The practice in Great Britain of impressing seamen whenever war is apprehended, will fall more heavily on ours than on those of any other foreign nation, on account of the sameness of language. Our minister at that court, therefore, will, on these occasions, be under the necessity of interfering for their protection, in a way which will call for expense. It is desirable that these expenses should be reduced to certain rules, as far as the nature of the case will admit, and the sooner they are so reduced the better. This may be done, however, on surer grounds after the government of Great Britain shall have entered with us into these arrangements on this particular subject which the seriousness of the case calls for on our part, and its difficulty may admit on theirs. This done, it will be desirable that legislative rules be framed which may equally guide and justify the proceedings of our minister, or other agent, at that court, and at the same time extend to our seafaring citizens the protection of which they have so much need.
Mr. Cutting, being on the spot, will himself furnish the explanations and documents of his case, either to the legislature or a committee of it, or to the Auditor, as he shall be required.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant.
Sir,--I have now the honor to enclose you the answer of the Attorney General to a letter I wrote him on the subject of yours of the 18th instant.
It appears that the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States are open to the application of Mr. Pagan for a writ of error to revise his case. This writ is to be granted, indeed, or refused, at the discretion of the judge; but the discretion of a judge is governed by the rules of law; if these be in favor of Mr. Pagan's application, his case will be reviewed in the Supreme Court, and the decision against him corrected, if wrong; if these be against his application, he will then be at the end of the ordinary course of law, at which term alone it is usual for nations to take up the clause of an individual, and to inquire whether their judges have refused him justice. At present, therefore, I am not able to say more, than that the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States will receive Mr. Pagan's application for a writ of error to revise the judgment given against him by the inferior court, and that there can be no doubt they will do on that application what shall be right.