Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-14

from naval and military gentlemen, gun !
boats will afford the most effectus! pro.
tecsion, in the event Of our being compel.
ed to have recourse TO defensive mes
sures, by ANY occurrences that may here
after take place.
But here must be permitted TO dc.
clare that have no apprehensions what
ever OF war. The present situation of
the nations oil Europe furnishes no ground
for entertaining such approximations.
Their present engagements furnish am
pie employment for all their resources
both of men and money. The impor-
tant contest now which occupies their al.
tenuon, is psi likely to be brought to
speedy tetmiUaiion. Even if the minor
powers should withdraw from lac eonfe-
deracy, there is no prospect Of speedy
peace betw,xt the two great rival nations.
ihey will most probably soon return 10
the situation thsy respectively occupied
at the commencement of the present
campaign. The scene of Boulogne will
probably be acted over again. The feet
of the one nation nnst be employed in
guarding its coasts against an invasion by
the army of the other. In this situation
neither will be disposed to add to tn.
number of their enemies. Great Britain
derives some advantage from that prs
datory war which she permits and aulho-
rises to be Carried on against our COM
merce, and she also experiences some
convenience IL manning her navy, from
the facility with which deficiencies are
supplied by imprcssments OF our seamen
from on board our trading vessels. In
teiest and convenience will induce her 10
pursue this system. so long as we disco
YER disposition 20 yield implicit submits
SION; but let a national spirit of disap-
probation and resistance once discover it.
self; let us once tell her in the prsud
language of independence, that We will
10 longer submi to this indignity and op-
preston, and we will find the practice re.
hnquisbed, and cur fellow citizens Iiberat
ed from tha' degrading bondags in which
the arr now held, and restored 10 their
country and friends. Great Britain is TOO
wel versed IN the business of calculation,
aud roo we'll acquainted with her own in
ieres! TO perseyere IN this lawless system
at The hs1srd of losing customers whose
annua! purchases of her manufactures s.
Other merchandise, exceeds, ! believe,
so 600 oOc IF dollars.
In searching Tor materials to subs,ap-
tale the facts stated in the preamble to
The resolution, il is ouly necessary To re
!cI 10 the his DRY of the co6auct of the
6ritIsh government towards us for very
short period. BY turning few psges
oil thai history we viii ind, thai a large
number of our fellow citizen, have been
iorcibiy taker from thsir homes for his
ship is seaman's hone) nave been pus
on board British ships Of war, and com
PEELED to aght her b., lies against pay
er, betwixt whom and their own govern
inent here exists no differences. The
genera! notoriety OF this truth precludes
nc necessity OF reference to any par
tiCular documen nj TO prove the correctness
OF the statement. Was such reference
necessary, l might point to report from
tie department sf STATE made at the las.
session of Congress ia that report we
ihnd, that at that lime fifteen hundred and
thirty eight persons claiming,io be Ame.
rlcan Citizens, had been able to extend
their application FOR relief 10 their own
government /; and though Great Britain
claimed some of these as her subieG els, a.
greeab!y TO her doelsine of non erha:rf-
0'ton, the great mass was acknowledged
10 be Americans, for whose detention no
other cause could be assigned, bu, be-
cease she stood in need of their service.
AID Is mat a fair presumption that this
number was but small proportion of
those who were actually impressed -
Changed from ship 10 ship, and the yes
sells io which they are frequently chan
g'ng their station, guarded with the mos.
scrupulous attention, IL is almost impossi
ole For them to find any opportunity OF
applying 10 their own government, or
ny offs oilicers for relief.
This open, this h1gFaD; violation of
our rights as men, and as citizens of an
independent nation, certainly demands the
Inierpos''ion of government. To what
cause are we to ascrib> The neglect nth
which these unfortunate men have been
treated /! a lev years ago when sons
OF our people had The misfortune to be
made prisoners by the Alger,nes, and at
later period when some others Tell in.
TO the hands oil the TripolItans, the feel
Ings the government and Of the whole
country were aliye. AL voices united in
requiring the energy Of the government