Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-21


enemies colonies. That the continuity
ofthe voyage is broken when the return
cargo is landed in the neutra! country,
and has paid duties there, aud that the
goods can afterwards be safely transport
ca TO any bc.ligcrent country in Europe,
IN the same bottom on which thsy were
originally imported or on any other neu
trai bottom Whatever. This appears 10
have settled the question, and numerous
decisions in England both before and
since that time have confirmed the ptln-
cipie AS q correct one. Blu; notwithsiand-
ing all .hls, 10 our astonishment, the same
adjudicatious have been renewed and
the same principle considered as a.
bandoned last war, is now revived In
the early part of the last summer we find
1t once more brought into existence, aud
the following case was made use of, as a
Int pretext, TO warrant the new captures
which were intended should be made un-
der this extraordinary decision OF the
court of appeals.
In the latler par. OF the late war which
| was Terminated by the treaty of Amiens,
an American vessel was carried into the
| island oil New Providence, and adiudica
ted. An appeal was carried to Great
britain, where the condemnation was af.
himed on tbs ground that she was car.
ryiDg OIL a trade during war which was
not allowed in time of peace. Under
this decision the cruisers of Great Britain
have seized a great number of other YES
seis. l know this case particularly
The vessel, have referred to, was the
Essex, capi. Orne. There was dire6
importation OF her cargo iuts Salem, in
| Massachusetts, AFTER remaining there s,o-
red or 4weeks he duties having been paid
1t was shipped for the Havana. Ga her
passage TO he Havanna, she was seized
and adJudicated in New-Proyidence.-
! There was az appeal, and after remain
ing nearly four years Undecided, the judg-
msnt Is c, last Confirmed IN England, ard
The capture of American vessels common
ces. Can We agree 10 theml IF This
principle be allowed, I desire to know
whether the whole carrying trade of The
United States will not eventually be sac
rfced. BY the carrying trade mean
the drecf trade to and from the colonies
as well as 10 Europe. II we acquiesce
IN their capturing a part, Great Britain
Will ex,ead her captures still further,
and make sweep OF cur whole trade
For my part am not willing TO make
this sacrifice it it were no more than
million could nc: agree lit.
AS TO the impfessment OF our seamen,
that too is subject Of most serious com.
plant. We have called for document
on this point, which unfortunately is not
yet on our tables. 1t is so extensive, &
| the information drawn from such various
sources, that the Secretary Of State has
not yet been able 10 present it. We
have, however, understood, that The mum
Der OF our impressed seamen amounts to
! above 5000. During the last war Great
| britain impressed upwards Of 2.eoo of
our seamen, OF which She restored 1900.
| proved to be American, aud 800 remain
ed in her possession at the peace. In the
abort period oil two years she has impress
sed 3 900 seamen. l believe that we are
bound, by all peaCeable means, to obtain
| the liberation Of these men. Lately, one
our iriSaies was shipwrecked off Tri-
poll and 500 men taken cap,iyes. We
Immediately passed a new appropriation
| bill, and sent out several additional fri
| S"trS' TIC aIAdir mas terminated homo
fabIy To our country, and our seamen are
released. VIII we not now do as much
/ for 5000 seamen, a. we then did for 800.
which are but a tenth part! After the
course we are now taking, should Britain
persist IN her captures and in her oppres.
sige treatment OF our seamen, and refuse
to give them up, would not hesitate 10
meet her IN war. But. as observed be.
fore, do not believe &. Britain will 90
10 war. Our trade is TOO valuable 10 her.
| She knows too that in such an event
! She will lose her Eastern provinces,
The states of Vermont and Massachu.
seus will ask no other assistance than
heir own militia 10 take Canada and No
! ya-Scotia. Some of her West-India is
lands will likewise fall. She knows also
ether things. Her subjects own sixteen
millions of the old public debt of the u.
States, eight millions OF the Louisiana
stock and three or four millions of Bank
stock and have private debts to the a.
mount ol ten or twelve millions, amount-
ing in the whole TO nearly forty millions
of dsltaFs.-~ WIZ c.. Britain, by going 60
war, risque her provinces, and this large
amount Of property? think she will
! not put so much = hazard. believe she