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f ' ovr rc Jf will be citified by , If !un .vvjrt 8imilii-Crohn, on fl.r- HliL U i tlercfore gitca al i fZEClT- MR.tUAU.MAN It 15 OOW rTOFC .crtks since me cummrucc- n w r3 V.'im fcruiwcJ by the op- 1 follv and injustice fit ceven ir.cut aodcotaury j for I I O-.'ir arguments and dechma- nr v trcr variant and tontradic prv air rciIuctMe to two -objections :ai:he passage of this twl!. First, riifurh ihc vraot pt.papital, or of h,j rritmi'si t an extravagant iciest ; 3n l crondlrif itj'could, the lca"ktw be rejected, because iq .x;r0?;r'cn ihar is dpjuvt and p lhat. The last-ofjthese ob- r;, r I jropo'e to disus. To rt-r. r.r lKJth at large would occupy . . r-M h tirr.e. W ithoot therefore. ti-. nnpiinn ivptther the tlb i ...--;"- ."j tfcrc'.v cv.zr.9 .rT? rcflecirns in; i t 'c.fir.viJed with ir. It is a lit tr TrX2lr that r.ct ot.c: of the mi r:riir has discussed the material p::2i or, ih". of the tubject j I ic.-r. thr c--t s:ioa, 'rs the rnoney pro-r-srd vobr raised by this; bill iudif IL.:K'c fnr the service othe rrar.? tiJ,jfto,ii a losn the cnlv, or be s: ; .ocr'of ..n.cq I Tl.c chuir-' ma of 'the t jrr.n.atec o!ravs ocrl J has'pref r.U'i! :n c- rimatc of iht cj;;cn"t r.'.rri'Jy ordt red, or Vh ?r.ut !r. by hichj it appears r.s :hc sum proposed to he taiscd by rhi'i!,wi:r. the other sources of re t will be :Vo'utely orcessaiy to c?tctron. The silcrce of the op pcii V n sir;ti'ji' the correctness ct the cstiaiatc ; rvc i s no other mode bs!.c iracied of obtaining the t:cr.3:ir su:lus this may be pe tuxol to be thr cv.ly one. It ceases then to be a q irtion, whether the l;j3fin he hid at thi-pr that interest. Iuscccc'sary ; it muth had ; and trv tut per centum will depend prin- cim,- cn thcute ol ihe money mar- jit '.so no. on tne arcumems nfre .'j m ; en comparing tnctwo oujec-y titto ttje pissa of 'this bill, oncl Uicra destroys alconfiience in thefj xr-cr. Our opponents contend noi cz that the loan cannot pe had, bur' tr-t it ought not 10 be crnnted. To d.-katihc passage of this bill, or to! prevent tne success! ui operation out cf ;hi house, are dtrdarexl objects of t cr policy.. It i true that ill have tol azde the latter declaration; but far as my memory serves, t-e d'uarccd I:. Jfheo, then, Ttg'JC that the loao musl fail, t-cy.ay he (onsidereii either as pci tu their uiilws, or Jvhatis more proa'.ic, as aiming tqjtk'su'oy the ttf-aurnce cf mon'id men in the rub rc th; for it cannot; oe presumed 'they have any hope" to cfeat the & 2?'c Ct the b:!L f sit to proceed to tie objection iIprupn!e:uOUcusu Tjic war, Kffcur opjv nrr.t is unjust and in tl;etIVr;t, !vl the: tloe this billought tU a j.ucJ. Thr facia ol the sup P ( i;.ju;:irC ani inexpediency ot j" w r,cn vhi h ihi oltctton rest?, fc -e diiir.t:l the exclusive attention Ct 'ic opposition. , 1 hc inlei ence de c ri Iron tht m, that they justify the pecioucf jhisbait thojjgh far from Sl5,';niatuitive proposition, has rc 1 no partot their argutucpts or SitfrJcns. For niy parr, I cocsi r l t only false but dangerous ; cl shal),iherrore, not boly consider ie allcdcj injustice and inexpedi eatyof the war, bi)ttthe inference 39 lfd from those charges, I trtst the attention of thtcommittee to vethat both are cqunlly uoloundr fV' niuitbeg an attentive ond'UiS nrate hearing; for a 'correct mode tamUngoa thiv subject! I do sic -.r ocneve to be neussary to th j: 2TlJLll ' : FkDAY may 6, 1814. - ;';-'v yty at attentive and deliberate hearr in.cj, for it, zs.'nnt sufiicieot that 'the mind be fixed on the -discussion ; but it sbo'd idso.be Iree from those pasf sions add prejudices . unfavorable, to thp reception of truth. The fact 'hat dcujsion here assumes the forrh-o debate produces a state of things unr j) In debate here, as between two indi- viduals, the opposite