POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL 77 



injustice; but when the United States be- 

 came a nation, the seamen of the two 

 powers could not easily be told apart. 



This, which to an American seemed a 

 strong argument against the practice, was 

 to the Englishman an added reason for en- 

 forcing it. There was little danger that the 

 British sailor would seek the ships of any of 

 the continental powers ; as a rule, he hated 

 foreigners; but on an American vessel he 

 found himself among men of his own race 

 and language, and as the temptation was 

 greater, so was the need of combating it. 



The United States made the broad claim 

 that the flag should cover the men, that 

 an American ship meant American sailors, 

 and, except in their own ports, the English 

 had no right to investigate. A vessel of the 

 English navy in time of war might under 

 international law stop an American vessel 

 on the high seas and examine her for con- 

 traband of war, and, if she saw cause, order 

 her into an English port for adjudication; 

 but this did not condemn the vessel or cargo. 



