Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-23

employing her seamen. during war, IT
which her very existence depended up
on her own use of them, but in keeping
1T back, as a proposition TO be offered
after tie zvar had actually commenced
'Te appeal to arms, say they, in defence
of right, and to lay them down without
securing it, o, a satisfactory eDidenee of
good disposition to secure it, uould be
considered in no Other light than re-.
Enqpishment Of it," This reasoning,
though specious, is not just. Nothing is
mole common among nations, than the
temporary abandonment of the objects
of a war, without an idea of their relin.
punishment altogether. If greater evils
would result to the nation from the pre-
sent assertion, than would from the tenn
porary abandonment of right, would it
follow in any fair reasoning, that it was
forever conceded. A wise people would
estimate the object to be contended for,
and the probability of enforcing their
claim to it, with the result upon the hap
plness of those who were called upon to
do it; and they would reserve the asser-
lion of the right to period, when the
mass of Inconvenience & danger, would
bear some proportion to the object to
DO obtained, and the means of obtaining
it. Now where is the man, except exc
cutive sycophants, the plunderers of the
treasury, office-hunters, and the friends
of high taxes, large loans and standing
armies, whe will not say, that the bust
ness Of imtressment of British seamen.
md that is all Great-Britain contends
Tor, from our merchant vessels, is all evil
no way comparable to the dangers & op-
preston which threaten US from this
war. Suppose, which is by no means
improbable from past occurrences, that
we should not succeed in the contest
will the treaty of peace be confession,
that we thereby abandon the idea of our
flag being protection TO our seamen.
although we have unreasonably and un-
truly asserted this to be the grouud o.
the contest Great Britain has, however
already shewn disposition to settle this
cause of quarrel, and the Prince Regent
expressly says
eft the Arcrican government has de-
vised, or crncelves it can devise, regu-
atio's which may be safely accepted ny
G. Britain, as a substitute for this right.
it is for Ahen TO bring forward such
plan for consideration. The British 60
vernment has never attempted to ex
clude tbs question from amongst those
ate 1t has on The contrary profcsseI It's
readiness 10 receive and discuss any pro
position on this subject Coming from the
American government. 1t has never as
serted any erclu&iUt right as to the i'm
pressmcnt of British seamen from Ame-
rican vessels, zvhich il zvas nor hrefared
to acknowledge as ahherfaining equally
10 the eorernmtps o. the u. States, 7"ith
reshect to .Amc,iean sran'en uvhen found
on board Of British merchant Shits."
How directly opposed is this declara.
,ion, to the assertion of Nr. Madison and
his echoes in the committee-they say,
"NVhst would be the conduct of G..
Britain, under similar circumstances !?
Would she permit the public ships of
any ether power, disregarding the rights
of her jag, to enter on board her mer-
chant vessels, take from them such part
OF their crews as the boarding officers
thought fit, often her own subjects, ex-
posing BY n?eans thereof their vessels TO
obstruction Would she suffer such
az usurta,ion to derive any sanction,
from her patient forbearance %
We have the answer of the British 60
vernment to these questions. They do
lot conceive it to be, either disregard
of!Ae right Of their. flag, nor an usurha.
ZION, to take from their merchant vessels
in time OF war, the seamen of the nation
10 whom they belong; sIcn has been the
usage of all nations, and such, practlsed
by them they frankly admit to be our
right.
A VIRGINIAN.
The brig Helen, captain Borrowdale,
was left at St. Bartholomew on the Sd
&c the present month. Markets dull