sides are much more disposed to find objections to an argument,-be it ever so c!ear,than to receive it with a proper degree cf assent. In jtheir zealthe interest. of the country is too often forgot. Alu- tual recrimination, and not to disco- ver aaa persuaoe to uo, wnat is rrnt, is .but too commonly the object.vtI hope what I have to say will not be viewed as a mere exercise of skill in a discussion, in which those who hear me have littfe or no interest ; but as containing principles believed to be essential to the puhlic interest. I trust J hold in proper contempt ' the spirit' of idle debate. Its heat and zeal are momentary Not sov with cur principles and measures. On them must depend our future pres Leritv and hannine. 1 . ccr cannot be hnd, I will 1 1 Is the war unjust and inexpedient? t : 1 1 i " 1 1 nis is, tne quisttnn wnicn 1 cow I propose to discuss. The eagerness j and 2eal with which our opponents j endeavor to prove this point, seem to ( miruot at all inconsistent with sound principles, or duc love of our coun try. In tneir zeal they often pre sume that wV arc wrong and our ene my right ; and that cn us is the bar .'iheri t prove that their charges are foUe. brtore they have attempted to prqve them to be true. Ho.w contra r this to the nr.xims of Homan wis dom 1 That wie and virtuous peo ple, so far from presuming their country to be vrcng, considered it as a crime in a citizen to doubt of th: justice oi" the public cause. In a stte of war how worthy of our imi tation ! It was at the root of Homan greatnesj. . Without it a free state will ever lose much of its peculiar aud native strength ; the spontaneous and concurring zeal of its citizens. The charge ol injustice arid inexpedi ency against th,e war necessarily leads me to investigate in' cause. It ori ginated, as agreed on all side, in cer tain commercial aggressions on thy. part of England, and her practice of impressing American seamen triTm American. vessels on the high sea?.! Though I have uamed commercial injuries first, it is my intention to give impressment the preference in the or der of discussion ; noroply because the war ii continued foV tJ btt be cause it ia ofjgreater iotrinstCyimpor tance. The Ufend liberty-of a citi zen are more important To htm and hi country than his propert)' ; iand consequently the obligation to protect the former more sacred than the lat ter. To the truth of this position, our political institutions bear testimo ny. A single judicial process, deter mines cn a question of property ; but it requires a doubje investigation, first before ;i grand jury anil then a petit, before the humblest and most suspect ed citizen can be deprived of lite or liberty. This is a mode of thinking wouhy uf free people, and in fact is esrmialto the permanent .existence ol thtir freedom. Yes, lifc. and li licrty, those precious gilts of Heaven, -xTr by your .laws and constitutions granted to all. They may be abused and forfeited to the Country; but j cannot be torn aray by (the hand of ! atbitary power. Let us bear7 these lentmenis in our mm as ana , cring them in our'bosoma to! the discus sion of tnis subject. t , It is Ion unate, that the facts con nected with impressment are few and undoubted.. I set aside for the pre sent the pre text and principle cn thuh Great :I3ri;ain racifrjn -f elation to it. None can deny tfiaa ,great .number of A'metican sailors have beenj im pressed from.'Q boardmericanvesi sels on the high seas, 5c ty force com- rcl?ti to serve a gbvercieh twhoni they o w e navfalicgiance. and; toV'fiht . . m t ' II w tv w r, C 1 1 (l is equally certain, that the practice. is of long continuance ; and that ne-i gociation has often and in vain been resorted to for rcdreaai I tsay a great number,' rather than spfccif'ahy 'pari ticular, because ,1' do not conceive the exact