The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-22

thenticated copy from the clerk of the court.
Def re which British subject, who offered
his service, had been naturslized, as indiSpen-
saolc to his admission, and highly penal in eli
Their to take person not duly qualified, and
by allowing also British agents 10 object to any
one offering has service, and to prosecute by
suit the commander or collector, as The case
might be, Ton receiving an improper person,
1t seems to be impossible that such should be
received.
Ii the second alternative is adopted that
is ii all nativ, British subjects are to be here
after excluded from our service, it is inIpor-
tant that the stipulation providing for 1t should
operate 50 as not to affect those who have
been already naturali.;sd. BY our law all the
rights pf natives given 20 natlnaiized citi-
zeus. u IS Contended by some chat these com-
plcte rights do not extend beyond the limits of
the u. states that III naturali.sing . foreign
er, no state can absolve him from the obliea-
ton which he owes tn his former governments,
and Shat Ec becomes l citizen in 4 qualified
SENSE only. This doctrine, il true In any Case,
is less applicable to tue Uoited States than to
any Other power. Repatriation se:.r.s to be
natural right, and bV the original character
of our institutions, founded by compact. on
principle, and particuaflyby the unqualified
investment OF the adopted citizen with the full
rights otthe native, all that the United States
could do, 10 place him on the same footing,
has been done. In point of interest," the object
is OF little importance to either party. The
number to be affected Ivy the stipulation is in
considerable; nor can that lie cause OF sur
prise when the character of that class Of men
is considered. 1t rarely happens that a sea-
man who settles on farm, or engages in a
trade, and pursues ii for any length OF time,
returns TO sea His youthful days are e2<haus-
ted Ill his FIRST occupation. He leaves it with
regret, and adopts another, either in conse-
quence OF marriage, of disease, OF as an aSy-
lurn for age.
To a stipulation which shall operate pros
pectlvely only, the same objection does not
apply. In naturalizing foreigners, the u.
States may prescribe the limit TO which their
privileges shall extend. Ii it is made 4 Con-
dition thatno native British subject, who may
hereatterbecome citizen, shall be employ
ed in our public or private ships, their exclu-
sion will violate no right. Those who might
become citizens afterwards would acquire the
right; subj ct to that condition, and would be
bound by it. To such q stipulation the Prcsi-
o5Ht is willing TO assent, altho' ae would Il och
prefer the alternative # restraints on natu-
ralizarion and to prevent frauds, and to
carry the same fully into effect, you are au-
thcr5zed to apply all the restraints & checks,
NTH tbs necessary rnodiiications, II suit TIE
case, that are provided IL the act above reci-
ted, relative to seamsn, for the purposes of
that act.
In requiring that the stipulation to exclude
British Sc men from our service, with the re-
gGlatlCrs for Carving it info effect, be made
reciProca al ; tro President desires that you
make provision, authorizing the L. States.
il t1cy should be 81 disposed, to dispense with
the obligations imposed by it on Anne rican cit
izens. The liberal spirit Of our government
and laws Is unfriendy to restraints ON our cit
iZens, such at least rs are imposed OF British
subjects from becoming members Of other so
cicties. This has been snewn in the law of
the last session relative to seamen, to which
your portlcular attention has been already
drawn. This provision may likewise be recip-
1ocatcd if desired.
L ne President IS not particularly SAlicitSus
chat either fthcse alternatives (making the
| proposed reservation in Case the latter bel
should be preferred. 70 secure the L. States
against lmpresSElent he is willing TO adopt
either He expects in return that a clear and
distinct provision shall be made against the
practice. The precise form in which it may
be done is not insisted on, provided the im-
port is explicit. Al that is required is, that
iii consideration Of the act to BE performed on
the part OF the y States, the British Govern
ment Shall stipuate in some adequate manner
to terminate or forbear the practice of i'm
| pressment from American vessels.
ithas been suggested an expedient mode
| for the adjustment OF the controversy, that
! British crulzers should have right TO search
cur vessels for British seamcn, but that the
| commanders thereof should be so ectcd to
| penalties, IN case they made misses, and
| took from them American citizens. f}y This
! the British Government would acquire the
| right oi search for seamen, with that Of i'm
| pressing from our vessels the subjects OF all C-
! ther powers. It VIII not ESCAPE your atten-
ton, that by Admitting the right, in am CASE,
we Gisc up the principle, and leave the door
| open 70 every knd oi abuse. The same OBJ
! lection is applicable to any and cverv other
! Arrangement. which withholds the respect due
to our flag BY not allowing it to protect the
crew sailing under it.
If the FIRST alternative should be adopted It
will follow, that none Of the British seainan
who may be in the ". States az 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.
1ftlic second is adopted, the number of native
| British seamen, who have been natulalized,
and will be admissible into our service,
will not, it is believed exceed few hundred
AL others who may be in the L. State. nc the
time the treaty takes effect, or who may ar
| rive afterwards, will be excluded
As a necessary incident 70 an adjustment
on thc principle Of either alternative, it is e,-
pected that all Amcricrn seamcn, who have