Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-29
concluded his remark. when the court adj.
FOR THE ARGUS.

"the people, seldom err in their opinions
III their sentiments, they never do" be-
>eve the remark to be strictly true, with
regard to those spontaneous, sincere and
ardent ehusions of indignant enthusiasm,
winch are not elected by the Vaccinations
and articles of governments or popular
readers. Such is the sentiment which has
been excited III the bosom of America, Ly
the recent wound inflicted by British AFRO
gahce ana injustice, on the peace and ho-
nor OF cur country an act combining in
iIsei every characteristic of injury and
Premed'tated insult, and possessing not one
feature OF remote or plausible palliation.
In TINS state or things, it is not surprising
that The minds OF the people should have
yielded to the first impulse of nature and
feeling, and not have waited for the slow
operations OF the understanding, in dis
passionate investigation of our rights, or a
cold calculation of the magnitude OF the in
jury But It is certainly matter of sur
PRISE, that persons, whose information and
situation in life, entitle them to be the in
st! uetors of those who are less fortunately
endowed, should become the instruments
OF propagarng error, or themselves the
subjects of delusicn
The misapprehension which seems to
prevail in regard to our present complaint
AGAINST britain, and which: must be rcmov-
cd before due estimate of the injury can
DC made, is this: The seamen on board
'le chesapeake who were claimed as de-
serterS, are said to have been American
Cti2enS forciby impressed into the British
service, and this circumstance, is consider
Gu oy many as an important. if not a neces-
Safy part OF the injury. In the prclimina-
~ remarks OF Gen. Lee to the militia OF
the fourth division, (Which are otherwise,
mue without merit,) it is admitted, "that,
had the deserters been British subjects,
OF Americans, voluntarily enlisted, the
LeiuSai OF cur government to deliver
lle'h' wnen Reclaimed, would have been
understandable, altho' the reprisaI would
nave been even in that case, uniustifia-
ole' ms was certainly a pardonable
mistake on the part of Gen. Lee. although
me admission would go farther towards an
extenuation of the OUTRAGE than nerhous he
was aware of; for if the dcscrters being
actually British subjects would crcuse me
rc1'r13aI, a belief on the part of the British
commander, that they were so, would in
some measure, hal!iate tie gvronr, on the
ground OF upright intention. But what
siail we think of the Columbian CentineI,
VINO oaseiy asserts that Z" if Great Britain
- NhG Hli9ht have said good Britain) acted
u'uer belief that she had sustained a
"'"'iS' her conduct was PERFECTLY JUs-
A8LE." This latter assertion adj
81 Vi 10 answer; but should the people
vi Dos'on, acting under belief that they
100 stained an insult, bcstow on the wri-
WI d STit Of tar and feathers, will not
etehd to say that their conduct would
ny =" PERFECTLY JUsTIFIABLE.
49," order to be apprIscd of the high and
Pi egnable ground of right and Justice.
, w. "hich we stand in this controversy, it
mes necessary to enquire, what are
III reciprocal rights and obligations of So
eiSil independent states, in regard to
c iie subjects or citizens of one, taking re-
iuse within the limits of the other, and
VINO had previously offended against the
laws of the former.
The case is somewhat new with regard
to deserters, but nothing is more common
than for offenders against the laws of one
sovereign to seek an asylum within the ter
rltories OF another; nor is any thing more
certain that such an asylum is effectual, a.
galnst any claim or demand made by the
former sovereigns of such offenders, for
crimes committed, previous to their exile,
OF however deep dye. 1t is not necessa-
ny to defend this principle of asylum, by
proving its dependence upon reason and
natural justice: it is sufficient that no part
OF the law OF nations has been more univer-
sally acknowledged, or considered as less
questionable. The asylum of foreign ter
ritories, is not peculiarly confined to any
age or country, or even a creature of the
modern, improved code of civilized natl
ons; it is co-cval with the history of man
and co-extensive with the habitabIe globe.
1t is not founded in local custom or super
suuon, like the asylum of certain temples
among the ancients, or of some churches
IN modern Roman Catholic countries il
has pervadcd all the variety of religion,
Climate and custom to which mankind is
subject. Rules of action, thus carly and
universally adopted Dy men, must be init
mately connected with the principles oil
justice or humanity, Altho' we may not at
once have It in our power to point out the
connection. AT all events it must remain
as part Of the common law of nations, until
1t is repealed by the statute LasV of trea-
ties.
VIII not pretend confidently, to point
out the cause or origin of the above rule,
lest by assigning a wrong ORC, / should
weaken the authority fthe rule itself; but
by way of conjecture, will ofrer the fol-
loving reasons, in order that the reader
may be prevented from considering refu-
gee as beneath the regard or protection Of
society, and not entitled even to the priv
lege OF remaining an exile from his coun-
try.
One obvious consideration, which COM
mon sense seems to point oat as a reason
a, Il 1. =