The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-10-05

from the consideration of municipal laws
which have no bearing on this subject. Trea-
son is crime OF the highest grade against
the nation to which the traitor belongs. TO
withdraw allegiance from one nation & trans
Ter 1t to that nations enemy. during war, is
treason against the sovereign authority to
which allegiance was due. But how ought e
to consider this CRIME !? Though q crime u
gainst mans own country, il is no crime g.
galnst that TO which he deserts. The deser-
ton of sol,iier from our enemy is surely no
CRIME against the United States, and there
tore as TO us, no CRIME at all. Mr.. . exam
med at some length the nature of allegiance
and OF the obligations it imposed To screen
a criminal of any kind was participating in
his crime, and becoming accessory after the
iact Out 1t had been the practice OF ail ma
IONS 10 receive deserterS from their enemies,
ana GO permit them to settle among them #
tney behaved as good Citizens oneht to do
l he nice principles of honor the gentlemen
had lana down, extended tar enough, would iIn-
pose OH a nation the necessity OF restoring to
an enemy his teserters, * enabling him To- pun
is'l their offence, with death. If, however, Us
pubic law admits, we may give them aid and
comfort, and afford them an assylum. We NAV
as Wen add to other inducements as those
Wnca, the gentleman says, already operate
50 powerfully on the soldiers of our enemy
In SO doing, the principle which is not contru-
Verted is extended but little further than at
present, and In It's moral consequences is GER
fanny not SO EN- argeu as 10 affect the nation
d. honor. The force of the enemy's exam
pies haG been passed over in silence By the
gentleman. and their correctness tacitiv adj
united their authority being denied Only by
the general animation that such conduct was
contrary to nationa! law. The proposed Tuea-
sure, therefore, derived strength from the pre-
ceaihg conduct OF the enemy. but, examine
all history, ancient and modern, wha. had
oeeh the usual Course of all nations at war ?
10 weaken the hands of Their opponents and
strengthen the hands of themselves, Per-
maps precedents derived from the Re"oirtiop-
AIRY war might not be considered by gentle
men as bearing on this point since Britain
,hea canned us as her colonies. Recoliect,
iio"eNer' her proclaIna.:oDs inviting our citi-
<ehs 10 Withdraw from their allegiance. Our
history, II Is true, is not ample owine to the
regency oI Its date. But it will be recollect-
ca that IN the war with Trpoli, our gallant
oiu0eT conducting the war on the land united
.ii'iisSii on that occasion with D etender to
lhe Illpohtan throne, and took anvantaea OF
",S reoeiloh to divide the forces Of the enemy
w no censItred that act Who blamed EG-
TON Tor ms Conduct And vet was thus on
y liial uie Icy was compelled to come To
le'niS which he had before refused. This
measure was Clearly distinguishable, Mr. S.
S''ir' ilCin bounty tor assassination TO which
II hao oeen hkened. Employing persons Sc
creuy 10 XII an enemy was warfare wor-
81! "iiiy OF savages ; it was an unnanly wav
"a sN''"'S r.d OF those whom an army dare
mo- .'ieet III a field OF battle ut to withdraw
s'!ciSiS irom an enemy's standard was not of
llis character, and was beslGes more correct
uhuer present circumstances, inasmuch as the
enenly army IS not composed OF soldiers of
1iiS y" IN country, but of soldiers from Germa-
ny "i'u other countries, men who owe no na-
IoH"h allegiance TO Britain, but are mere mer-
cnasdfies IN her r4nks-who fight for those who
pay them best. They are calculated to be
the most dangerous enemies, but are wiling
| TO desert their leaders and join our standard
on sufficient Inducements. If they employ
men owing them no allegiance, have we not
| right TO withdraw them if we can, and en-
| ploy them them to strengthen our own from
| tier AS TO the objection that they would not
settle that objection is refuted by the terms of
the resolution, which require actual settlement
on the land. Let gentlemen acquainted with the
revolutionary war recollect how many of the
good citizens Oh PennSy lvania and other states
were deser5ers from the British ranks, Hes
SLAMS, Germans, StC. and have become among
cur best and wealthiest and most useful citi-
zens Mr.. s. concluded by observing that this
was a clear question of expediency, perfectly
within the scope of our policy, rot contrary to
national honor, meritcd the attention of the
Iolse, and ought to be referred as proposed
TO one OF its committees.
After rejecting a motion made By Mr. Rgad-
ley Of Tf. TO lay the motion On the table, the
question OF It's adoption was determined as
iollOwS:
For the motion 80
Asannst 1T SIS
So it was adopted by the House.
n u