Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-06
FROM TIE BEE.


impress nur seaIucn with impunity." Aud
as we naturally suppose, so many great
men have enlisted advocates in 1T, that
through Diausibility, vchemence or subul-
ty, we are almost convinced in despite OF
our ju1gm .nts, that the English are not
only unsuitable for what they have done,
but have merited our warmest gratitude
for not prosecuting to the full extent OF
their rights For my part, know nothing
about these metaphysics, syHogtSmS, mo-
Gus foncns- proGuS toilenS, with the whole
family of spnfhefies and dnaiytics. True
they puzzle me so confoundedly that can't
answer word TO them. Yet they never
satisfy ny conscience. always assent to
mans argument, who tells me he is rea-
soniug from the removal OF the minor To
tho admission of the major, or from the
removal OF both to the establishment OF the
conclusion; vet l assent to him rs do TO
u fellow talking violently to me in Dutch,
not because am convinced, but because
don't understand him, nevertheless from
his warmth suppose he thinks himself
right, and that | think so likewise. Now
lie. rs try to get q view OF this question,
independent OF its trappings. First, they
make 4 desperate thrust At our feelings.
En- gland is lighting for her existence, and
by impre ssments: will we then, through
an ovcrs,rained exactness, strike this last
PROC from uuder herr But secondly, if we
wnul.i, the iii'st law of nature bids her use
possible means to prevent it: if we will
not cheersul,y surrender orr men, they
have a right 10 take them. If a man can
save his own life only by taking mine, SELF
preservation bids him do 1t: the voice OF
self-preservatien is equally loud upon my
De, and the right equally strong. may
tharefnre kill hun, to prevent his killing
me. Bringing the question to this point,
and apply it 70 England, our rights are e.
quail aud absolute, and directly contrariant.
They may destroy us to save themselves:
We may, therefore, in MISREPRESENTATION,
dn our utmost to destroy them. The point
thus stated, is easier evaded than disputed:
lct us see how. Why,if England intended
our absolute destruction, we might resist;
out she ony claims what we can very ca
silly spare, what her necessities require,
and what she has right to-" These are
truly pretty broad grounds, and beside not
altogether true but let MS see how they
apply. A man comes TO your pasture,
armed with 4 club, and seizes your horse,
Canning HIM as his own; you demonstrate
with him, and he knocks you down: at
and demands your money his necessities
require il, and have it he will. "Wcll,
my dear sir, true you knocked me down,
and hurt me prodgiously; but as you did
not kill me then, erhaps you will not now
and AS your necessities are so great, shall
very cheerfully yield to your command
TAis we are told, will not answer in our
towns and cities. But the English bring
20 Our ships, muster the men, and if they
are pleased TO take any, compel them 10
prove themselves Americans, drag them
aboard their men of war, and if one poor
wretch should then dare to mutter, hang
him ut the yard-arm. sSShe does not in
icnd our absolute destruction" We are
not obliged TO wait till the blow is struck,
tnat we may know how hard it is to be, be-
fore we resist: And il our seamen may be
taken frsm our ships, why not from cur
pittS I" rHey have q right TO-" How so
Two ways. First because the men are
their own subjects: Secondly the ocean is
Common; tEey have therefore right to
seize them wherever found. Firstly, every
individual aud collective right oftlIe nation
is then concentrated in the garters, rib
bons, stars and pensioners which compose
the British parliament; their fiat is onni-
potent, and as every one knows, they are
pader the thumb of the ministers for the
time being. Ii results of course, that the
present ministry is the grand reservoir of
laws for Euglishmen. Scotchmen and Irish
men forever. More, when once "A law is
passed, be it what it may, If they had 81
tight to pass il, (and this right they voci-
ferate is iilimitable) they surely have 10 ex-
ecuG, il. This is giving them all they ask.
They have right 10 declare that the poor
wretch born within their jurisdiction shall
be as immutably fixed as the soil he lives
on; and il shall be absolutely impossible
for him to expatriate himself: so that,
should providence favor his escape, and he
srttle in a distant country, his posterity's
children are still IN British grasp; be-
cause mans very blood lies under an at
tschment, and every vein tinctured with a
particle, wherever detected, is British
property. We do not deny nations right
tQregulate their internal polity yetwe do
deny their right from nature or compact
70 frame such laws as encroach upon the
sovereignty of other nations. The second
reason viii go far enough to say, that the
moment cur ships leave our wharves they
are AS ,n1cu under Russian, Algerine or
British control, as orr own. It is very Gu
ri0us inieed, that because the ocean is
COMMON, fngidnd has right to commit
such tepTedations as she pleases there-
As mach az 70 say, that "a Massachusetts
'biack man, travelling the Virginia roads,
is ihsJ fHcto slave. Because the roads
are common, and 10 more the dominion
OF one than another, ergo, the Virginans