Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-29

'~'NhNi ~ AtsS lilIlOCtiis NlCt.ni =.
persecution nor TO the unfortunate violac?r
OF the law, any refu.e ON ,his side th',
grave then would the pemtent be witholr
nope, and the pcraecute;l, his place of rest.
1t must also be confessed. that ,herp l.
something harsh and grating to the best
ieeilnss OF our nature, in consigninr to the
wrathiul punishment, OF an offended master.
wretch who has sought our protection.
and fed to Us tor safety, with ihc or;cer.
OF death, and the hood. hounds of cr;m;,-,i
justice at his heels. 1t is repuc,laGt to ,;t.
good old virtue efhosp tally, a virtue viii, i
should be cherished with peculiar aoini-
tude, since IT retrogradeS with the ac,r-.-
ccs or refinement, commerce aud SELFISH
ness. Even the savage Arab, N,y rrn.e..i-
on roLber:) Mill protect The tgave,!.2.
wh" has taEen retH;.e in has tent. iSci 10
return 10 the subject of t.es, rtcfs.
! n dcsertcr diff r from other species Of
Offenders in this respect only, that the enc
has committed an oiitice ;enin-t tb. ms.
1ary code OF his CCGntly, the other, o:,ainst
It's municipal laws. One is liable 70 tic
summary trial and prompt punishment oe
court-martlal, and the either isamenah!e.
20 the tribunals Tor the ordinary and rc,-,-
ar administration ~ Justice. And do any
OF THESE points OF discrimination exciuG..
The deSerter from the benrii; of that as,-
lrm which foreign territory SO liberal y
extends to other unfortunate cu;Driis5 (fs
the contrary do they not doubly en.itle him
toit: The law Of nations recognizes some
exceptions TO the doctrine of ASYLUM. b,t
desertlon Is so far from being enumerated,
among the excluded Offences, that thy are
IN their nature so entirely different, AS to-
a"oru strong reasons why it should not be
comprehended iii the exclusion.
| The offenders a%,,,t,,,I,J r.
PRISONERS, assassins and incendiaries I'm
ifrofeSSton, and also pirates. These NOT
only ought to be given up TO the offended
Justlce or the state in whose territories
they nave committed crimes or deprcdati-
ohS, Out may be eXtermin ted wherever
they are seized Here we see ev;dent
traces OF the policy which dictated to ma
lions, the propriety ofmak,ng the exclusi-
on. 1t is not for IL solitary offence commit.
ted against the sovereignty of a particnlar
S'ate, which subjects them to be treated
win more than OF binary r;gor. 1t is when
oy the frequency and notoriety OF their
crimes, their existence becomes danrerous
10 an nations and to society in general az
wen Us 10 the country where their crimes
were committed. In this case. If becon,c,,
'he interest of all men to exterminate
them. They are what is termed hosfea h,,-
NAM SeneTis, and the SOVEREIGN who r;ye.
mem up TO merited punishment. or iniIicts
II himseIi, consults his own saferv, and NOT
'ne wishes OF another. OF all classes of
oHehuerS, deserterS are the ia rthest remoy-
GU from those who are termed the eUe,1, p,
or me Altman race. Desertion is no crime
against society in general, but only against
one nation, and only against the military
regulations of that nation. Ofau offence:
II is the most entitled to indulgence and
commiseratlon, particularly from the Bril-
'ish navy; and if that navy continues lis
system OF violence and depreciation, and its
progressive assimilation TO the character.
VI ra'es, 1t VIII itself merit the title of an
eNe"y " me amman race, and that the
most formidable too, which the world has
ever known -'''
If a foreign descrter, by placing himself
within our Jurisdiction, acquires claim 70
our protection, and is EXEMPT from tho
Claim OF ms former sovereign, does he lose
any privilege, or incur any new resDonsi
Oiiity, ny enlisting on board public armed
vessel with respect to the nation in whose
service he engages, answer yes: with
respect to any other, NO. If, on the one
hand, he Is bound to obey implicitly the
commands of his superiors, and TO risk his
li1e III defence of his adopted country. thar
country, and the government of that coun-
try' become pledged by the strongest and
most lbvioiable ties, to protect him. / am
tar from approving Of the practice of enlist
ing deserters. deem it highly reprehen-
slo'e III an officer to accept of the services
Oh any persons as defenders of his country.
VINO have not motives of attachment To nat
country. Those who come to us in 20 ques-
tiona6le character as that Of desprters.
arc peculiarly Objectionable. But this is a.
question between the officer and his own
government; no other has a right 20 com.
pam Ii an officer merits ccnsure for adj
ihit'lbS dcserteT on board his vessel. he
would merit tenfo.d eXecration for surren.
derlng him to the mercy of a British cn,,,t
martial, to the murdcrers of Jonathan R0,.
BINS and the acquitters Of the murderer
Whitby.
There is one general apology for all the
expressions and wrongs, inflicted by Bri-
tam, which her friends from London to H
max and from thence to PhiladcInbia- nc
YER fail 20 re-echo, upon every new ne, oF
proVocation that is, the interest which
the wholc world has, IN Tie maintenance
Oh the British navy. It is remarkable 70
observe the progress which this pretevt
mas mace, IN undermining prc-cs;abli,bed
uSa5es OF mankind. First Cf all. the Bti-
tSh people complain OF the exorbitapce az
taHCs, ana ct the practice of ;rlpressmsnt-
winch they alieFe To- be inconsistent ,rith
liberty. Inc answer is, your existence de-
PehdS upon your navy, and your navy rnu.t
be supported by impressmcnt and taxafir,