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

kcrcDt TIgnIs, EFOWID5 out VI INC wat AH
entry on board the vessels of one power by
the cruisers of another, in any other case,
and the exercise of any other authority over
them, is violation Of right, and an act OF
hostility @
The British government, aware of the
truth of this doctrine, has endeavored to
avoid its consequences in the late declara.
ton of the prince regent. 1t has not con,
tended that British cruisers have a right
to pursue and search our vessels for Bri-
fish seamen. 1t asserts only that they have
q right to search them for other objects,
and being ON board for lawful cause, and
finding British seamen there, that they
have right to impress and bring them a.
way under the claim of allegiance. When
we see systematic pursuit of our vessels
by British cruisers, and the impressment
of seamen from them, not at a port Of the
enemy where a regular blockade had been
Instituted, and by the blockading squadron
but in every part of the ocean, on our coast,
and even in our harbors, it is difficult to
believe that impressment is not the real
motive. and the other the pretext for it
Bot to place this argument OF the British
government on the strongest ground, let it
be almitted that the entry was lawful, is il
40 to commit an act not warranted by the
purpose for which the entry was made ?
There is a levity in this argument which
neither suits the parties nor the subject
The British government Pounds its right of
impressmet from our ships on that of ale
glance, which is a permanent right, equal
" applicable to peace and war, The right
ofinpressment, therefore, from the vessels
OF other powers must likewise be perma
nent, and equally applicable to peace and
war. Ii would not, however, take this
broad ground, lest the injustice and ex
travagance of the pretension might excite
the astonishment and indignation of other
powers, to whom it would be equally appli-
cable To claim it as a belligerent right
would have been equally unjust and absurd
as no trace OF it could be found in the bel
was therefore, reduced to very embar-
raising dilemma, To acknowledge that it
could not support the claim on either prin
ciple, would be to relinquish it, and yet il
could rely on neither. 1t endeavored to
draw some aid from both. A state of war
exists which brings the parties together
Great Britain as a belligerent, and the u
States as neutral power. British officers
have now a right to board and search A
merinap vessels, bat for what ? Persons in
the service of an enemy, contraband of
war, or enemy's property. This would not
the end 1t is, however, the
utmost limit Of the beIligerent right, ALE,
stance. which is an attribute Of sovereignty y, |
q - Nxl Al. /
necessary power the national character
of the neutral vessel ceases the ompete
riyht of sovereignty and and jurisdiction
over it is transferred to Great Britain 1t
il on this foundation that the British 60
vernment has raised this monstrous super
structure. It is with this kind of argument
that it attempts to justify its practice of
imore ssnent from our vessels.
The remark contained in the declaration
Of the prince regent, that in impressing
British seameu from American vessels,
Grsat Britain exercised no right which she
was not willing 70 acknowledge as apper
taing equally to the government of the u
States with respect to American seamen
in British merchant ships, proves only,
that the British government is conscious Of
the luluStice OF the cIdills anu ueSlrOuS or
giving to it such aid as may be derived from
a plausible argument. The semblance Of
equality, however, in this proposition,
winch strikes at first view, disappears on a
fair examination. 1t is unfair, first, be
cause it is impossible for the United States
to take advantage of it. Impressment is
not ali American practice, but utterly re-
purnant to our constitution and laws. In
offering to reciprocate it, nothing was offer
ed, as the British government we'll knew
1t is unfair, secondly, because if impress
ment was allowable, reciprocation of the
practice would be no equivalent to the U
States. The exercise OF right in COM
mon. at sea, by two nations. each over the
vessels of the other, the one powerful and
the other comparatively weak, would be,
to put the latter completely at the mercy
of the former Great Britain, with her
vast navy, would soon be the only party
which made impressment The United