Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-16
BRITISH AGENTS.

OF the old maritime code of law, from the
next meeting of congress. That the per-
sons and property of their employers shall
be sacred, because on shore, whilst that
of the poor unofending american sailor,
because on the ocean, shall be subject to
the piracy and imfrisonment of the Brit
ish navy.
We are certain that the American citi-
zens will not connive ut those distinctions
they see enough of British laws in the
acquittal o. Burr-and they never will sub
init to further wrongs in the adoption of
other laws from the dictates of the cabinet
of St. James.
We repeat again, that there is no step
within the tread of congress, which can
SO effcctualiy command peace with Britain
as the rejection of such n clause. Only
| once declare that, if in the case of war,
the United States know no difference be-
tween Iroherty on shore and hrohertv on
the SeaS-and Britain never goes TO war
with YOU. This reminds US of circum-
stance III the British history, under the
government of CromgveN-A Quaker had
his vessel seized and condemned under
some pretence or other, by the French CO.
vernment--afterh hearing his dispositions, the
merchant was ordered to call at a certain
time, and he should be informed of the set
Element of his case-in the mean time.
Cromwell ordered some of his cruizers to
bring in the first French merchant shin
they met with, the cargoes Of which were
immediately sold-& when the quaker call
ed for the redress he expected--he was
paid the full amount of his loss-Marza-
rene, tho equalling PIT or Dundas in blus-
tering, dared not resent the mode of indem-
MITIGATION.
flrh &C - r
G Britain, that if congress, at their next
meeting, only declare that British agents
shall be imhrfSoned for American seamen
and British property be remuneration
tor the plumber of orr merchants, why then
Britain Will know and feel her situation
eUen u they do NOT commence hostiEties be-
fore that time.
Every letter from England, and we an
peal to every British agent for the truth of
our assertions, declares the dreadful ALARM,
they are under-we know that if the affair
OF the Chesapeake had happened only
ene month previous, that not a tenth pa
OF the exports to this country would have
been made. We ask the British and Scotch
agents II we are not righs in our asserti-
ons! We ask those iafeiy returned from
the united Kingdoms, what are their ideas
OF serious dispute with this country
what are the opinions of their connexions
there-are they ready for war-mcrelv tn
crafty the individual pride and resentment
OF their ministers We ask them what
would be the real state fthe manufacturers
and workmen-will they tell us if mere
smuggling into the continent of Europe or
into the United States would warrant a
manufacturer to employ his capital. or to
make purchases in cotton or credt-in
case OF a war--we appeal to them if the
! aurora has not been always right in its
/ ideas of the real situation of British affairs ?
| There are divers Scotch and ByiiisA mer-
Chants lately returned, we could mention
their names-wc know their opinions, and
we leave it to them 10 inform the tories at
the coffee houses.
BY making the persons and property of
British agents responsible in case of war.
we douby serve the United Sta.es-we
hold hostages for our Seamen, we prevent
$fles from informing the enemy of orr
movemerts-by the property we indemnify
our merchants, and from the surplus we
! prevent taxes or new imposts on our TO-
reign commerce-we distress our enerov
and we most effeCtually serve ourselves.
| AS to the " moral honesty" of the nea-
sure, sure enough it is for the interest Of
the British and their tory adherents here.
TO cry up conhsCatinn on land, as breach
OF " moral houeSfy"--,n the code of the
Piratical government of Britain, it may do
well enough-for it is her interest To saw
so, exactly as it is the law and faith Of
the followers of the Mahometan code-fo
declare universal ho8fikifies 10 all CHrisf;-
ans. But let the United States Gazette o..
any other such like paper, or all the tory
adherents of George III. establish if thew
can, the DtOraP difference between hro-
ferty and Persons on the ocean or ON land
Can they tell us the difference win
any Amerscan citizen dare make the dis
tine on-will he dare say that his fellow
citizen who is navigating his vessel, 8 to
be immured in a British DUNGEON, and that
the British agent, who is exulting over the
plracies and murders eff that government.
who rolls his carriage through orr streets,
with impunity, 70 sport his HUericS and lux
uries in safety, TO give his traitsrous (easfs
and foa8ts whilst the navigator of cur
vessels, pines under starvation in the cells
OF British despotism Will any merchant
at the coffee house point out the ",,orai
dHcrence" between the two?
The truth is, that all British customs and
laws are equally bad---we have aud dali
" do experience them in this state--- Burr
has reaped the benefit Of them at Richmond
---and British admiralty courts have been
always enriched by them---and it is full
time that others were adopted equally be-
nefcial to the whole world---the United