Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-04-26
Congress ofthe y. States.
SENATE.
The Retaliation Report.

< The following important Report was
on Saturday transmitted by the Presi-
dent of the United States to the Senate,
is consequence of resolutions adopted by
that body soiss weeks ago.
The Secretary of State, to whom was
referred several Resolutions of the
4 Senate Of the 22d of February and 9Th
of March last, has the honor TO sub
nit to the President the following
REPORT: !.
Although these Resolutions are OF
different dates, and refer to subjects 10
SOME respects distinct IN their nature,
vet, as they are connected in others OF
considerable importance, which bear es-
ssntially on the conduct Of The parties In
4 the .rresent war, it is thought proper to
{ comwrize then, in the same report.
The FIRST OF those Resolutions calls for
the names Of the individuals who were
selected from the American prisoners OF
war and sent TO Gre&t-BFitain for trial !;
S their places ogresidence in the U.States;
the times when and the C.narts by which
they were admitted to become ci,izens;
the regiments.sso which they belong !;
! when and where they were taken |; with
comics Of any Official correspondence re-
xpecting the treatment OF prisoners OF
war, and of any orders for retaliation on
either side.
The other resolutions request intcr.
nation OF the conduct of g.. Britain to.
wards her native subjects, taken in arms
against her, and of the general practice
the nations OF Europe relative to ma
turalization, < the emplcyments IN war,
each, of the subjects of the other; OF
the cases, with their circumstances, In
which any civilized nation has punished
its native subjects taken in arms against
ii, for which punishment retaliation was
inGlicted by the nation in whose service
they we're taken. And, lastly,
Under what circumstances & sn what
grounds G. Britain has refused to dis
charge native citizens of the y. States
impressed into her service and what
has been her conduct towards American
seamen on board her ships OF war, at and
since the commencement oil the present
war with the United States.
The paper marked AScoptains the
names Of the American prisoners who
were sen, to England for trial by the Bril-
fish Commander in Canada; Of the corps
10 which they scIong ofthe times when
and of the places here, they were taken
Ofthe;r places of residence in the Unit
ed States; OF the times and the courts in
which theylwere admitted to become ci-
tizes., there is no evidence IN this de-
partment, nor Is there any to shew whe-
Their they were naturalized or native CT
1tizens ef the United States. This parer
contains also copy of the orders OF o"ta
Coyernsoents for retaliation, and OF the
correspondence between their respec-
tive comnissaries, concerning the treat.
mens OF prisoners.
The paper marked B states various
Grounds on which the British govern
ment has refused TO deliver up Ameri-
can seamen, impressed into the British
service, on the application of the agents
of the u States, regularly authorized to
demand the -, with the correspondence
relating to the same. II communicates
also such information as this department
IN has been able to obtain OF the conduct OF
the British governments towards Amer.
can seamsn on board British ships oil
war. At and since the commencement oil
,he ,nresent war. Among the causes as
s,-oed for their detention, the following
ore the most deserving of notice
~ That they had no documents, or
tha, their documents were irregular.
,. Tha, they were released from pri-
son in Gottenburg,
3. That they were exchanged as bTl-
fish subjects,
q. Were said to be imposters:
8. To have married in England,
s hid not answer the descriptions
& Given Of them in their projections.
7. Had attempted to desert.
~ Were sent into the service for
Smuggling.
9. Were not to be found on board o.
Ire ship stated
10. Had voluntarily entered into TIE
British service.
IL. Were natives OF foreign countries
Prussia, Sweden, Italy, &c.
lis p,obahle that some ofthe seamen
whose discharges were demanded, may
not have been native citizens OF the =
States. but very presumahe that Inc
greater part were. Indeed the pretex'
assigned for their detsntion seems TO ad-
NIT il Hal they been native SUBJECTS
Of England, being thsre, their origin
mig hi have been traced. But'that is the
ground in few Instances only. In urging
that some had no projections orthat their
prosec,ions we're irregular that Others
had been exchanged as British 9rison-
srs were imposters; had attempted &c
desert {; did rot answer the projections
~ O. ala