Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-09-03

take up the Ratchet against until hostile had been
taken up against them When driven to the wall they
must fight diethe last alternatives left TO themfor
which nobody can blame them.
1t was, sir, saying of Of the best men who
wrote, in correspondence with friend that he had
time to write shorter letter and truly say that
have not time to deliver shorter speech know that
this question will be taken to-day for have been adj
monished and my very and sudden ndispo-
TO dean your attention much longer than under other
circumstances would have been the
word, now, the subject Of Impressment. Our for
egn trade had grown beyond the capacity of either
tonnage, seamen to manage Our mercantile marine
infant Hercules but it overloaded beyond its
strength the crop too abundant to be gathered by
our hands alone The consequence was, and natural
one too that not only the capitalists focked into
country from abroad TO share in growing commerce,
but the policy also OF Government adapted to
it, and law passed to enable us to avail ourselves
of the services of British seamen and seamen Of other
countries. And doing this ayailed ourselves of the
pretexwhch as long as the countries to which they
belonged winked at it. was convenient to useof taking
these British for Americans 1t in 1876 that
commenced the act to which reference has been made
and that system Of Projections, they called,
the very mention of which at this day burst of
honest indignation in the breast of citizens whose sua
ton enables them to ascertain their true character.
III these !" Projections" termed have not been
forged all Europe is only for the that the
notes of certain bank of which have heard have not
been forged viz that the bank being broke its notes
worthless that people would not steal them.
The Projections atainable by every body by men
of all ages countries and descriptions They mere
farce The issuing OF them has gone far to disgrace the
character of the country and has brought into question
and jeopardy the rights of real American citizens. This
question OF mpressment delicate it has been said to
beaficut as in view it certainly isis of all 9TH
in my judgment the most compact With the gentle
man from New York. will say that the tide of emgra
ton has brought to the shores Of country many most
valuable characters of them persons with whom
have the honor of being in habits not only of intimacy
but friendship. believe there does not exist
of this description who bona de to this country
to settle himself and children here hawoud require you
to go to on his account And sir believe that the
bellgerent position itself in which you find yourself
will relieve you in great degree Of this evil for many
seamen who have so long, by virtue ofthese projections
passed themselves off for Americans will find it very
venent to be Portuguese Swedish seamen, seamen
of other State than the United Statessome State
that is not at with England Sir, there is wide
difference between the character of American eamen and
seamen of every other country earth The American
seaman has home on the land, domicil, wife and
children whom he is attached to whom he is in the
habit of returning after hsvoyages with whomh spends
sometimes long vacation from the tolls OF maritime life
1t is not with the Of other countries For the
protection of men of the first description am disposed
if necessary to the force of the country but for no
other. know indeed, that some gentlemen who have
spoken much the subject Of the principle of Impress
ment will tell you that the right to take from neutral
vessel one seaman carried to its extent involves Alright
to take any, all seamen Why sir, in like manner 1T
might be argued that the taking Illegally Of vessel at
involves the right to take every vessel And yet sir
who heard of two nations going about single
laws? Such case never did and never will occur
OF thing certain: it rests upon doubtful
ground that Great Britain, rather than surrender the
right of impressng her seamen, win nail her coors
to the mast and 60 down with them. And she is right
because when she does surrender it, she is Sampson
sborn of his strength the snews Of her power cut
say this openly in the House of Representatives: and
am not communicating to the enemy secret Of any
value because she has herself told that she never
surrender it. She has told So not when she stood in
the relation Of enemy toward US but IN the friendly
intercourse Of the British Ministry with late Com
missioners at London. Turn to the book: wish the
honorable gentleman, if he has it. would for moment
let have the of it. You told in that book that
every effort made by the American Commissioners to
effect relaxation Of this right that the British Minis
try eynced the sinceres desire to give satisfaction to
them this point: Jut what? The Admiralty was con-
suited they walked up out of their umbers the Civilians
at Doctors Commons TO deliberate upon and they came
the that the Government Of Great Britain
could give up that right Mcssrs Monroe and Pink
ney the Commissioners Of the United States to negotiate
Treaty with the Government Of Great Britain in their
correspondence with their Government give this fact
to excuse themselves for failing accomplish their object
and to prove that every thing had been done that could
be their part and every thing conceded the other
side that the most friendly disposition could warrant
and here do not speak of masked friendship but of real
friendship. Although every thing possible had been1
done, this right of impressment of her
S1ae qua the part of Great Britain-one which
would not, could not must not be surrendered. And,
sir If this question of the right Of mpressment
on which we were to 60 to with Great Britain
ought to have gone to then: because then
told by the highest authority in that Government that
this point which never would be given up.
lind, sir that cannot trust my broken voice to read
the book that it is in my hand but rely upon
my recollection for facts.
Now, this question les as have said in very small
compass. The right of Great Britain to take her
seamen from your merchant vessels, (f it be right is
one which she has exercised since you Peo
pe wherever occasions for its exercise have occurred
viii you not only go to war, but wage belum ad inter
necionem for it? Will you wage Of determination
twenty years of your national existence she win
linquish? A gentleman from Tennessee of whose ca
pacity few have respectful opinion than myself
has quoted the diplomatic correspondence far back
1892 to show what Gen. WAsHINGToNs opinions
this question mpressment and this opinion of the Father
of bis Country is held the people of the United
States for the purpose of enlisng their preudces in the
conviction that by involving the country in warfare
at this moment treadng in the footsteps of that great
man. and acting upon his principles. Nothing can be
untrue TO say that the Treaty of Louisiana was
negotiated years after the letter of Instruction quoted
from the Washington Administration and that that treaty
contained provision this point is reply in full to
this Of argument But what does the correspon-
dence referred proves What every treaty, what every
negotiation has proven that England would not give up
this point although she made offers for guarding against
abuseofers favorable TO than to her. And
yet the Administration of this Government have had the
hardhood the folly plunge the nation into for
t--for point on which Gen. Washington, Mr. Adams,
and Mr. Jefferson, differing from each other much
may be in every aspect had been content to negot
nte rather than go to war for its assertion
What was the offer made to Government by the L
British Ministry Ii do not forget their offer was that
they would not impress American if our Govern