The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-11-02


jost principles placed herself in 1880 az the
head OF neutral nations, in favor OF liberal
construction their rights and her success.
soss have geaofally followed her example. Ia
all the diseussions on itissc topics, we find
nothing Of the British claim TO impressm en,;
no acknowledgement of, it in aey treaty
or proof of submission TO, it. by any power.
II instances, have occurred in WHICH British
cruizers have taken, British scamen from the,
vessels of o,hsss nations, they wcse, as il il
presumed, 10 casss either not acquic seed in,
or Of an extraordinary nature only ,aiiot ding
no codoseaanrc 20 their practice and pre,en}
sion IN retatiou TO the United States. Cases
Of this kiDd,s IT, such there be, afford no PROOF
sf Systematic claim 10 thc British govern.
mentio impscssmcn,, or Of Submission 70 Il
by other powersl s. This claim has been set
pssainst the United States only, who have
in conscqu cnce thereof been compelled lc
discuss the merits. .e,ag ,,.f' ....e.
This claim isip fact traced to another source e
the allegiance due by British subiects, 20 ,hcii
sovereign, aud his right by virtue thereof, ID
their service, This has been distinctly sta,ec
in late declaration by The Prince Regent
Knowing the nature Of The claim, we know
also the extent OF tho right and obi cations in
cident 10 II. Allegiance isa political relation
between sovereign and bis people, 1t is iht
obligation which binds The latter in return 70
the protection which they receive. These re
ciprocal. duties have the same limit. The,
are confident TO the dominions OF the soycrl
eign, beyond which he has no rights can af
o,dsno protection, and can of course Claim
no allegiance. citizen or subject OF one pow
or, entering the dominions OF another ,owns al
lcgiancc 10 the latter, in return for the pro-
teclion he receives. Whs,bcr . sovereign ha
Alright 10 calm the service Of such of HE
subjects as have left his own dominions is Il
question respecting which also a ditfercnct
Of opinion may exist. II is certain that n
sovereign has = tight TO pcrsue his subject
Into the territory Of another, be the mo,ivS
tor II what II may Such an entry, withou.
the consent OF the other power, would be
violation Of its territory, aud aa OCT or hos,it
iy. Offenders, even conspiralors, cannot b
pcrsued by one power into the territory d
another, nor arc they delivered up BY the la
ter, except in compliance with treaties, or bl
favor. That the vessels of natiop an
considered ., part of its teriiIcy, with the ek'
cep,ioh Of the bslligsrent right only, is brit
ciple tso we'll establishes to be brought int
discussion. Each state has exclusive juriA
diction over It's own vessels. lie laws goye}
10 them, and otrcnces against those laws af
punishabIe by its tribunals only. The flag Z
o nation protects every thing sailing under
in time of peace, and in time Of war likewisI{
with the exc option Of tho belligsrcnt right
growing out Of The war. An entry on boaf
tho vessels OF one power by the cruixers
another, In any other authority over them, n
a violation OF Right, and al, oct of hostility.
The British government, aware Of The tr1x.
of this doctrine, has cndeavoi ed 10 avoid III
conscquensce IN the late declaration Of IT,
Prince Regent. 1t has not contehdcd tt{!
British cruizcrs have right 10 pursue az,
search our vessels for British sean,cn. II ~
scrts only tina, they have right TO search the
for other objects, ind being on board Cor la -
fui cause, aud finding British seamen the
that they have a figh. 10 impress and brIAY
tbem away, under the claim Of alcgiane
When we see a systematic pursuit Of our yesR
GELS by British cfuixers, ADD the impt ptcssmet 2
OF scamen from them, not at a port of the cr{H
my, whore regular blockade had been ins,
ulcd, and by the bIockading squadron, bu,
cysry part Of the ocean, on our coast, and rv}fp1
in our harbors, il is difficult 10 believe ttllq
imprcssmcnt is not the teal motive, aud tpn
other the prelcxt for il. Bu, TO place this puI
gument of the British government, on iFA!!
strongest ground, let il be admitted that toy
entry was lawful, is II SO 20 eoybmt an act p q
warranted by the purpose for which the ent y
was made There is levity 10 this artogl
men,, which neither suits the parties nor
subject. The British government founds Pe
right of imprcssment from our ships on ~
Of allegiance, which is permanent ligqe'
equally applicable to peace and war. 1ha'
right Of impressment, thc,eforc, from the ".
sels OF other powers must likewise be pcrno'.
nent aud eqa'Ily applicable TO peace and VIM
III would not, however, take his brosd grbufa''
lest the injustice and extravaganza Of the pIss(
tcn,on might excite the sstonishment and Y
digna,ion Of other powers, 70 whom, it wofsp'
be equally applicable. 10 claim il as bch
Iigerent right would have been equally unjen
nj .l,...~ .f Al, h. <nnOd