Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-04-26

which they were takeni II IL eVioeht ulaS
the recovery of British seamen has not
been the sole object of the practice.
By the report of the American
commi,sary Of prisoners in England,
it appears that considerable num-
Der of our seamen had been transfer
red from British ships of war, to
prisoners that their exchange for
British seamen taken in battle was
demanded, in the first instance, but
that claim seems to have been since
waved. 1t might have been expect
ed that the British government, on
being satifed that these men, or thai
any ofthem, were American citizens.
would have liberated and sent them
home at list ON charge. They are,
however. still held prisoners in con-
finemept. That many OF Them II
not all, are native citizens, cannot DC
doubted, for had the proof not been
| irresistible, it cannot be presumed,
while SO many others are Detained on
hoard BRITISH, ships Of war, That
these would have been exempted
| from that service. That many are
still detained. on board British ships
| of war nray be fairly inferred, even
without other evidence. from the IN.
discriminate manner OF British ina
pressment from the distant seyiee
! in which the men thus impressed are
| oftennecessariIy employed. depriving
their friends Of an opportunity 10
communicate with them; and from
the ipconsi,lerabie number discharg-
ed. compared with that which has
been demanded. Without relying
altogether on the reports heretofore
made TO Congress by this Depart
| ment, the letter Of Commodore
Rodgers. hereunto annexed, affords
data from which an estimate may be
| formed. On this point, the, CORES.
pondence between Gen. Taylor and
the Captain of the British ship the
k Dragon. and Com. Decatur and the
cominauder Camel, deserve also par
tiealar attention. If the British
Government would order strict
search to be made, thro' the British
navy, for American seamen, it would
thea be seen how many OF orr native
citizens have participated in the lot
OF the unfortunate men mentioned in
/ the corr esponlece referred to.
The contrast which these documents
present, in the pretensions and con-
duet Of Great Britain, with the pre-
tensions and conduct Of the United
States, cannot fail to make deep
impression in favor OF the latter.
The British Government impresses
into its Navy native citizens OF the
| e. S. and compcls Them 10 serve IN
it. aud in many instances even TO
fgh, against their country, while II
arrests as traitors and menaces with
death persons suspected to be native
British subjects, fer having fought
under our standard against British
forces, although they had volunteer
" emisratea to the United States X
| ineoroorated themselves into our ar
nv, after having emigrated them
selves into the American society.
! Tho United States, on the ether hand
have forced no persons into their
service. nor have they sought. nor
are disposed to punish any whs after
having freely emigrated to any part
of the British dominiops snS settled
there, may have entered voluntarily
into the British army.
| The remaining enquiries relate to
objects other than theimmediate con-
duet OF the parties in the present war.
They demand information ofthe con-
| duet of Great Britain, and OF other
powers in past times. without limita-
| tion. The information required re-
lates to the following points:
| 4. The conduct Of Great Britain
! and other nations Of Europe, as to
naturalization, and the employment
in war, each, of the subjects OF the
other.
! 2. As to the punishment OF their
native subjects taken in arms against
them. in the service oil other powers
s. Examples of retaliation by the
latter in such cases.
| These enquiries neeessariiyinvolve
an extensive research into the history
aud Jurisprudence of the nations OF
| Europe. For so important a task
the other duties of the Secretary
of State have altogether disqualified
him, since the call was made. The
approaching close of the session Goes