The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-04-29

understand less of the .; ancient and accus.
he'd praclice",of Great Britain as TO this
alter |: but, sir, have never before hcard'
ccpt from the London newspapers, that u.
Itain did ever, until now attempt to tahe
rsons- OF any description out OF neutral yes
Is sailing upon the high seas and very GER
|n am that such praticc Is not warrant
nay, that il never was thought o!, by any
those authors who have written upon public
Nv. l do not rccollcct single instance IN
hich we have exercised whs' is here called
righl--lnd if, in the aban.onment OF the
actice, we give up no known right OF Eng
nd, such abandonment can be no dishonor |;
bless, which would be "a monstrous proposi-
on, il be regarded as dishonorable to cease
do a.y thing, because the doing OF IL has
zen the subject OF COMPLAINT and the object OF
fSisfaHce.
The men who conduct tie London news
apers, and whose lucubrations arc sore
|ll,ction TO their native country, have long
cen charging the Americans with wish TO
|iake England give up her" right OF search I"
Whether this falsehosd has arisen from sheer
Ignorance, or from that mpuoity III deception,
r rather encouragement TO deceive, which
uch writer's have SO experienced IN England,
will not take upon me to determine, but
know well that IL Is most auadcious iaise-
hood | know that America has never exr
|,ressed even = wish make us give up me
fight Of arch !" and finer government were
% attempt to accomplish such an end by war,
am quite sure that ii would soon lose the
kupport OF the people. But +" the right OF
scarch" is not, and never has been, tor mo-
Smcn,, by any writer on public law, considered
bs "a right to search for persons, except, indeed
military persons, ndthose too, openly employ
ed in the enemys service. The right oil
search" is right possessed bya belIigerem
power 10 search for and TO seize as good prize
any articles contraband of war, such as guns,
sowaer, aud the like, which may be OH board
,f neutral ship gong TO an cnemy's port
because oy carrying the said articles, the neu-
rai docs in fact aid the enemy in carrying on
he war This right has been further extend.
d TO any goods belonging 10 an enemy found
II board neutral vessel /; because, by becom-
rs the carrier of his goods, the ncutrsl does,
u fact screen his goods. a. far as possible,
rom capture, and does thereby also aid the
aemy. This is what is called " the righ' OF
earch ia right, however, which as Tar as
elates to goods, has been often denied by neu-
o the threats of Russia, Sweden, and Den
mark, towards The end oil !he tGSf American
Wr.
But OF this right, OF no hart OF this right, do
he Americans now complain. They yiclc to
he exercise of this right in all It's rigor. but
hey desy that we have any right al all--they
ieny that We have prc,ence To any 'ight---to
stop their vessels on the high seas, and TO take
Dnt of them any hersons whatever, unless m
deed military persons in the service OF our
cnemy ; and repeat, sir, that know oil no
usage oi nalions--.hat know Of no ancient
usage OF our own evcn--that l know of no
aw, maxim, principle or practice, 10 sanction
hat OF which the Americans complain, aud IN
resistance OF which they are now armed and
At war and, therefore, am OF opinion that TO
lb4nion this practice would be no dishoncr to
England.
Lord Cas,lereagh talks Of our right to =" i'm
u css Bfiiish sea8ien from the merchant ships
{ a foreign state" lmpressment may take
lace in our ports and harbors, ii conhned 10
ur o7vr scenen, America does not object TO
!. i; Is upon the high seas that she objects to
becAuje there the matter mass
Z left TO the discretion ortae Brisish officer
o one 10 appeal to there is no umpire
lcre is no Judge to look into proofs and 10
-cldc. The searching officer may, under
is discretion, take out as many men as he
icascs---hc may leave the snip destitute OF
ands necessary,o conduct her league and
'e may take out Ame.jcan cililens as we'll as
slfsh subjects. Thatthis may be done Is
Iui'e Certain, because il has been done III
ountless instances. Thousands oGna,lve "A.
ncrcans thus impressed, have been released
y our admiralty on the official application OF
he American agents and, who can doubt
HIT many Thousands remain unrcleasad 4!
iencia! Lyman, late American consul in Len
len, once stated in report to his governmen,
hat there was ebou, $4,000 native Americans
hen on board our fleet who had been i'm
,ressed from on board American ships on The
Ugh seas. lie might possibly cxaggcrate
'at II is not TO be doubled that the number
vas, and has been, yevy considerable. beg