The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-03-22

tons of allegiance and protection. 1t is "a
greed, that while naturalized citizen con-
tinues within the territory and jurisdiction OF
his adaptive government, he cannot be pur-
sued, or seized, or restrained, by his former
sovereign. 1t is agreed, that haturaiized
citizen, whatever may be Thought of the
claims of the sovereign of his native country,
cannot lawfully be withdrawn from the obi
cations OF his contract of naturalization, by
the force or the seduction of third power.
And I is agreed, that no sovereign can law
July interfere, to take from the service, or
the employment of another sovereign, per-
sons who are not the subjects of either of the
sovereignS engaged in the transaction Re
You'd the principles of these accorded prone
sitions, what have the United States done to
justify the imrutation of {" harboring British
seamen, and OF exercizing an assumed right
to transfer the allegiance of British sub
jects l) The y. States have, indeed, in
sisted upon the right of navigating the ocean
in peace and safety, protecting all that is co
vered by their flag, as on a place of equal
and common Jurisdiction to all nations: save
where the law OF war interposes the exctp-
tons OF visitation, search and capture but
IN dong this, they have done no wrong. The
United States, in perfect consistency it is
believed, with the practice of AL bellieerent
nat!ons, not even excepting Great Britain
herself, have, indeed ;-announced n detsruln-
alton, since the declaration of hostitities. t.
afford protection, as well to the naturalized
as TO the native citizen, who, giving the strong
esr proofs OF fidelity, should be taken in arms
BY the enemy /; and the British cabinet we'll
know that this determination could have no
influence npon those councils OF their sove-
reign, which preceded and produced the
war. IL was not, then, 10 haibor British
seamen," nor 10 transfer the allegiance of
British subjects :" nor 60 " cancel the ;uris
dlction OF their legitimate s)vsreign - nor to
indicate 9 the pretension t,iut acts of natu-
raliTations and certificates of citizenship.
were as val'a oit or their. own territory as
within 1t ;; 81 that the United States have
asserted the honor and the privilege of their
flag. by the force of reason and Of ar,ns. n...
1t was TO resist 4 systematic scheme Of mari
time aggfsndisement VII Oh prescribing to
every other..nat!on the limits of territoriJ
boundary, Charmed EGr Great Britain IRE ex
elusive dcTlIHou OK the seas and ,z}ici,
squirting tlie settled principles of. the law
OF war. condemned the ships and FARMERS
Oh the tuIted Statea, 10 sufer,uro: the high
seas, and virtually within the Jurisdiction of
their flag, the most rigorous dispcnsations of
the British municipal code, inflicted by the
coarse and licentious hand Of a British press
gang re-:
The injustice OF the British. claim and the
cruelty OF the British practic-, have tested
for series or years, the pride and the pa-
! tierce or tine american government bnf
still, every c2Iperinientlwas anxiorslv made
to avoid the last resoTc ofnati MS. I'he.c,;,in
OF Great Britain, III It's Theory, was limited to
the right of seeking aid impressing its, own
SUBJECTS, on board of the merchant vessels of
the United States, although in fatal expert
ence, VI has been extended las already an
nearS0 SeIzf /,f,
other power, sailing uhder voluntary con-
| sract with the American merchant IA H..
SEIZURE CT the naturali7ed. city ems of tie y
States, sailing, also, undsy voluntary contracts
| which every foreigner, xndependcnt Of any
act OF NATURALIZATION, issat liberty to form in
every country and even to the SEIZURE of the
native citizens ct the United States, sailing
On board the ships of their own nation. in the
prosecution Of lawful commerce. The ex-
cuse Tor what has been unfeslngly termed,
partial mistakes, &c occasion Il abuse . (6l
when the right of inpressment was nractiseG
towards vessels Of the United States. IS. IN
the words OF the prince'regent's declaration.
similarity OF language and manners % .bpt
was IT not known, whenthis excuse yyae oFyar-
ed t. the world, that thc Russian, the Sw.dr.
! the Dane, & the German that the French
| man, the SPanard, and the Portuguese nav.
that the African and the Asia,jc between
whom and the people ofGTeas Britain there
exists no similarity of language, manners or
complexion had been ;equaly with the A
Inerican Citizen and the British subject. the
victims OF the impress tyranny a(7) RI. howe
ger, the excuse be sinc@e, it the real Object
o. the ln2ressment be Hersly to secure to
4! Great Britain, the naval services of her own
| snfJectsy!and not to man her fleets, in every
| prac rcabie mode of enlistment, by right. or
by wTo7g aad if a just and generous govern
| nent, protesting mutual friendship and res
peot' may be presumed TO prefer the accom-
plshment even Of a legitimate purpose, BY
means the least af]icting and injurious TO o.
TIERS, why have TIE eyertures of the United
States, Offering other means az effec.uat as
impressment, for the puTroge avowed. to the
consideration and acceptance OF Great Bri.
tam been forever eluded or rejected Ivha.
be 81 offered, that the number OF r,en tn II
| projected by an American vessel, shor-S .,
limited by her tonnage that British cric.-.
should be permitted, in British ports. TO en-
ter the vessel in order TO ascertain the mum
Der ct men OH board and that, in case o
! AZ addition 10 her creE, the British subject
| enlisted should be Hsele to impressment. ~,
II was offered in.sns solemn form of a law
| that the American seamen should be reois
tered that they should be provided viii
certlhcates OF citSenship (9) and that tic no.
OF the crew of every vessel should be formal
! y authenticated. GO Il was ofFefed. that NO re-
inge or protection should be given to deser
he