Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-03

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The writer above alluded to, admits,
that Great Britain, Russia, China and
Switzerland, all deny the right Of expa-
triatisn. We have proved by asacces-
sion Of Frensh ordinances, that France
has for nearly two centuries maintained
the same principles.
Denmark lately issued proclamation
ordering heme aH her su6iects under
heavy penalties. We have no copy of
the Danish eede, bat as this preclalna-
ton il more severe in its terms than that
of Great Britain, it is fairly to be pre-
sufned, that she does not admit the right
of her subjects to stay abroad during
war.
We think, that Citing the practice of
INsix nations, which constitute the major
part of Europe and Asia, We have made
cut our case, until the learned and very
laberious author in opposition shall cite
a single law or usage Of any country,
uow existing to the contrary.
We have however case Of consci.
ence to present to this vindisator of the
rights of man. and we shall really be OBJ
liged to him to give the public paper
upon it, for we read his ingenious and
we'll spun dissertations with interest &
plea ure.
The Case he has endeavored to make
out from Potter's Greek Antiquities, *
Cicero's Baibus, and Mr.. Lock, and Mr.
Dallas, is, that men have natural right
to quit their country when they please
and other societies have natural right
to receive them.
Now, there were some City thousand
Epglishmen who came over to this coun.
try in pursuance Of this natural right,
some with their families, some have mar
ried here, some have been here twenty
years-nearly all Of them came to SETTLE,
but some from ignorance, & some from
economy, and some from conscience,
unwilling to ALLURE their own country,
had not takeR the benefit of our lave OF
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of them could not
have done it, not having staid here the
competent time : yet thay came here In
pursuance Of our oqun iazus, and OF their
NATURAL rights, according to Lock and
Byskershoek, and yet our liberal CO.
vernnent have turned this country "in-
to a prison for them -
They are ordered about in the NEST
| arbitrary and tsrannieai manner, and are
held at the ned and beck Of ulen, whose
| will and whose passions are their only
L Il - o,,Sft
II then the r:ghsef erhafriation is IN.
! doubted, and has NO limitations, it ought
TO be permitted in war as we'll as peace,
or at least if man selling his property
in England, removes to this country in
| time of peace Amino expatriandi, he is
| entitled 10 remain here and to be admit
| ted according to our laws. Yet by our
statute we refuse to alien enemies the
right of naturalization even lfthey came
here ga years ago ss5s'
IF it be answered that the enjey-
meat of the right Of ertatriation depends
OH naturaiiz4 ton in the adopted country,
that the allegiance is not changed, nor
any new rights acquired, until after that
I remark hat none of the writer's cited
by our opponents, Law down an! sach
limitation, and surely upon Mr.. Locks
reasoning, man who had bona hde come
to this country in time Of peace with in
tent to become citizen, and especially
if he had made the requisite declaration
of his intention before the war, ought
not to be prejudiced or injured by the
unforeseen political measures OF his a
deptcd country.
To cav you admit the perfect right Of
erhatria ZION, and yet that when man
marries and settles in your country, AID
has been resident in it many years, you
Will order = Marshal to seize him as he
would culprit, drag nim from his bu--
sinass, transport him to what part 81 the
state he pleases, and there conhne him
is In my opinion n'ocksfy and inconsis
tency.
{ We denythen the right of expiration
a. effee,ualiy as Great Britain does.
90 fartber-if all the natural'zed En-
glisb,nen instead of being lawful Mad'-
,onians. as many or most OF them are
were openl, attached to their own eoun-
rrv, as s,tached as Frrnchnen always
continue to be to theirs, we should not
hesitate aud we ought not 70 hesitate IN
such a case to send every one OF them
out of the country.
But if it be said in defence OF this
measure of administrator, that as these
men are not naturalized, they have &C
ouired no rishrs IN this country IT will
follow of course, That their original soue-
reign cannot in such case have lost mo
rights over them. And if they are la
ble TO confinement in America as Eng
Iishmen, their sovereign must OF course
have all the rights over them that ne
has over other Englshmen.
Now where will this doctrine (and 1t
!. The only one upon which these En-
a. Lo,,> hoen setIedl lead Us In