Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-14
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L = N G II E S S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday. Ianncry 6.

''<V1AAy' S"fhcTy De
The speaker laid before the house lei.
ter received BY him from David Rumsev,
representing that his son, though possess
ed OF protection, had been impressed BY
the British and that, notwithstanding his
most strenuous exertioas, h. is unable Ia
obtain his release The le,teris couched
IN nnlet'ered bat pathetic terms, and con-
cludes in the foliwing manner :, los, an
estate by Lending money to carry on the
revolutionary war. and suffered every
thing but death by being prisorsr afnong
them Che Bri,ish) in Canads. lay rs
months IN close confinement, whes bore
the rank OF full captain; and i, ,h,s is all
The liberty have gained. to be bereayed
OF my children in that form, and they
made slaves, had rather be without il.
! hope that congress will lake some sree
d methods TO relieve our poor distressed
children from under their wretched hands,
whose tsnderest mercy is cruelty"
Referred.
Rir Varnum from the committee on
thst part OF the presidents message which
relates to The organization OF the mili;ia,
me augmentation of the land forces, &c.
made further report in par, subm!t.i1r q
otn' antAorfSs'Sg a detachment of the n,Itia
@ ne United STATES which was referred
70 q committee OF the whole tomorrow
lie OIL authorizes the rsesiJent Of The
chl'so STATES 20 require fhe. erecuipes Of
Ne resfiee'Iue stafcs 20 hold :hcir qslofa ofone
'inHGred fho9s,.'id nsihtia in readiness 10
morch at mosl.nt's 7parn;,,g authorizes
the acceptance of volunteer corps as a
part OF the detachment, md appropsia,es
dollars Tor the purposes
Mr Vi ton Presented a memor;pi from
the merchants of The city of New York.
ne memorial commeuce with express
s'n5 'he deepest arS;ety apd a!srm a, the
recent conduci5of Great Britain, as ;nya
sive OF neutral rights, and sies,rutti.a of
the JUS, aud heretofore authorised trade
IT the United States. The memotial;x,s
declare thclrrnost decided protest aeains,
tue doctrine recently sci up by BriiisE
'rinnnals, "hch thSy PRONOUNCE 10 be ia
direct violation of an incnntes,ib,e rirh,.
they repel With indignation the insinus.
s;on oil fraud or chicane. They say mat,
IN The British doctrine, they perceive tha,
me ahc'snt land mark is removed, bur
they canuot see in its room beacon "a III.
rect Their course. They view that tInc
,riBc as indicative of system, devised for
'ht tn,re destruction of'he co;onisi trade,
winch lorms The most important b. anch of
foreign commerce. F,om this nnpr.ce.
denied doctrine they appeal 10 tie ancient
principles which regulate the intercourse
OF nations. They declare that III. main.
tenance OF such primo pie as BrtaiD as
'erts' must ule present unparalIrl d +.
suat'on OF AFFAIRS, be destructive of the
commerce OF the United Staies.
Alter these and other impressive nrel;.
niAary remarks, The nemorialsts pro
coed TO detail Of some Of the most seri
oos consequences ,ha. could not fail TO re.
sun from the assertion Of the British doc.
trlne. Among those il is repfssei,ted tina,
II could mol Fail to disturb The whole ln,e.
rior relations Of the citizens If the United
STATES OF every descripilon--ihas il would
deprive US OF foreign articles that we want
and eompe! us either to take articles ;ba,
we Go rot want, or 10 suffer our surph,s
produce TO perish on our hgnds--tbat il
would probably lead to re,aliat,ng mes.
sures on the part Of other nations than
Great Britain, which would inevitably
draw in their train the devastations of war
that IT would turn capital into new chan
nels that it would lead to the cops;ruct;op
thai every essential article of subsistence
was coDtraband- - and that under the pre-
text ofdsStroying the trade Of her enemies
U Britain IS about TO appropriate 10 her
own use that of her friends.
The memorialists represent the HUI
initiating and oppressive conduct of Br.
tIsh ships OF war before the ports and har.
bors OF the United States fepei the insi-
nuatIon that The Americas flag is the {, au.
dulent cover of enemies property and
declare that the portion Of this commerce
attached to The port Of New York, is so
tr'iiing as to be altogether unworthy of
notice.
The memofialists declare firm reli-
ance on the justice and energy of the CO.
vernmert, and confidence IN their doing
nothing which shall abandon the rrea,
rights OF commerce,
Representing the defenceless state OF
their port, they express hope that ener.
get'c measures will be pursued for its de
fence,