Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-10-27


may enter into, will be carried faithfully
into effect without derogating, however.
from the conciliatory spirit OF the accom-
mediation.
A strong desire has heretofore been ex-
pressed by the British government, TO OBJ
tain Of the United States an arrangement
to prevent the desertion of British scamen,
when In our ports, and it cannot be doubt
ed, that stipulation to that effect would
be highly satisfactory, as we'll as useful to
Great Britain. 1t is fairly to be presumed,
that it, alone, would afford to the British
government strong .inducement to enter
into a satisfactory arrangement Of the
difference relating TO impressment The
claim Is rot xnsdElisssbse, especially as the
United States have 4 reciprocal interest in
the restoration Of deserters from American
vessels IN British ports You may therefore
agree to On article, such as hath been here
tofore authorised by the United States.
which shall make it the duty of each par
ty to deliver them up,
OF the right OF the United States to be
exempted from the degrading Practice Of
iapressment, so much has been already
said, and with such ability, that it would
be useless especially to you, who are other
wise SO well acquainted with il, to dilate
on its merits. | must observe, however,
that the practice is utterly repugnant to
the law of nations that 1t Is supported by
no treaty. with any nation, that II was
never acquiesced in by any and that a
submission to it by the United States would
be the abandonment. in favor of Great Bril-
tain, of all claim to neutral rights and of
all other rights on the ocean.
This practice is not founded on any bel
ligerent right. The greatest extent to
which the belligerent claim has been car
ried, over the vessels of neutral nations, is,
to board and take from them persons IN
| the land and sea service of an enemy, con-
traband of war, and enemy's property. All
nations agree respecting the two first arti-
cles, but there has been, and still exists, q
| diversity of opinion as to the last. On that
| and other questions of considerable impor-
tance, disputes have arisen which are yet
unsettled. The empress Catherine Of Rus
sia, q distinguished advocate Of Just princi-
! pies. placed herself, in 1880. at the head
/ Of neutral nations, in favor OF a liberal con-
struction of their rights and her success
sors have generally followed her example.
| In all the discussions on these topics we
! find nothing of the British claim to Impress
ment no acknowledgment of II in any trea-
ty, or proof of submission to it by any pow
| err. If instances have occurred, in which
! British cruisers have taken British seamen
| from the vessels Of other nations, they
were. as il is presumed, in cases either not
| acquiesced in, or of an extraordinary nature
| only, affording no countenance to their prac-
tice and pretension in relation to the United
! States. Cases of this kind, if such there be,
afford no proof of systematic claim In the
| British government to impressment, or of
submission to it by other powers. This
| claim has been Get up against the United
| States only, who have, in consequence there
Of been compelledto discuss its merits
| This claim Is in fact traced to another
| gource, the allegiance due by British sub
| jects to their sovereign, and his right, by
virtue thereof, to their service. This has
been distinctly stated in late declaration
Bv the prince regent Knowing the nature
| Of Tie claim, we know also the extent of
| lie Ii2ht and obligations incident to it
| Allegiance is political relation between q
| sovereign and his people 1t Is the obiiga-
ton which binds the latter in return for
| the protection which they receive. These
reciprocal duties have the same limit, they
| are confined to the dominions of the sove-
reign, beyond which he has no rights, can
! afford no protection, and can of course
claim no allegiance citizen or subject
of one power, entering tho dominions Of
another, owes allegiance to the latter IN
return for the protection he receives. Whe-
Their a sovereign has right 70 claim the
| service of such of his subjects as have ieft
| his own dominions, is question respect
| ing which also difference of opinion may
exist. 1t is certain that no sovereign has
right to pursue his subjects into the terrific
ries of another, be the motive for what itmay;
such an entry, without the consent of the o.
Their power, would be violation Of it's ter
ritory and an act Of hostility. Offenders.
even eonspiratcrs, cannot be pursued by
one power into the territory of another, nor
are thew delivered up by the latter, except