28 Naval War of 1812 



Nor has any neutral nation such a jurisdiction over 

 her merchant vessels upon the high seas as to ex 

 clude a belligerent nation from the right of search 

 ing them for contraband of war or for the property 

 or persons of her enemies. And if, in the exercise 

 of that right, the belligerent should discover on 

 board of the neutral vessel a subject who has with 

 drawn himself from his lawful allegiance, the neu 

 tral can have no fair ground for refusing to deliver 

 him up; more especially if that subject is proved to 

 be a deserter from the sea or land service of the 

 former." * 



Great Britain's doctrine was "once a subject al 

 ways a subject." On the other hand, the United 

 States maintained that any foreigner, after five 

 years' residence within her territory, and after hav 

 ing complied with certain forms, became one of her 

 citizens as completely as if he was native born. 

 Great Britain contended that her warships possessed 

 the right of searching all neutral vessels for the 

 property and persons of her foes. The United 

 States, resisting this claim, asserted that "free bot 

 toms made free goods," and that consequently her 

 ships when on the high seas should not be molested 

 on any pretext whatever. Finally, Great Britain's 

 system of impressment, 2 by which men could be 

 forcibly seized and made to serve in her navy, no 



1 "The Naval History of Great Britain," by William James, 

 Vol. IV, p. 324. (New edition by Captain Chamier, R. N., 

 London, 1837.) 



8 The best idea of which can be gained by reading Marry- 

 at's novels. 



