The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-12

''Sh viz oi'P oCitHSCNS UtSdusC Wtthlt
The exclusive jurisdiction of that nation. 1,
is true that there are cases, in which bel
iiSerent may be put on board for certain
purposes tor instance, to search FIR con
ltraoand goods, and 10 prevent violation OF
The blockade. But these are exceptions
q go to prove the rule. Il is manifest tina,
these exceptions, especially that relative to
Icontraband goods, are the effect Of compact.
hey are part of the conventional law of ma
tons. The natural law never dcfaed what
articles were contraband. These excepti-
ons, SO strictly defined, and carefully guar
ded, prove, iDcon,estbly, the gen, raj rule,
that each nation has IN exclusive jurisdiction
on board its ships ON the ocean. But to pre-.
tend that because there is one exceptions,
there is therefore another: that because
the officers of one nation have right tc
enter on board the ships of another, in
search of contraband goods, and if they find
any that are suspicious, they have a right
to carry in the ship for trial, that therefore
such officers have right to enter oi,boar I'd
and take such men as they shall Judge their
own. suifhout trial, is, confess, Course of
reasoning which l do not fully understand.
If this rigat exists, why do not gentlemen
give US the proof of it They are wise and
learned in the law of nations where is the
writer OH the national law. who has under
taken to establish the right of a nation &c
enter on board the ships Of another, and to
take such as she may deem her own, with
out submitting the question to an interuati
onal tribunaii
But gentlemen insnuate, that British sub
! jeCts, whom we have naturalized, are the
subjects Of contention; and they insist on
the doctrine of perpetual allegiance or at
least that a naturaized Citizen. has only a
tocat protection. This is, inasmuch as al
legiance and protection are reciprocal; and
this protection does not extend beyond the
territory ct exclusive jurisdiction of the ma
ton, so the allegiance is subject to the same
limitation. AS Consequence of this doc
Itrine, British subject, naturalized here,
is obliged to fight against his native coun
try until he gets three leagues from shore.
and the moment he crosses this imaginary
line. lie is absolved ofhis allegiance, aud is
obliged to fight for his native against his "a
dopied country. Tho consequence alone,
lis sufficient to make the proposition ridicu
ous. But the law has removed every doubt
on this subject. Naturalization is defined,
the giving foreignerthe rights of citizen
OR converting foreigner into a citizen
The word itself carries with il IT'S own de
finition. Our own law has determined its
leffect. Ii was decided in New York, that
it operates refracfiveiv, and places the man
in the same situation as if he had always
tbeen citizen. The principle is the same
in England. Coke and Blackstone tell us,
that if man be made denizen, the chill
dren born after he was denz ted shall inhe
rit not those which were born before
But il is not so i'm the case of naturalization
l-because naturalization has a RETROSPECT
tive energy. But the British statute which
provides for the naturalization of such TO
reign seamen as shall have served two
years on board these ships, puts the questi
on beyond doubt. The act makes them as
natural born subjects or natives within the
kingdom.
But the answer to his excellency's speech
has brought up the question o. refQiiafion-
and a wonderful degree of sympathy is ex-
cited for his maiesty's subjects. .Ne7vark is
artfully selected, probably as the first ag-
gression. l suppose the burning of defence
| less villages OH the shores of he Chesapeake
are instances of British mercy. The excl
ting the Indians to ind'scriminate massa-
ores, was British mercy. The brutaties
of that Vandal. Cockburn, are instances d
this merco The cold bioodcd murders of
that Ooh. Pr ctor, are further instances
OF it VINO were the aggrcssors in THU bu .
siness of retaliation The advocates of
perpetual allegiance will say America -
With them, a ,Cau is fixed to the SPOT where
he drew his first breath. If an American,
on visit to E. gland. happens to have a son
| born there, IA ugh the parent sho Id i'm
mediateiy return with him to Amer,ca, this
child owes an allegiance which he never
can shake off: and if some thirty years af
forwards, if defending his soil from British
pollution, his house from conhagratiun, or
his wife and children from rape, he hap
pens to be nade prisoner, he is condemned
as vile traitor to his majesty, is sentenced
to be hanged by the neck until he is almost
/ 4 4. Il. T.. l. l.
by violence ard thrown in his face, his head
cut off, his body dlssected in quarters, and
| the quarters to be at his majesty's disposal
This is a necessary consequence Of perpe
tual legiance, and faint picture of Bri.
fish humanity.
But We are charged with driving the a.
borigines from their inheritances. 1t is but
short time since MIR Jefferson was an Oh.
Iject Of ridicule for his regard to the Indians
and his disposition TO civilize them. Now,
that they are the allies of his majesty, ali
hostility against them is evidence Of dispo-
sition TO exterminate them. Never was a
charge more unfcunded, cruel and pernici
Gus. We have used them as children
They had no ground If com paint against
% and what good motive could have in
duced his excellency to infuse into the
winds Of the people and Of these Indians.
that the United States are determined TO
drive them ofl t. e effect is beyond a
doubt. IL will awaken them to vengeance.
| and he innocent blood wh.h may how in
/ co ,er oupucP NAV one dav be recu;roJ &c