Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-10-22

/ distinct prov'''01r ~. precise for. !, IN
tbs p'; !. nv be done j, no. insisted All All
crowded the impert = s.In.;dsrasion
,s., Is required is, that ~ e, .ss part Of
IS N. &C, 10 be psrtormsaa s IIh Govern.
n. United States, en-; he. com. .deou,,e
.n .hall stipp,... NJ VII $500. ~
men ' ,sr."iba:e or iosoear the
manner, ..93smprsssmeat from American
seT has been suggested az an expedient
! mode Of adjustment Of this controversy
that British cruizers should have right
to search our vessels for British seamen,
| bu. that the Commanders thereof should
should be subjected to penalties, IN case
they made mistakes, and took from
them American citizens. By this the
British Government, would acquire the
right of search for seamen, with that OF
impressing from our vessels the sao-
iects Of all other Powers. 1t Will no'
escape your attention, that by admitting
the right, in any case, we give up the
| principle, and Leave the door open to 9
| very kind of abuse. The same sbIectlon
is applicable to any and every other ar
rangement, which uithholds the respect
due to our flag BY net allowing II 20
| protect the crew sailing underit it.
II the FIRST alternative should Dc
dopted, it will follow, that none OF the
British seamen who may be in tho u
nited State, at the time the Treaty takes
effect, and who shall not have become
citizens, will be admitted into our ser
vice, until they acquire that right.
IF the second is adopted, the Dn~5ef
of native British seamen, VIA have bee"
naturalized, and Will be admissible Into
our service, will not, it is believed eX-
coed a few hundred, all others who may
be in the United States at the time the
Treaty takes effect, or who may arrive
afterwards, will he excluded
As a necessary incident to ,n adjust
mcnt on the principle Of either al,erna
tive, it is expected that all American
seanen. who have been impressed. Will
be discharged, and that those who have
been nataralized, under the British LAWS.
by conpul~ive service, will bs permitted
to withdraw.
| have to repeat that our great object
which you have to secure, In regard 10
impressment, is, thst ou- flag shall p'o
tect the crew. and providing Tor this IN
a Satisfactory manner. that you are author
lied to secure Great Britain cffectCal'y
againt the employment Of Der scsmen
in the service of the U. States This ii
is believed would be done by the adop
ticn of either of the above alternatives
and the application to that which may
be adopted, of the checks contained IN
law of the last session relative to sea-
men; in aid of which it will Away be
in the power ef Great Britain TO make
regulations operating in her own ports,
with view to the same effect. 10 ter
inmate, however, this controversy IN
manner satisfactory to both parties the
Presid. Mt is willing should other checks
he suggested as likely to be more effec
tual, consistent with the spirit OF our
constitution, that you should adopt them.
The strong feature Of the FIRST alterna
| live which au,horises the naturalization
of seamep, requires their continued re-
| sidence in the u. States for Eve years,
as indispensable to the attainment Of
| that right. In case this alternative be.
adopted, the President is siIling. for ex.
ample, to secure compliance with that
condition, to make it the duty Of each
alien, who may be desirous to become
citizen, to appear in court every year
for the term Of FIVE years, till his right
shall be completed. This example il
| given, not as limitation, but as an H.
lustratien of pour power; for TO the ex'
| cIusion of British scsmen from our ser.
eice, no repusnance is felt. To such
exclusion the amicable adjustment Of
| this controversy with G. Britain affords
a strong motive. but not the only one.
Il is a growing sentiment in the y. S
that they ought to depend ON their o~R
population, tor the supply OF their ships
Of war and ncrchan, service expert.
| ence has shewn that ii is an abundant
resource. In expressing this sentiment
you will do it III manner to inspire
more fully a confidence, that the ar
rangement which YOU may enter into,
will he carried faithfully into effect.
with ~. dersSa,ing, however, from the
eonciIiatory spirit of the accommodation.
| A strong desire has heretofore been
pressed BY the British government to
obtain Of the U. States an arrangement
to prevent the desertion Of British sea.
men, when in our ports, and it cannot
be doubted, ,hs, stipulation to that ct
feet would be highl, satisfactory, as we'll
as useful to G. Britain. II is f'irly to
be presumed that il alone, would afford