New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-09-15
1np-essment Of American sean,en.

The closing letters of the correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Webster and Lord Ashburton relate to
the important but unsettled question OF the I'M
pressment of seumen by the British cruisers from
American merchant vessels. Mr.. Webster al
ludes 10 the many negotiations respecting the sub
:ject, ard states it as follows:
"England asserts the right of impressins Brit
sh subjects. in time of war, cut of neutral mer-
chant vessels and of deciding by her visiting oi-
GERS, who, among the Crews of such merchant
vessels, are British sub ects She asserts this as
u legal exercise of the prerogative OF the crown
which prerogative is alleged to be founded on the
English law of the perpetual and indissolube allie
giancc of the subject, and his obligation, under
all crcdms tances and for his whole life, to render
military services 10 the crown whenever required.
Mr.. Webster shows the fallacy of this claim, as
living in the forgetfulness OF England that although
this may be the English law, it eoners no right to
interfere with the prerosatives of other natons.-
1t asserts an extra territorial authority for The law
of British prerogative, and assumes to exercise 1t
to the manifest INJURY and annoyance OF the c'I-
zens and subjects of other states, on board their
own vessels on the high The notion of per-
petual allegiance is not the law Of the world it
is oaly English law, not national law; AID English
law cannot be of force beyond English dominion
Another arsumenti is drawn from the we'll known
fact that England encourages emigration; means
are notorously supplied 10 emisrauIs to assist
their conveyance, from public fnnds and the new
world and more especially these United States,
receive the many thousands OF their subjects thus
elected from the bosom OF their native land by the
e III, n
vari-us employmeIts, and greater or less number
of them becoming in time na.uralized citizens, en-
ter into the merchant service, under the flag of
their adopted country. 1t is plain that nothing
can be more unlus, than that Eagland should seek
out these persons, tear them from their new homes
and new political relations, and force them TO I'm.
derco the danger and hardships of a military SER
vice, for a country which has thus ceased to be
their own country The objections 10 the practice
are still! greater, from its endangering the political
rights of other Governments and of American clt,.
zens. Besides, the fear of impresstxcnt has been
found ,s create great difficulty in obtaining sailors
FOR the American merchant service in times of
European war. Many instances have occurred OF
the rnp.essment OF raw seanrer, natives OF the
United States on their very !irst voyage.
Mr.. Webster finally takes the following decided
stand:
THE American Government, then, is prepared
10 say, that the practice of impre.sing seamer!
from American vessels cannot be hereafter allowed
TO take place. 1ha, prsetice is ioaaded on prin-
ciples which il does not recognise, and Is invarin-
bly, attended by consequences unjust, so Injuei-
Gus, and OF such formidable magnitude, as cannot
be submitted 60.
= In. the early disputes between the two Govern
ments on this 50 long contested topic, the dis,i-
guished person to whose hands were first intruss'
the seals OF this department declared .ba, tie
simplest rule viii be, that The vessel being Amer
can shall be evidence that the sean,en on board
are SUCH
Fifty years experience, the utter failure Of
many negotiations, and careful csssidclat
now had OF the whole subject ., moment when
the passions are laid, and no present instance or