The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-04-02
BY Thomas Ritchie.
WORTHY OF pE.RuSAI..

AMERICAN SrATEs.-My two last
numbers were devoted principally 20 the
task of endeavoring to convince the Prince
Regent and the public, that it was neither
dangerous nor dishoporable to yield TO the
terms upon which we might have had, and
NAV YET have, peace with America and
20 my great modification, though, must
confess, not much to my surprise, I now
see, from the contents Ut the last Gazette,
wherein is His Royal Highness's q" Deciara
rion," that all my endeavors nave been of
no avail, and that war, long, expensive and
sanguinary war, will now take place with
an enemy, who, above all others, is capa-
BILE of inficting deep wounds upon this al
ready crippled, or at least exhau.tsd ma
sion.-From the FIRST publication of the let
tiers which passed between Lord WELLESLEY
and Mr.. Pinckpey, soon after che French
had announced their intention TO repeal the
Berlin and Milan DEGREES from the very
day of that publication, which took place
soon after | was imprisoned insNeUgate for
( two years (with fine to THE KING,
which I have since. paid, of thousand
Found) for having written y published
upon the subject of aogging certein English
militia men, at the town CT Ely, III England
who had been first reduced to submission by
German troops from the very day OF that
publication began TO fear the present sad
med a new and more serious character than
1t had ever before worn. With that fear
IN my mind, bent all my feeble powers TO.
wards preventing such result. have fail
ed opinions and CouRsels the direct oppo-
site OF mine have prevailed; and time will
show who wasright and who wrong.-Upon
former occasions the real grounds of war
have. but too often, been lost sight or in the
multitude * confusion of subsequent events:
the government had the address to enlist
tne passions of men on it's side, &c the voice
of reason has been stihed.-But, here, as l
was from the first resolved it should be,
there is clear, distinct, an undisguisab!e
ground before our eyes; we know we'll
what we are at war for we know and
must bear in mind, that we are at war for
Mc hurttose Of enforcing our practice Of
STOPPING American veSscis uf,sn the high
.seas, and taking our Of them al such fer
sons as our naval officers may deem 10 be
british seaRen.--This is now become the
Sleacly defined subject, of the war with A.
M,erica.---The DECLARATIONS" which
viii be found below. inserted at fall length.
doea. not contain any nevV matter it is
summary of whae our ministers have before
alleged & asserted IL their correspondence
with the Americas Government arr its di-
vers agents. Bat there are some few pas
aagss ut it which requr= TO be particularly
hoiiced.--The QUESTION relatipg &c the Or
6ersS IN council has been before SC amply
Sifc,issed, in my several latters and articles
Npon..th subject, that viii not cucumber
n.ylprLsent seinerks with any thing relating
thereun.o but viii confine myself to whas
relates to the iDpressment of persons out
or American ships on the high seas. Upon
Shis point the IS" Declaration" says His
1Royal Highness can never admit, that in
the exercise Of tho andox6ked, and ,,ither-
to undishuted right Of searching Neutral
Snierchant yrSse!S in time O 7var, the inn
"pressrnent Of British ssamen, when found
therein, can be deemed Gny violation Of q
neutral Rag. Neither can he admit, that
The taking such seamen from ON board
: such vessels, can be considered by any
neutral state as hostile measure y i.s-
tiEieble cause Of war---T here is no right
. more CLEARLY established, than the right
which sovereign has to the allegiance
: OF las subjects, more especially in time OF
war. Their allegiance is no optional duty
which they can decline and resume ut
pleasure. 1t is call WHICH they are.
. bound to obey: u B gan 7sith fhe r 6erfh,
and can oniy terminate qVit.i their exist.
e ence. ------if . similarity OF language and
'mauneTs mag mahe the exercise of this
right more liable to fnrtiht mistakes,
and occasional abuse, when practised to-
wards the vessels Of the United States,
the same circumstances make il also "a
right, with the exercise os which, IN re
gard to such vessels, it is more difficult
to dispense. The doctrine of allegiance,
as here laid down, admit, with some ex
osptions but as to the right of inpressne
BRUSH seamen, on the high seas, out Of
neHtral ships, i deny il 10 be founded on
eny principle or maxim. laid down by any
writer on public law. Indeed, the DEC
TAXATION" does not say SEARCHING
neutral vessels III time OF war, is :" taId0u6t-
cd aud has 5seE ht.hcrto upfishntcJ." -.
This is not correct for, not only has even
mis- right been DOUBTED, DOT only are there
two opinions abort il in the books on pub
lie law, but ihc writer's ON pubic law are,
tor the most part against the said right, az
fgt practice ~. and they contend that we
have no right to seize enemy's goods on
board OF merchant ships which are neutral.
Nay, the contest has given rise to military
Tesistance on the part ct our now ally, Rus
STA. Denmark, aud Sweden aud what -
stiil nCreI Greac Bti ain ceased, upon TIA +
thrcnfs, 10 exercise this, even mis-, right
- seiz nS enemy'S ge1ds ON board Of neural
ships ot wor--But this right this right of
SEARCHING neutral ships what has it
80 do win the impreSsment 81 htrSons on
bOlrG OF such ships! That IS what the A.
msrcsn object to; aud are At war against.
1hey are not al war rainst our right of
searth, even ~ unr own interpretation of
that rght. What they OBJECT to is, the
s,oppmg 81 tllelr vessels on tac hi,h seas