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

haiti was never aequieScso IN oy any !
and that submission T. it By the United
St.tes,, weuld BE the abandonment in Ia.
ver Of q. Britain, Of oil claim to neutral
rights. and Of all ether rights on the o.
cean.
Thi. practice is not founded on any
bellirersnt right. The greatest extent
to which the belligsrent claim has been
carried, over the vessels OF neutral ma
tons, is, to board, and tsks from them,
persons in the land ard sea service Of
an enemy, contraband of war, Or enc
my's property. All nations aere: re
.pecting the two irst articles, but there
has been and still exists a diversity OF
opinion az to the last. On that and
Their questions of considerable inpor'
lance, disputes have arisen which arc
yet unsettled. The Empress CatbariHs
Of Russia. a distinguished advocate Of
Just principles, placed herself in 1880 al
the head Of neutral nations, in favor Of q
liberal construction Of their rights, and
her successors have generally followed
her example. In all the discussion on
these topics, we find nothing OF the brl
fish claim to impressment; no ackno~
Judgement of it in any treaty, or proof Of
submission to it by any power. 1t IN
stances have occurred in which British
cruisers have taken British .eamen from
the vessels Of other nations, they were,
as it is presumed, in cases either not &C
quiesced in, or Of an extraordinary ma
ture only, affording no conntenaHce to
their practice and pretension in relation
to the u. States. Cases Of this kind, II
such there be, afford no proof Of sys-
tematic claim in the British government
to in.pressment, or of submission to ey'
other powers This claim has been set
up against the United States only, who
have in consequence thereof been COM
PEELED to discuss its merits
This claim is in fact traced TO another
source, the allegiance due by British
subjects to their sovereign. and his
riyh, by virtue thereof, to their service.
This has been distinctly stated in late
declaration by the Prince Regent
knowing the nature OF the claim we
know also the extent of the right and OBJ
legation. incident it. Allegiance isa
Political relation between sovereign
and his people. 1t is the obligation
which 5iads the latter in return tor the
D otec,inn which they receive. These
reciprocal duties have the same limit
They are ceaGned to the dohinions Of
the sovereign. beyoDd which he hiss M
rights, car afford no protection, and
Can nf conlsc claim no allegiance. A
citizen or subject ef one power, enter
ing the dominions OF another, owes 81
legiance to the latter, in return Tor the
protection he receives Whstbev 50.
vercign ha. right to claim the service
of such OF his srbjeets as have left bis
own dominions is question, respecting
which also difference Of opinion may
exist. It's certain that no sovereign
has right TO pursue his subjects into
the territories Of another, be the motive
what it may. Such an entry, with.
out the consent of tho other power,
would be violation of It's territory, and
an act Of hostility. Offenders, even con.
spirators, canno, be pursssd BY one
power into the territory Of another, nor
are they delivered up BY tho latter, sx
cept in compliance With treaties, or by
favor. Tba, the vessels Of a nation are
considered 4 part Of its territory, with
the exception of the belligerent right
only, is a principle toe we'll established
to be brought into discussions. -E:ch
state has exclusive jurisdiction over its
own vessels. Its law. govern in them.
and offences aeains, those laws are pa-
nshable BY its tribunals only. The flag
Of nation protects every thing sailing
undea it, in time Of peace, and in time OF
var likewiee, with the exception Of the
belllseren, rights growing out Of the
var. An entry on BOARD the vessels of
one power by the eruiIers Of another, in
any Other case, and the exercise OF cry
Other authority ever them, is violation
oil Ki.bT, and an act Of nostllity.
The British government, aware OF the
truth of this doctrine has endeavored to
avoidi,. consequences in the late de
cIara,ion OF the Prime. Regent. 1t has
not commended that British cruisers have
right t" psrsue and search our YES.
sells for British seamen. 1t asserts onl,
ira, they hayea RICH, to search them
fer other objects, and being an board Tor
q lawful cause, and finding British sea
men there, that they have right to i'm.
press and bring them away, under the
claim of allegiance. When ~s see .
.yste attic pursuit OF our vessels by bri-
,ish eruixers, ard the impressment Of
sesNen from them, not AZ q port OF the
enemy, where regular blockade had
been instituted, ard by the blockading