The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-02-11

are all To be considered British subjects and
liable TO inpressment who do not bear with
lhcm tina, badge Is il not more eonsis,en,
with every idea both Of public as we'll as OF
private right, that the party setting up "a
claim to any interest, whether il be 10 per-
sons or property, shoulc prove his right I
What would be the conduct Of Great Britain
under similar circumstances Would she
permit the public ship Of any other power,
GisIegarding the rights OF their Gag, u enter
on board OF her merchant vessels, take from
Them such part OF their crews, as the board
ing officer thought fl ,ofien her own subjects,
exposing by means thercof their vessels to
destruction Would she suffer such an usur-
patton 10 derive any sanction from her patient
iorbearance.
With the British claim to impress British
sealnen, the UniteG States have no righr TO
inte riere, provided il be in British vessels or
In any other than those of the United States.
The American citizens should be exempted
froE Its operation, is all that they demand.
Expeiienc has shewn that this cannot be Sc
secured otherwise, than by the vessel in
which they sail. Take from American cit-
zens this barrier, which ought TO be hold sac
red, and there is nothing 10 protect them
gainst the rapacious grasp OF the British ma
Wy. his thcn is the extent OF the demand
of the United States, demsDd so just In IL
self, 80 consistent and insepara5le from theii
rights, as an independent nation, that il has
oeen cause of establishment, that it should
ever have been called in question. Tie
Foundation OF the British claim is, that Brit
iso seamen find employment in the service OF
~ Tr,s ,lxn
evil affecting essentially the great interests
Of the British nation. Tins complaint would
have more weight it sanctioned by the British
example. Ii is known on the contrary, that
IL IL In direct repugnancc 10 IL. u. Britain
does not scrupIe to receive iIto her service
all who enter into il voluntarily. Ii she con-
fined herself within that limit, the present
controversy would no, exist. Heretofore the
sGblecls OF even the most despotIc powers
have been left at liberty to pursue :heir own
happiness, by honest industry, wherever their
inclination led lhem-The British govern
ment ieiases 10 It's seamcn that privilege -
Let not this, then, be a ground OF controvcr-
sy with that nation. Let il be distinctly un-
derstood, that in case an arrangement should
be made between the two nations, whereby
each should exclude from It's service the citi-
zens and subjects OF the other, on the condi-
tlons and principles above stated, that this
House will be prepared, so far as depends OH
ii, to give it effect, and for that purpose to
enact laws, with such regulations and penal
lies as will De adequate. With this pledge,it
Is not per ceived Oh what ground the British
government can persist in its claim Ii Bri-
tlsh seancn are excluded from the service Of
the Uni,cd Staies,as may be effectuaIy done,
the foundation of the claim,
When II is known that not one British sea-
man could be found on board American ves-
sells, it would be absurd 10 urge that TACT as
motive for such impressment.
In declaring Willingness TO give effect to
the proposed arrangement, your committee
consider il equally the duty OF the House 10
declare, in tetms The most decisive, that
should the British government sill decline II,
and persevere in the practloe ot impressment
from American vessels the Uniled States
will never acquiesce in tina, practice, but will
resist il Increasingly with all their force. 1t is
not necrasaiy now 10 enquire what the course
would have been with respect TO Impress
ment,if the orders in council had been repeal
ed before the dec claralioB Of was--or how long
the practice of i,npressmcnt would have been
borne, in the hope that the repeal would have
been followed by satisfactory arrangement
with respect to impressment.
War having been declared, and the case OF
impressment being necessarily included as
one of the most important causes, il Is evi-
dent that it must be provided for in the pacif-
cation The omission of it in u treaty OF
psace,would not leave it on its former ground;
it would In effect be an absolute relinquish-
u,ent an idea at which TIE feelings Of every
American must revolt. The seamen OF the
United States have a claim ON their country
tor protection, and they must be protected.
If single ship IL taken a, sea, and the prop
crty oil an American citizen arrested from
him unjus,Iy. IL rouses the indignation OF our
country. How much more deeply then
ought we TO be excited, when we behold so
many Of this gallant and highly meri,orious
class of our fellow citizens snatched from the