number to be material ; , and also; because t do' not wish' to iocor- porate any thing the least doubtful in tne statement. " I On this poiut, how ever, the two governments are pretty weUfejjreed. Ours estimates, the en tire uumber.taken at something more than 6000 j and the British govern ment acknowledged thaVat the break ing out of the war, they had sixteen hundred at least on hoard their pub lic vewels. After deducting from our list the dead by battle and disease, the deserters and the liberated, it will be found that theirs exceeds our esti mate. To,the shame of the minori- I ty, they alone have attempted to thro w any doubt upob . this point and to diminish the injury of the enemy be low their own acknowledgement. Cm this simple statement, there 3re two inferences so clear; that I feel it al most an insult to the understandings of thisvcommittee to stste them. I must seek for my apology in the ef forts of our opponents to render thAt doubtful which in itself is so manifest j I mean the; violation of the rights and liberties of the impressed American seamen, and the correspondent duty imposed on their country to defend them. I know of no illustration.of a proposition so 'perfectly clear. ' )No head can be so Impenetrable as not to perceive its truth'; no heart so cal lous as not to feel s obligation. For, who is there in thl- community of freemen that is willing to renounce the claim of protection which he has ; on ail, or withhold the duty which he i is under to all I ' It is the essence of j civil society. Such'and so simpfe is j 1 the truth on which the cause of our country stands. On those essential farts and inferences we are then 00 all sides agreed. ! The obligation of the government is established. How then are we to be absolved from so a cred'a duty ? j The impressed, the enslaved seamen have invoked the protection of their country. Shall it be extended to them, or t hall it be withheld I This is the question now proposed for our consideration, and whi:h naturally introduces the various arguments of the minor,! ty 00 this im portant subject. They combat a gainst inferences the most clear and powerful 3 proportionally perspicuous and strong must be the reasons to justify thtir conduct. I will com mence witfcrtbat which I believe to be most relied on ; because most:fre quently and zealously urged in just,i-' ficatioo of our enemy It is said that, they take American seamen by mis take, and' not by principle their ob ject is to take their own'seamen, but from the impossibility of distinguish ing, the American seaman is impress ed. The answer is plain and'deci sive. -The argument is founded in a misconception. The ddty which the country owe to the impressed sai lors originates in a single fact,- tbar they are unjustly deprived by a fo reign nation j of their liberty; ' The principle'on which they are deprived of their liberty, or the manner, con stitutes no part of it. Whether done by principle or mistake, it is true, may HaieVtiearins on the continuance of! the practice ami its luture extents qV wRatJs done by mistake or acci dent e'nerallv leaves this consolation, that it will nOt probably occur again but what is done by principle may be expected to fontinuc. "Ve have not even this hope , The evil is invete rate. The mistake, if one it is, musi farever happeo so long as the present practice is cpnimucu u iwiicssiDg from American vessels.1 there foreopcrates, as it regards ur, as if it were the result of prihciple. J 1, how ever deny trae fatt cayihicK this jus ti&cdtion rests'- s- The object of Eng Iapclfs not t!o take her seamen only. ,By recurring to official documents ca this subjectjit wilt bet foundythat she irqnressca persons on board of our vesisl3,j.Thd coul jnot be nai3takeo And T , J T-T ' ft i II - - T i l-r - ' . T . . -J ' ft.? !