Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-05-31
9portlano:
Monday, May 81, 1913.
The MesSage-or intermina6d
WGr.

The MesSqge--or intermina0(,
WQr.
The equivocal language heretofore
held by the present American Cabinet
relative to free ships making free
goods" is at length thrown aside and
the President comes forth, not accord
ing to his usage in such cases, but in
the most direct manner, as the champ
ion oil BJnotarte's National code, that
the flag shall protect all it covers
whether of persons or property."-We
have not time to siit this ingenious, tatr
7oeather message by paragraphs, and
must therefore content ourselves With
some short remarks on the most'esse
tial subject which it embraces -" The
British cabinet, also, must be sensible
[says the mrssage] that with respect 10
the important question of impressment,
on which the war 81 essentially tuins,
a search for, or seizure OF British fer
sons or PROPERTY on board neutral ves-
sells on the high seas, is moi beiligerent
right derived from the law of nations !;
and il is obvious, that M UisH or search
or use offorce for any furfose, on board
the vessels OF one independent power
on the high seas, can, 10 war or peace,
be sanctioned by the laws or authority
of another power For the first time
We find something to commend in Nh
NJ ,dison's message lit is his sincerity,
his tearing the veil from the face Of MS
MITIGATE and winding policy. Happy,
thrice happy might it have been for our
devoted and Inflated country, ifthis
open avowI had sooner been made
The Presidential election would have
Terminated very Differently Most oil
the honest and upright among the
Democrats have declared tina: il they
supposed Mr.. Madison could advocate
principle SO preposterous and uoJusi
as that contained in the foregoing ex.
tract, they should Withdraw their conf
dence from him. Some weak minded
Federali.,s too, have declared tina; nont
of he cor esoondence OF the cabinet
ministers, could be construed or perver'
ted rs setting up the Napoleon doctrine,
that neutral 8hlhs Shouid on no hretence
eyhateuer be visited Here our doubts
are at an end-al cavilling Is sllenced
We are in duty bound TO acknowledge
that some federalists, and many demo
Gratis, have been deceived Let them
profit by the clear light which IS now
presented to them.
That the right of search by belliger'
en,s in all cases, for conlrAband goods
for enemies persons or property should
be yielded, Is a principle which We be-
lieve seven eighths OF the American
people would oon,eud against, as reso
lutsy as the BRUSH ol any other nation
Admit this iavorite doctrine of Napole
on and our President, and every neutra
Can with impuni,v and without the pos
sibiity OF detection, aid and comfort on
enemy in the prosecution oil war a
gainst us No visit OF search shall b.
made for any furfoSe." How then il
the character OF the vessel 10 be ascer
tanned A false show OF colors is onl.
necessa 10 protect even an enemy
Neutrals might without danger become
the transports oil the enemies forces
munitions of war, provisions, and al
articles centraband OF war.
, The usage of civilized nations, a
sanctioned by each, is the law Of nation
and Notwithstanding the high author
ity of MIR. Madison to the contrary. W,
I; challenge him or his hottest parlizan
, to name a single belligerent nation tina
ever yielded the right of search. Tn
right OF search therefore is derlOe'
from the law of nations, because 1t is
4, usage sanctioned by them. Had WI
/. leisure we could produce quotations
from authorities which would entirel!
upset the assertions of our President.
AweA digested system Of internal req
enne will soon be diyulsed to the PEG
| pie, whose patriotism, no doubt, vii
induce them to pay heavy land faa
most cheeriully, Tor the support OF Ma
! poleon's law, that" free ships shall pro
/. tect enemies persons and property
1t is obvious that the British viii
never yield the right OF search, ant
that We must submit to an intermlDabl'
war-or, procure change OF rulers.