Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-21

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stll remains true that. In IL. exs'ese. to ishs'
the polisical rights Of o,hsr governments. snd en-
dangers tho security Of their own native subi CTS an'
eilizsns. The sovereignty OF the state Is concerned
IN maintaining its exclusive Jursdellon and posse
sion lie merchant ships the seas, except >,
Tar as the Law Of nations lsthes intrusion upon ths
Possession for special purposes; and all experience
| has shown that no member OF crew, wteCevc
born. is safe asains. imprisonment when ship j
| wished.
The evils and injuries resulting from the se,ua
practice can hardly be overs,ated, and have eve
| proved themselves TO lie such as should lead 10 ~
| relinqushmen', even II It were founded in any de
| ten 'iole pfircpe. The difficulty Of discriminating
bstseen English and American citizens has always
been fourd tc be great, even ~hen IN hones; pue-
pose Of Discrimination has existed. But the isuten
IN Ct man ot var, hsVne necessity ior men, Is
apt 10 lie a s0nnnnary Judge. and hrs decisions will
be quite Sc sisnifean, ~ his own wants and his
power IS Of the truth and justice Of the case. An
extract fc, letter Of Mr. King, OF the thirteenth OF
Apsi. Ifs'. TO the Amerie,n Secretary OF State,
shows something OF the enormous extent OF these
] ~ronsfal SC . ares:
| 'ius;eaa OF = few, and these in many instances
ceaivSesl cases. have says he "sinee the month
o. J9v past, made application for the discharge,
irom British men-of.war, ofs7l sesmen, who, sat-
INC themselves to I've Americans, have claimed my
interference. OF this number Sc have been ordered
I By She Admiralty 10 be discharged, 81 more have
been detained as British subjects or as American
volunteers, or for want Of proof that they Anne
ricans and to my applications FOR the discharge Of
/ the remaining las, have received no nnswer-the
SHIPS on board Of which these were detained
having 10 many instances, sailed 5eore an examina
ton Vas made IN consequence OF my application.
at ~ certain that some of those who have ap
piled % me are not American cz ms, but the ex-
eepiions are, IN my opinion, few and the evidence
exclusive OF certificates, has been such as, in most
cases, 10 satisfy me that the applicants were real
Americans, who have been forced into the British
service, and who, with singular eonstancy generally
perse,eTei IN refusing pay or bounty, though in
some instances they have been in service more ikan
two years"
But the injuries of nipre.sment are Ivy no means
confined TO its immediate subjects The Individual.
on whom il IS praciised. Vessels suffer from the
weakening OF the Crews and voyages arc often de-
layed, and not unfrequently broken up, 10y sub
traction from the number OF regular nanSs by i'm
pressmeni. And what IS still of greater and more
general mouen,, the fear OF impressment has been
found to create great difficulty in obtaining sailors
tor the American merchant service in time Of Euro.
pean war Seafaring men, otherwise inclined 10
enter into that service a;e experience has shown
deferred by the fear OF finding themselves ere long
IN compulsory military service in British ships OF |
war. Many instances hsve occurred, fully estsb
Ished IN proof, IN which raw seanen, natives of the
United States, fresh from the fields OF agriculture
entering for the FIRST time shipboard, have been
impressed before they made the land, placed on the
decks oil Brit sh men-ot war, and compelled serve
Tor years before they could obtain their release, o.
revisit their native country, and their homes. Such
instances become known, and their effec, in dis
;ouFsging young men from engaging in the merchant
service OF their country can neither be doubted
wondered at. More than ALL my lord, the practice
d impressment, whenever it has existed, has pro-
iueed not Cancellation and good feeling, but resent
meni, evaporation, and amnesty, between the two
great commercial countries Of the world.
In the calm and quiet which have succeeded the
ate war-a condition SO favorable for dspassionais
,onsideraton-E England herself has evidently seen
he harshness OF Impressmeni, even exercised on ,
eamen IN her own merchant service, and she has
ADOPTED measures calculated if not to renounee the
oower or 10 abolish the practice yet least to SUI
persede It's necessity By other means Of manning {
The royal navy more compatible with Justice and .
the rights oil individuals and ag coniotmable
to the spirit and sentiments Of the age.
Under these circumstances, the Government of :
the United States has used the occasion Of your
lOrdship's pacific mission TO renew this whole sub
lect, and 20 bring It TO your notice and that Of your
government. IL has reflected on tho past, ponder.
ed on the condition OF the present, and endeavored
10 anticipate SO far as might he IN its power, the
probable future, and | now 10 communicate TO :
your lordsbp the resul; Of these deliberations.
The American Government, then, is prepared to
say, that the practice OF mpressing seamen from
american vessels cannot be hereafter allowed TO
iske place That practice is founded principles
which II does not eosnise, and IS invariably at.
Tended by consequences 50 unjust SO injurious and
OIL such formidable magnitude, es cannot be sub
mitted to. !,
Ia the early disputes between the two Govern.
ments on this 60 long contested topic, the distn.
sushed person to whose hands were FIRST intrus,ed
the sealsot this department declared rat lhe sim.
piest rule will BE-, that the vessel being American
shnll be evidence that the seamen on board are
such"
Fifty years experience the utter failure OF MANY
negotiations, and careful consideration now had of
the whole subject at a moment when the passions
are laId, and no present instance emergency eN-
sis to bias the Judgment, have fully convinced this
Government that this IS not only The simplest and
best, but the only rule, which can be adopted and
observed, consistently with the rights and honor OF
the United States ond the security of their ciiiz.ns
That rule announces therefor. what will hereafter
he the principle maintained by their Government
In every regular documented American merchant
vessel the crew who navigate ii vii! fad their pro-
lection in the il4g which is over them
This announcement is not ms6c, my lord to re-
viye useless reco.Iec;ions OF the past nor 10 stir
em5ers from fires which have heen in a great de. ,
gree, smohered 10y many years OF peace. Far
Otherwise. Its purpose is 10 exlinguish those fires
eifeclualy, before incidents arise 10 fan them
into fame. The communication is in the ssrit of Z
peace, and for the sake OF peace. and springs from
a deep and conscientious conviction tlnt the high
interests of both nations require that this 60 long
and coniroveried sub ecl should now be
hnal'y put TO rest. | persuade myself, my lord,
that you will do justice 10 this frank and sincere
vowel OF motives, and that you will communicate
your sentiments, IN this respect TO your Govern
men'.
This letter closes my lord, on my part our off
cial correspondence; and gladly use the occasion
10 offer you the assurance Of my high ond sincere
regard. DANIEL WEBSTER.