-" t.1 anothcu llancuage and to wear a .dif- fereht1 complexion are, itseems, nlbe-rc' -mayi .fecn1ihl'teiws:rV evidence with the. British Govern ment that he is not an English sailor, t What then is the principle of that go- ment on this suhiect i If Wft :re to ! judge by facts; and 'not by -pretexts, which will never be wanting, if we are simple enough to believe thfem, it is this ; they claim, at least as fair as we are coacerned, that evejy, seafar ing person found on the ocean is pre sumptively an Englishman .;id bound j to serve the crown of Great Britain; They admit, it Is true, this presump tion to he rebutted in a single case. antj only in that j by the seaman pro ving that he belongs to the country to which the flag does under which he sails. I !, for, instance, the vessel is American, tha; he vas born in the U. Stares. The impress officer the ve ry person interested against him, is, however, the judge and jury who pre sides in this mock trial of nativity. 7 It is thus the American flag i3 insult edit is thus the A,mtrican citizen f is stripped of his liberty under it pro- tecuon. ! At home, he hptds Ins li- berty under theproteetion of the most j sacred laws ; abroad no, I will not . admitthe distinction, for while under oiu- flap he ti still at home he holds j life and , libel ty at thernercy of every j insignificant v drunken midshipman I j But let us attend lor a moment Ion- j ger to the object of this principle of the British government, as illustra ted by practice. A war in Europe in which England is engage; sooSfcr or later extends to all the other powf ers in that part cf the cUbe. In con sequence of her superiority at sea, the navigation and commerce of other states 2re destroyed, or suspended in a state of war ; and their seamen, u ho j cannot readily change their habits, ire compelled to sek employment in foreign service. Tili lately, Ameri ca remaining neutral, and offering high wages, they naturally preferred ours. To this state of facts, her prin ciple of im pressin g uIHoreign seamen was applied'; and by its operation forced these who were1 by their,, (-wd consen: employed in our Vessels, to serve by compulsion in her navy. 1' 1 nus Dy a smgic process, unuer tne pretext of taking ner on sennit rt, the commence and navigation fthevivorld arc converted into a nurservto sup port the Biitish navy ; ar.fi the pru-.-ticexf impressment fi cm neusra.isVba 1 investigation, is discovered to bevUfce all of her other encroachment, 'a sys tem of universal monopoly. , Unless resisted by the steady and persver- ing efforts cf other nation?., she rntf eventually draw the commerce oi th world into the vortex of her system. It is next urged that this tsan anfej cfent custom oa the pan cf yEtigland, and Europe generally : tpattt is, a part of the law bf nations torr.pr'i ss on board of neutral vesseb - On thr high sea?f Those who urge tjns .;r gnment ought to substantiate it by. a reference to the fcts and to :lerjien tary writers on piroiic law. T ill diis is done, it cannot be considered a ; stronger light than a mere asseril j I. for rnv narr. flo ntitbeieveRt i4 i: ever constituteu tne custom ot Eu rope, or tHat ot Englu.dii i since the' I .i:' ukl ette than this, if if rea ly wrepe.? I heir: biience, tnen is ucisiyc:gHiM custom 'VJ knbw-tbii ''sonj-Eaish, writers have set unaWoldlatm'toraii ed on . tjt';'of de'rt titpji but there ifciio proof dpacnuicslcenle on the part .of othef powers i. and, If 1 1 thp v had. ltcbuld hotA "obUpatofv lhas on us." The WwnationiY -i-. ,,rr.--' ... - - t-M,. a j sea principally or .-asages originating in mtttviaLconvcnience AWiig the period Ot the AmVicatiir.