude from our
ships every naturalIcd seaman exceDt
| those only who were naturalized at the trea
! ty OF peace. The law properly provides that
/ its restrictions are not to bind uD the hands
! ofthe treaty making power-aud VIC have
no doubt, il ever Great Baitain accepts OF
the mediation of Russia. aud meets us in
/ tho spirit Of peace, that this provision, il
peace rests upon it, will receive The acqui-
esccnce O. the President OF the u. S.--Thus
far and no further. lie will ncUer sancti.
! on the practice OF impressment on board Oh
American vessels.
Who viii 50 further fban this to propi.i.
! ate the enemy ! We do not address ourselves
to those predjudiced beings, who, though
they have been generously admitted to the
rights Of citizena, bastod in our sunshine.
and battened upon the Fat of ur land who
though they have exchanged the pow
| erty. in which they were b RI, for ihe
prosperity which tbey enjoy. who owe eve
| w thing to TIC country in which they live
except the iitsbs which they brought hith
er some = whom have even M gied their
j BLOOD witl ours, and val ieafs orlinA them
! descendants to partake OF tie poi;t,csl dcs-