Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-18
Mr.. TAGGART's Address
TO HIS coNsTITuENTs,
on SHs sUB5Kr4 oFIxF4BsSAs"'"

10 ,he Citizens Of Massachuse''s' ra''
.ieularty Of the distr'es when 1 "so'
the honor to represent.
FELLOW CITIZENS, ,:r.
Ina SITUATION of the country d,tfer-
ens from the present, should not nave
,,,yen either YOU or myself the trouble
of this address. But in the present
season OF peril, involved 10 we are IN
war which, how far it may prove ram
gu. to our best interests as a hs'loh 10
i, is ,upossible, at this time, to tore'ee'
Standing as do in that public station IN
which your Partially has repea'euiy
placed me, thought duty to p'esens
YOU with few observations on the s'a'1
of tho nation. 1t is we'll known tna'
have uniformly opposed the present wa,
as we'll as all those previous steps ""'e"
have led to it. Whatever Was elmer
the nature or extent of the injuries We
had received from the different Oeihser
rents, I viewed them as growing out OIL
the present war in Europe war pro-
badly both in It's extent and IN tse S'ea
events and important consequences u
which it has been productive onl'afal's'
ed in modern times, aud that these III
iurie. would CEASE of course, on the &c
turn of peace. Our neutral situation
gave US many advantages, and aithouS"
VIC suffered some partial Inconvenience
from the mutual encroachments OF 'he
different belligerents, | considered /,
much better to bear with those par''"'
and temporary evils, than to rush. Ih'o
conflict of which VIC could calculate hsi-
Their the extent, the consequences 20 our
independence and liberties; nor inc ou'
ration. My present intention is not TO
enter on an investigation OF, either '"s
Justice or policy of the present war OF
to indulge in conjectures about It's pro-
bable issue. Some of my ideas on tnfs
subject, submitted al the close OF the
last session, are now before the Puoiie'
How far thess conjectures have been
verified By facts, is obvious to those ""o
have paid particular attention to the pas
sing event. OF the last campaign. NY
observations will be confined to one SIM
gle point, viz. the imprcssment OF sea-
men, every other matter in dispute DC
tween the two nations being, IN the view
Of the President, so far removed out OF
the way as TO oppose no n*urmnun'aoie
obstacle to an amicabie adjustment; as
appears from the message snd docu-
ments communicated 10 Congress at the
commencement of the session. It's not
nv intention 70 vindicate The British prac'
,ice of impressing s2amen. IL tna' can
be done, it is the business OF those VINO
practice it. Imean tospcak OF the Prae.
tice as it is, at least SO far as the, United
States are affected by it, Hought to exte-
nuate, and nsught to set down IN malice
1t i. vulgar error indust'lonsly circu-
lated by some, that Great b itain claims
the IN. Of imPressins At"erlcah catl
zens. She claims no such right, and
has invariably protested Willingness to
release such of that character as may
have been impressed, on exhibiting proof
of their citizenship. She claims the
right of demanding and i,npresslng her
own seamen, when found on board Ut
neutral merchant ships. The contro.
versy on this SUBJ ect between the two
governments, seems therefore 10 be cir.
cumscribcd within very narrow limits
The United States say they don't want
to protect or claim 5rltsh seamen III
their service. Great Britain says she
wants no seamen from US oaly those who
are her own subjects One would natu'
rally suppose that no adequate cause
of war, or any insuperabie obstacle
to an amicable settlement OF diflcui-
ties, could possibly arise Oh such nice
point as this. There may be still some
grounds of dispute on the question who
are to be considered as American cltl-
zens. Neither Great Britain or any o.
ther European nation, believe allows
the right of expatri,tion. Regulations
Oh this subject, particularly with regard
to seafaring people, arc particularly
strict. In France under the former dy-
nasty, the seaman who, even IN Tune OF
peace, should abandon the service ct his
country without leave, and engage I'D the
employment of a foreign merchant, was
liable not only to..be reclaimed BY force,
but also subjected to punishment, and |
know not that these regulations are al
tered, or that she pays any regard to an
&C, of naturalization by foreign 60
yernment. In the United States all to.
reigners are considered as citizens VINO
have complied with the provisions OF
our naturalization law. AS it respects
seamen, however, this can be an object
of very little consequence. A foreigner
coming into this country in the charac-
Ter of seaman, & continuing to follow
the seas as MS constant or usual employ
ment, cannet become citizen according
TO the true intent and meaning OF the
l,xr IF tho IIpitaA