-- If-. it praami evadetht naieqtU ,vi : f;j- were a general cu'tornwnfe- Btir cognized bv.. soncf illn3;m :prvtectir;4an3u tha!:: ters on the laws,. ot4 artist remote nd least y -i :l?pf minutriy'8tatetr';caes intere sbbviid discover! the greaW Hmi belligerent mayl-ntelncutralsf.efl &t anxeioiJ ilu trSi to, tfre firt. .. he tltej! lor the purpose orsetcfeWhv n6i jwt hisarumold ihii aloi None otjtrljU'ol T search would bjs morejl'mrint an wouk'i etterTdtsei$tlfeatent:la "UK . prtsment on,boaroof fteutral vessels' ife.rntai.ea-and'sntlsrs of which f comrpr plain,' arid even that it Ai cht'be a rhtf . tiial 'convenience. '5ctit.f sfqml', then,wbuid ftotbe extraoVimaryidufe v were thoscjnatioris telaiejia arA- - r merica acd Eoclatfdy aQd'-iTlthe'irari , tice mustirpm necesty be aUe,nded with ipestnt abuseit neVeroulq exist. If, cur cfpp'oriehts; then baorT prayed, not merelyassef teq, sutpi N custom, as-jbetwieeiv .sand.I4pc6v"'-'' our country would hvV; formed '4$f '-tir exception. I It iKnOipliicable -tc ouT cai,and attended witfe inceabVOse , As applied ;to us, then, the general u sage, ifythefe were, drghbe removed b treaty to sirtf f th mutual conjientt pctf oT;;tfothp j an object which tlm cbiintfy heter been abxibtts -to effect, but jkvhich 'has bee'n studipuily, Voided: by jaur,fej9 mvi If, however, our opportcts stilllhsist that it is a ngc dnder the law of tfatiohs,''aticl must; nptw'ith ctnclig the argument wnicli I r hive ad vanced, be considered as applt. able to us,1 WeSnay meet usr?ge w?ith usage j or rather Td6ubtl untVi uge 2nd opposed to as6n,:by'-mat;-wtiicli' is uodouhted and founded in the ,ve , - r ! ; -i-i. v rtr.nrgana At sMtfil crwttIt press m qeutrai vesseis'is aiiiAfsagcj . England and the restX Edrope ow much morso is it to anbrc; prqtec tioti othe jubjes'againstT6reiVV olence I This is the usage which is 'cert3?nand universal not confined -L," to any particular nation not ongma Ung in accidental circumstances ; all ; stat es,' -the trnos t we ak and conte mptj bl claim Sit ; antf isffO mid into the vert essence I of society, tr.at it cannct oe. reiinquisneo:. viuscui icr tfiin o$trU-tion. 5ri' thsj custom, vhichco)rjbineslith we rnabpposea0yv-prtcxj cjr,-' cfaiia of otir ehetaiy. -f. ! But, say som e of our opponents, we are willing jeiend native born, A meric-n seamen, btitnot thr na;u rali2ed. " I know mu how tho?e who make this1 distinction canjapwer simple question founded in fact. : A drtd, 2 l4fHtj native: trnsmefican I seame'n !6y theiaclwletjgelnent ofv the British goveitirneri are Jmpress ed and heJdrinQrlda you ai c v.'iujug 10. uicia suMi,:vywy declaration, that voU arW willir to de-. lend telmrko vouill riotovfij f finger ih theircause -Bdtthe -$s . tipctiph-betwe'pn native and jC-turaU y izt d is w trUth or reason. It constitutes no-part of ' the cpcti over? ; : oWeMl'q rof the tlefeuc e pf Ar t can seaniea generally the jtnemy.iJas rtoistisguihed between :the nerok tbeotherlcIaasL ' He insist3 ijnJconti- nuir.g atcjustom v hich. makea fkih quahy liable to his oppresiral'i '; wiM pot wtr 'tjcuo.t hear of .distxec' . tion tiljome security is, aSbrded 'fir; gainst the abuse of v which .wq cptn- ? - 1 pfain. rill then I canonsideiton- v ly aan eqmvbcatTppfcWhi v :'4 k' ; j ledkeltbtdutV ojEe ;goVetnmeru( jV '.- ? U nrotaixi evades thc Cfshafceof it. v . : M-v-- 'a:'Mtheii.pplicat tibn Taid s before this House in; theji 'Jtfifteofa 6tro "It mrr a latge.; ferenceiichwe bHeard '&eif'efeVtw:pndlr'mat they have tot Long" since' ceaied, to cousic'ct, ua as iheiit jguardijf Bot we b iheirf cuardiif ?i- Bert we b 06 j stand forth to uiectfarge.-- ihtvgrcreai v Dg- ratftyvftre 'caxl-with yl'iU; :' fe. kW'J iro'cdttttaiatn- horkevt rt.ar. a WiK J 5 .f Iriv .,;- We I BM1 - Its t -Jl.,:f? : - IS.: i-, mm . it llll mx:.:(P mm m -f - u m ti y' Ait j mi ttifi-r? In : :mwml it '-if id J!
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 6, 1814, edition 1
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