Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-18
S II T U R q Il Z, JULr 10, 1907.

nv IMPORTANT AND LUMINOUS Cow
4UNIcA7JoN ON 9'HE SUB9Ec9 OF THE
1MPRESSMENT OF 3MERfcAS AND Fo-
REIGN SEAMEN IND OTHER PERSONS.
Ectrdct Of a letter from the Secretary of
ttafe 10 James Monroe, Esq. dated stu
january, 1904.
(Concnded)
Notwithstanding the powerful motives,
winch ought to be felt by the British govern
nent TO relinquish practice which expo
seS IL 60 SO many reproaches, it is foreseen,
th@t objections of different sorts will be
pressed on you. You will be told first, of
tae great number of British seamen in the
american trade, and OF the necessity for
their services in time of war and danger.
SECONDLY, OF the right and the prejudice of
the British nation with respect to what are
called the British or narrow seas, where
Its domain would be abandoned bv the &C.
neral stipulation required. Thirdly, of the
use which wou,d be made of such a sane
tuary as that of American vessels, for de-
sertlohs, and traiterous communications to
her enemies, especially across the channel
to France.
lst. With respect TO the British seamen
serving IN cur trade, it may be remarked,
first, that the numOer, though consiiera-
bic, is probably less than may be supposed
iSecondly. that what is wrong in itself Can
| not be made right by considerations OF ex-
! pediency or advantage. Thirdly, that It
Is proved by the fact that the number of
real British subjects gained by the practice
in question, is Of considerable Importance
even IN the scale of advantage. The an
neXed report to congress on the subject of
lmpreSsments, with the addition of such ca
ses as may be in the hands of Mr.. Erving,
then our consul in London, will verify the
remark IN its application to the present
war. The statement made by his prede-
ceSsor during the last war, and which is
also annexed, is in the same view still
more conclusive. The statement compre-
hends not only ali the applications made by
nun Ill the flrst instance, for the liberation
OF impressed seamen, between the month
OF June, 1897, and Sept. 1901, but many also
which mad been made previous to this a.
Sency, by Mr.. FInckney and Mr.. King, and
which 1T was necessary for him to renew
Ihcse applications therefore may fairly be
considered as embracing the greater part
OF the period OF the war and as applca-
lions are known to be pretty indiscrimi.
nately made, they may further be consi.
dered as embracing if not the whole, the
tar greater part ofths impressments, those
of British SUBJECTS rs well as others
Yet the result exhibits 2,O59 cases only. and
of this number 102 seamen only, detained
rs being British subjects. which is less thar
l-s of the number impressed, and 1,14e
discharged or ordered TO be so, as not being
British subjects, which is more than hal
OF the whole number, leaving 8e5 for fur.
ther proof, with the strongest presumpti.
OF, that the greater part, if not the whole
were Americans or other aliens, whose
proof OF citizenship had been lost or des
troyed, or whose situation would account
Tor the difficulties and delays, In producing
1T. so that it is certain, that for all the
British scamcn gained by this violent pro
ceedlng, more than an equal number, whC
were not so, were the victims; il is high
ly probable that for every British seamer
so gained, number of otiItrs. less than II
for one, must have been the victims, anC
it is even possible that this number ma,
have exceeded the proportion of twenty t
one.
1t cannot therefore be doubted, that thC
acquisition of British seamen, by these inn
pfcsSments, whatever may he its advan
tage, is lost in the wrong done to Amer
cans ignorantly or wilfully mistaken fol
British subjects, in the jealousy and ill-wil
excited among all maritime nations by az
adherence to such a practice, and in thu
particular provOcation TO measures Of re
dress ON the part of the United States, no
less disagreeabe 80 them, than embarras
sing to Great Britain, & which may threa
ten the good understanding which ough
TO be faithfully cultivated by both. The
copy Of bill brought into congress undei
the influence of violations committed on oul
flag gives force to this latter consideration
Whether it will pass into law, and at the
lpresent session, is more than can yet bC
}said. AS there is every reason to 6elieyc
THAT it has been proposed with reluctance
1t will probably not be pursued into effect
if any hope can be supported of a remedy
tby an amicable arrangement between tit
two nations
There Is a further consideration which
: ought to have weight in this question. AL
though the British scamen employed in car
trying on American commerce, be in some
respects lost to their own nation, vet sucl
is the intimate and extensive connection o
this commerce. direct and circuitous, will
the commerce, the manufactures, the revc
nue. and the general resources of the Bri
fish nation, that in other respects its mari
ners, on board American vessls, may trul,
be said 20 be rendering it the most valua
bic services. Il would not be extravagan
to make it question, whether Great Bri
tain would not suffer more by withdrawn,
, her seamen from the merchant vessels o