Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-08

other gentlemen may Ia s;,c.
Of this bill, and The object OF lntto!uen
il at this ,lmc, l cannot but consioer II
elmer AS measure of haeJf cation' or as
a mere rrhs5it:on of pacific probe ss'ons
calculated to strengthen the declining
popularity Of the war and us au''.o'
RI. gentleman from Tennessee has en-.
tered his protest against holding cut
false eoIovs, in recommending the adop
ton OF this bill will not-lr wouid III
become me TO question the sincerity "
the gentleman, the more SO as ne "a1
EXPRESSED his willingness TO aom,' "
x,rious notifications to the details o.
the bill.
nor is it the proper time, to pass III re-
view the several sections OF this oiii' ahu
peint out their Inconsistency * detects
| will, however, remark, generally, 'na'
the regulations and penalties are insuth-
cient to secure its faithful execution
The first and second sections are at va
rance with each other, and the eighth
section calculated to produce difficulties
totally unessential TO ourselves a!id pet
free from constitutional objections.
therefore admonish gentlemen Ii the!
wish to avoid the imputation Of deccft'0":
On the very face Of their proceedings, to
amend the bill so as to reconcile tie nrst
and second sections. As these sections
at present stand, the first excludes from
our maritime service all foreigners VINO
shall not have been naturailzed, or nave
commenced a course OF naturalization
at the ume of this law going into effect,
.nd shall have remained within the ter
titoriul jurisdiction Of the United States
for the space OF Eve years. agreeaoiy
70 nv construction Of the second section
(and | dorot not ii is the correct con-.
struct;onl not oniy The two descriptions
of foreigners before stated, but all those
who may at any time hereafter be natu-
rallied are allowed the same privilege
The sections a"e, therefore, at war With
each othel, and it is for gentlemen to
determine which they Will adopt and
which reject. Icomtend they axe bound
to reject the Cd section, fer it viii berc-
collected, in the course OF the discus
s;ons this session in relation to the DacI-
fc advances, as they are termed, maze
to the British government since tie de-
claration OF war, almost every gentleman
of the majority who spoke on the sLb-
;ect. avaiied himself of the unauthorls-
ed proposition, which, Mr.. Russell tells
US he made 10 lord CastlereaSh, VIZ. that
Eli British scamen should be excluded
from our public and commercial service
except SUCH as had already been natu-
raiized. Gentlemen have given on va
rious occasions their appreciation 10 THIS
proposition, and hro't 1t in aid OF their
ARGUMENTS a- a legitinratc executive act.
| require then tina: you seal you7 appTo.
baton of that siledged proposition, by
making the provisions of the bill co-ex-
trpsive with it. II you DO not, you con-
tlen,n that which you heretofore pro-
icsscd to approve.
Mr.. Chairman, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Nr. Grurtly) contends that
no distinction exists, that none ought to
BIZ a.atle, as to the extent OF privilege or
prohibition between native and natura-
lize,I citizens. This position is in
great degree correct. and whilst the two
descriptions OF persons remain within
the jurisdiction of our laws, they are
equally entitled to protection; and /
should very Reluctantly give my assent
10 aay law, which had Tor ITS object the
abridgment Of one single right or priv.
ieye which natursiized citizens now en-.
juv and have been accustomed to eHer-
cisc nor do contend Tor the exclusion
OF those already natpiailzed, from the
maritime service OF the United States.
My feelings are agathst such course
the sentiment Of tho country IS asains;
It; and the Individuals themselves, from
the long enjoyment Of the right, would
think thems ewes aband Moreover,
the irconsjterable number of persons OF
that description in our sea service, will
prevent it from being question OF Sc
rious import, if this country and Great
Britain arc disposed to accommodate the
differences which unfortunately exist
But, sir, ii TIE question is to be decided
on abstract principles of national or So
c,.i law, whether one nalbn can, by any
contract. expressed or implied, With
rive citizen OF another nation, totally
dissolve the political obilg; tons which
existed between such citizen and lis IA
tive state-it must be determined a.
sa!ast such right. l contend that ali
civilized nations do recognize matcrisi
betH cen their native and a.
;tcpted Observation-Disclosures which
arise from the nature and first principles
OF society-principles which impose
obligations and duties paramount 20 con-
stitutiona! or written law, and without
which nations could nc, exist, ;.ni indi-
viduals would be always insecure. These