The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-04-20

Nhtlher the i1eSlUSuI ever lllaCc SNNh
m oral declaration as that here attributed
10 him, is that il is asserted by the POST
But We have no doubt that the President is
determined not to make peace with G.. 4.
so long as she persists ia the practice ut
improvements as heretofore exercised by
her on beard OF American vessels on tie
high scas---And, what is more. we have no
doubt that the people of the United States
viii support him IL that deterninatiOo. -
Be this as il r'aY, and taking it for granted
that the Post correct (Which we do not
admit in staring the question at issue he
tween the two countries, tn be - whether
Great Britain VIII psist upon the right OF
irakiag her own subjects, when tnund on
board our merchant vessels on the high
seas we ask, what Just occasion the Bril-
Itisli government have, DIMINISHING upon this
rigllt after the passage of the act of last
session Of Congress, by whiCh her subjects
are excluded from serving on board our
l0esseis? And is not the abuse of this pre-
tended right in impressing United States
citizens sufficient ground FOR our govern
ment to contend for its suppression, especi-
Ially after rendering TO Great, Britain a
practicable substitute for its exercise.
But not contented with the violence al
ready done totrnth, the editor proceeds &
states the question at ssne, in other words,
consent that our flag shall protect all that
sail under it. and ,hus transport, If we
please, 100000 French soldiers into any
part of the British dominionsf for, to tnis
length extends che doctrine aintained by
MIR. Madison.''N We know Of no other au-
thentic Source where to look fer the doc
rine assumed ami &C. be maintained hy ou,.
government on this head. but public state
papers. The first rage Of the printed do
cuments, 70 which we happen to turn ir
opening volume, contains the following
in a letter from, Mar. MoERoE, the minis
ter at London, to Mr.. sec CANNING
" The relation Of the beiligerent to the neu-
ira power extends 10 -cer'ain objects only,
ard is defined in eaoil by known laws
Beyond thgtlimit. the rights of the neutral,
are sacred, and cannot be eneroached an
without violence and Injustice. Are any
or the passengers on board the neutrat YES
sci in tho navy and military service Of the
ienenyf Ifsuch are found thev are made
prisoners bat a prisoners they have rights
which the opposite heligerent is bound TO
respect. This practice, (that of Impress
mems) however, looks to other objects
than arg here rccited. 1t involves poonec
ton ofbeiligerent on one side, and of neu.
tral on the other. ltpursues the vessel of
a friend for an unlawful purpose, which il
executes in > manner equally uni, wfni -
every commercial vessel of the y. States
: hat ravigates the ocean is liable to be in
vaded by 1t, and rot ap individual on boa ri
OF any OF them is secure while the practice
Is maintained" Here We sec the making
prisoners OF military persons in the service
ofan enemy fund ON board 90 our vessels
IS Distinguished from the impressment of
seanlen on board the same-and that the
one practice is admitted TO be legal, whilst
the other IS disputed. What then becomes
of the assertions That our government con
tend ;hat our Spy shall protect all that gail
under 1t, INCLUDING French soldiers i?