American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-08-31


But the first merchant Of the United States in
answer to Mr.. chickering's late enquiries has IN
formed him that since the flair of the Chesapeake
there has been no cause OF complain-that he
could not find single instance where they had ia
ken one man out OF a merchant vessel. Who 1t
is that enjoys the dignity OF first merchant OF the
United States, we are not informed But if he had
applied to many merchants in Boston. as respecta-
BILE as any in the United States, they could have
,ald him OF valuable vessel and cargo, totally lost
upon the coast of England late in August last. and
solely in consequence OF having had two OF her
men, native Americans, taken from her by impress
men, two months aitsr the ailalr OF the Chesa-
peake.
On the 18th of October, the king Of England
issued his proclamation, commanding his naval off
GERS, to impress his subjects from neutral vessels.
This proclamation is represented as merely re-
quiring the return of his subjects, the seamen es
Pecialy from foreign Countries and then 1T is
acknowledged principle that every nation has a
righ, to the service Of its subjects in time of war
Is this sir, correct statement either Of the pro-
camation, or OF the question 1t involves n which
our right is concerned? The king Of England's
right 70 the service of his subjects in time oil war
is nothing to us. The question is whether he has
right to seize them iorcibiy on board Of our yes
sells while under contract of service to our citizens
within our jurisdiction upon the high seas: And
whether he has right expressly to command his
naval officers to seize them-.I this an acknowl
edged principle Certrinly not Why then is this
proclamation described as founded upon uncontest
ed principle: And why is the command, SO Justly
offensive to us, AID rnischievcus as it then might
have been made in execution. altogether nmitted-
But It is not the taking OF British subjects from
our vessels, Il is the taking under colour Of that
pretente, our own, native American citizens, whcl
constitutes the most Calling aggravation of This
merciess practice Yet even this, we are told, is but
pre'encp-for ;hree reasors.
l. Because the number Of citizens thu. taken is
small.
2. Because it arises ony from the impo,sibility of
distinguishing Englishmen from Americans.
5 Becaus', such impressed American citizens arej
delivered Up, on duly authenticated proof.
l. Small and great IL point OF numbers, are rel
alive terms. To suppose that the native Amer
oans form small proportion o the whole humber
lmpl essed is a mstake--the reverse is the fact
Examine the official returns from the department.
OF state They give the names Of between four
and i've thousand men Impressed since the com
mencemenl of the present war. OF which mum
Der, no; one fifth part British subjects. Thel
number Of naturalized Americans could not have
amounted 70 one tenth hazard little in saying,
that more Khan three outths were native Americans
II u ne said that some OF these men, though appear
ing on the face of the returns, American citizens
were really British subjects, and had raudulentlyl
procured their projections, reply that this numbe
must be lar exceeded by the cases of citizens i'm
pressed, which never reach the department OF state |
The American consul at London estimates the
number OF impressnents during the war, at nearly
three times The amount Of the names returned. III
the nature OF The offence be considered IL its true
coors' TO people having just sense OF persona
liberty and security, it is in every single instance
oil malieny not inferior TO that of murder The
very same act, when committed by the recruiting |
olheer oil one nation within the territories OF snoth
ef, IS by the universal law and usage Of nalionsl
punished with DEATH Suppose the crime had, inE
every instance, as by its consequences it has been
IN many, deliberate murder-would il answer orl
silence the voice of our complaints to be told that |
the number raS smaH /?
@ The im2ossbiH,y Of distinguishing English
from American seamen is not the only nor even the |
most frequent occasion Of impressment. Look
again into the returns from the department of state
You will see that the officers take our men without
pretending 10 enquire where they were born some
times merely TO show their animosy or their con
tempt lot our country sometimes from the wan |
tonness OF power. When they manifest the most
tender regard for the neutral rights of America,
they lament that they rant the men. They regret
me necessity. but they must have their complement
When we complain OF these eDormites we are
answered that the acts Of such officers were unau
thorlsed that the commanders of men Of war, are
an unruy set OF men, for whose violence their own
government cannot always be answerable that en-
curry shall be nsade-a court martial is sometimes
northumberland the issue Of Whitby's court mar
nal has taught what relief is to be expected
from that. There examples am told !
when such officers have been put upon the yellow
list. But this is a exception-the ordinary is
sue when the act is disayowed is the promotion of
The actor
9, The impressed native American citizens, how.
ever, upon d~ty authenticated moof, are delivered
up. lodeed. how unreasonable then were com
plant how etfeclua remedy then for the wrong
An American vessel bound to an Enropean port