The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-03-04

stitutcd herself the sole Judge. she waves the eui
porary use OF the rod but suspends II IN terror
EN- over our heads. Surprising II was conceded TO
gentlemen that such repeal OF u,e orders IN coin.
cn As took place on the I'D OF June last, exception
able as it is, being known heiore tue war, would
have prevented the war, does II follow that ought
20 induce 10 lay down our arms, without the re-
dress Of any other injury Does il follow, IN all Ca
ses, that that which would have prevented the war
in the first instance. should terminate the war! ny
no Il requires great struggle ior nA',on
prone TO peace this 10, to burst throuSh s nao"s
and encounter the difficulties OF war. Such hauoh
ou,rht hut seldom TO ro 10 war. When it does, IT
should be for clear and essential rights alone,
and il should firmly resolve 10 extort, AT all hazards
their recognition. The war OF the reyolutioh 10 AN
example Of war began for one object and prosecu
\ ted for another Il was waged, in its commence
ment, against the right ss,crtod by the parent coun
try TO tax the colonies Then no one tiougi. OF alb
soute independence. The idea ut independence was
repelied But the British government would have
reinqushed the principle of taxation. The founders
Of QUE liberties saw, however, that there was no Sc
curty short of Independence, and they achieved our
independence When nations are engaged IN war,
those rights in controversy. which not acknowied
ged by the trcatyof peace, abandoned. And who
is prepared say that American shah be sur
rendered the victims the Br isi prlncipIe OF Inn
pressment And, sir, what Is tins principle She
Contends that she has rh, To- the services OF her own
subjects that in the exercise Of is right, she may
lawfully impress tIlem aithouyh she finds them
in our vessels. upon the high seas, without her juIs
dction Now, Ideny that she has any right. without
the jur 5dicon, board our vessels, ON the
high seas for any o.her purpose but pursuit ofen-
craics. their goods, goods contraband OF war.
Bat she further contends, that her subjects cannotre
noince their allegiance to her and contract new OBJ
legation To other soveregns do not mean to get III
90 the general question OF the rgnt OF cxpatration
IT, is contended, all nations deny II. al nations
the time admit and practice the right of natur-
alization Great Britain does Great Britain, The
very case OF foreign seamen, imposes perhaps, fewer
restraints upon zatlon than any other nation.
Then, ii subjects cannot break their Original aegi-
ance, they may, according TO universal usage, con-
tract new allegiance. What Is the effect Of this
double obligation Undoubtedly thst the sovereign,
having the possession OF the subject would have
tho right to the services of the subject II ne
within the jurisdiction OF MS primvc sovereign he
may resume his right to his services, Of which the
subject, by his own act could not dlves himself
But MS primitive sovereign can have no right to go
quest Of him, Of his own Jurisdiction, into the
jurisdiction Of another sovereign, or upon the high
seas, where there exists either no jurisdiction, or
belongs to the nation owning the ship navigating
them But, sir, the discussion Is al o3ether useless
is not to the British principle objection .ble as it's,
that We alone to Iook-it is to her practce--no
matter what guise she puts on. IL Is IN VAIN To
acr The nvioiaoiiity of tue obligation of allegiance.
ii is in vain to up the plea of necessity and
allegc that she without the impressment
Of HER seamen. The naked truth IS, she comes,
by her press.gangs, on board OF our vessels, sezes
OUR native scAmen, as well rs natura!ized, and
dr rs them her service. II 10 tho case then, of
the assertion Of an erroneous prncipc-and prac-
sce not conformable TO the princplc---a principle
which. IL il were Theoretically right, must be forever
practically wrong. We are toid by gentlemen IN
the opposition, that government has done all that
was incumbent on it to do TO avoid just cause Of
comp aini On the part Of Cfea Bctai-that, par-
.ticuer The certificates of protection, autho zed ~
she act OF i796, frauduently used. SIR, sov-
ernnct has done too much IN granting those paper
n Al. k.fsl..
INK shocked They resemble the passes WHICH the
master grants to his negro slave. lie; the bearer,
Mungo.pass aud re-pass without moIestation" What
do tl'es imply rh. Great B,tsn has right TO take
sll who are not provided with them FROM their We
~ nature they be liable to abuse on both sides
II Great Brit in desires a maik by which she can
know her own SUBJECTS let her give them
mark The colors that foat from the mast. lac I'D |
should be the credentials OF our seamsn. There is
no safety to us. and the gentlemen have shcwn il,
bu in the rule that all who sail under the Nag (not
being encmes) protected by the das. II is I'M
possible that this country should abandon the |
gallant tars, who have for such splendid
phies. Let me suppose that the genius of Columbia
should visit one Of them in his oppressor's prison,
and attempt To reconcile h'm TO his wrctched cond-
ion she would say to him, in the language ofgen-
lcmen on the other side, Great Britain intends you
10 harm; she did not mean to impress you, but one
'f her own subjects; having taken YOU by mistake.
will remonstrate, and try to prevail upon her, by
Ieaceabe means, u release you, but cannot, my
on, fight you" ifhe did not consider THIS mock
ry. he would address hsr judgment and say, "You
we me, my country, protection owe you, IN re
urn, Obedience, am British subject, am n
ativc oil old Massachusetts, where live my aged |
Athcr. my wife, my children. l have faithfully dis
harged my duty. Will you refuse to do yours"
Appealing to her passions, lac would continue, 4" l
,,is eye in fghiog under rruxton, with the In
1rgenc /; got this scar before rripol broke this
eg on board the Constitution, when the Cuerriere /
trucS.r 1t she remained still unmoved, he would |
,reax vut, in the accents Of mingled distress and
despair,
Hard, lard, is my faf- once freedom enjoyed,
Was as hapcy as happy could be!
o. ho,s hard py fare. ho.s calling these chans
will not imagine ,he dreadful catastrophe To wnch
70 eswoai b. driven by abandonment of him to his
'ppressor. 1t will not DC. il cannot be, that his
ountry viii refuse h,m projection.
IL Is said, that Great Britain has been always will