The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-02

guished the hope of amicable accommoda-
uon. II is. however, possible that the Bri-
fish government, after ins,ructing Admiral
w arren, to communicate to the Depart
ment Ut State rhe repeal of the orders in
council, may have declined the arrange
ment proposed by Mr. Russell in the expcc-
tat;on that that measure would have been
satisfactory to the United States. Be this
as it may, Your committee consider it the
duty OF this House to explain to its consti-
tuents the remainiSg cause of controversy,
the precise nature OF that cause, and the
high obligations which 1t imposes.
From what has been stated, it appears
that however great the sensibility to other
wrongs, the impressment of our seamen.
was that alone, which prevented an armis-
tice, and i'm all probability AN accommodate
ton. Had that great interest been arranged
III satisfactory manner, the President was
willing to rely on the intrinsic Justice of
other claims, and the amicable spirit in
which the negociatoH would have been en-
tered into, tor satisfaction in their favor.
Great Britain claims right to impress her
own sesmen aud to exercise it i'm American
vessels. In the practice British cruisers
impress American citizens, and from the
nature of things. It is impossible that that
abuse should not be Carried to great extent
subaltern or any other officer of the Bril-
fish navy ought not to be the abrer in such
case. The liberty and lives of Amcri-
can citizens ought not to depend on the will
OF such a party e~~,.
"' hhe British government has insisted that
every American citizen should carry with
him the evidence OF his citizenship, and
that ali those not possessed of it might be
impressed. This criterion, il not other
wise objectionable, would be so, as tho doc
ument might be lost, destroyed or. taken
from the party to whom it was granted,
nor might it in all cases be entitled to res
Pect, as 1t might be counterfeited, transfer
cd, or granted to improper persons. But
this rule is liable to other and much stron-
ger objections. On what principle does the
British government claim OF the United
states So great and shameful a degrade
ton Ought the free citizens of AN indie
pendent power to carry with them on the
main ocean, and in their own vessels, the
evidence of their freedom And are
all TO be considered British subjects and
liable to impressment who do not bear
with them that badges Is it not more
consistent with every idea both OF public as
well as OF private right, that the party
setting up claim to any interest, whether
It be to persons or property, should prove
his right! What would be the conduct of
Great Britain under similar circum stances
Would she permit the public ship OF any
other power, disregarding the rights of their
flag, to enter on board her merchant YES
sells, take from them such part of their
crews, as the boarding officers thought fit,
often her own subjects, exposing by means
| thereof their vessel to distinctions Would
she suffer such an usurpation to derive any
| sanction from her patient forbearance?
With the British claim to impress British
IN Sfota ,.,,-i,s
terfere, provided it De in British vessels or
IN any other than those of the u. States
mat American citizens should be exempt.
ed from its operation, is all that they de-
mand: Experience has shewn that this
Cannot be secured otherwise, than by the
vessel in which they sail. Take from Anne
rcan citizens this barrier, which ought to
be held sacred, and there is nothing TO pro-
tect them against the rapacious grasp of
OF the demand of the United States, de-
mand SO just i'll itself, SO consistent and
insepara- BILE from their rights. rs an indie
pendent nation, that it has been cause
OF astonshment, that it should ever have
been called in question. The foundation of
the British claim is, that British seamen
iind employment in the service of the Uni
ted States this is represented as an evil
affecting essentially the great interests OF
tiS udNlOHs i Ills complaint WOulQ
have more weight if sanctioned by the Bri-
fish example. 1t is known on the contrary,
that 1t is in direct repugnance to it. q. Bri.
tain does not scruple to receive into her SER
vice all who enter into it voluntarily. If
she confined herself within that limit, the
present controversy would not exist. Here
tofore the subjects of even the most dcspo-
tic powers have been left at liberty to pur-
sue thGir own happiness, by honest industry,
wherever their inclination led them. The
British government refuses to its seamen
that privilege. Let not this. then. be a
ground of controversy with that nation
Let 1t be distinctly understood, that in case
| an arrangement should be made between
the two nations, whereby each should e1-
| Guide from its service the citizens and sub
ljectS OF the other, on the principles and
| conditions above stated, that this House will
be prepared, so far as depends on it, to
| give 1t effect and for that purpose to enact
laws, with such regulations and penalties
| as will be adequate. With this pledge, it
is not perceived on what ground the British
government can persist in its claim If
! British seamen are excluded from the SER
| vice Of the u. States, as may be effectually
done, the foundation of the claim must
cease. When it is known that not one Bril-
fish seaman could be found on board Anne
rlcan vessels. it would be absurd to urge
that fact as a motive for such mpressment
| In declaring Willingness TO give effect
/ ~ the proposed arrangement your Commit
tee consider it equally the duty OF the
| House to- declare, in terms the most deci-
sve, that should the British government