Itshows also instances of a departure from the customary rules of war by the selection and confinement in close prisons of particular persons and the transportation of them for undefined causes from the ports of the British colonies to the island of Great Britain. The evidence under the second head establishes the fact that. however the practice of detaining American citizens as British subjects may be regarded as to the principle it involves. such detentions continue to occur through the agency of the naval and other commanders of that Government. It proves. too. that. however unwilling to allow other nations to naturalize her subjects. Great Britain is disposed to enforce the obligation entered into by their citizens when naturalized under her own laws. This practice. iven supposing the release of every person thus detained. obviously subjects our captured citizens. upon mere suspicion. to hardships and perils from which they ought to be exempt. according to the established rules in relation to prisoners of war. The evidence under the third head shows that while all other American citizens were permitted to depart within a reasonable time after the declaration of war. all mariners who were in the domiuions of Great Britain. whether they resorted to her ports in time of peace for lawful purposes or were forced into them under pretense of illegal commerce. are considered prisoners of war.
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naturalized naturalize