Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-03

fme %"aHfHorIsed attack Of q British naval
c0feer on me american ItTgGte Chesdheake
80 search fordnd take some deSerters known
20 maze oeen received or board, MIRO had
oeen often demanded, and as often reJx-
sea 20 0e deHUered uh AS was expected
by air considerable men, and by the presi.
cent himself Gas Z have befure observcd)
the British government, on the first infor.
nation OF the unfortunate event land with
out waiting for an application disavowed
tue act or It's othcer-disclaimed the prin-
clpie OF searching national armed vessels
and declared its readiness to make suitable
repatriation, as soon as the state of the case
should be fully known.
under such circumstances, who can ius-
THY this alarm of war? An alarm which
greatly disqueted the public mind, and &C
casloned an interruption of commerce ex-
.reme!y injurious to our merchants pud sea-
faring citizens
Will close this long letter by stating all
the existing firetenccS-for there are no
causes TOR war with G.. Britain.
1. The British ships of war, agreeably to
a riSht CLAIMED and exercised for ages-a
right claimed and exercised during the
whole OF the administrations of Washington
OF Adams, and of efferson,-continue to
take some OF the British seamen found ON
ooard of our merchant vessels, and with
them small number of ours, from the inn
possibility OF always distinguishing English.
men from citizens of the u. S. On this
point our Government well know that G..
Britain IS perfectly willing to adopt any ar
rangemcnt that can be devised, which will
secure to her service the Seanc1a qvho are
her o7on subjects; and at the same time
exempt ours from impressment.
2. The merchant vessels of France. Spain
and Holland, being driven from the ocean.
or destroyed, the commerce of those coun-
tries with one another, and with their colo
mes, Gould no longer De carried on bv them
selves. Here the vessels of neutral nations
came In to their aid, and carried on near
tne Who.e commerce of those nations.
with their seamen thus liberated from the
merchant service, those nations, in the pre-
sent, and preceding wars, were enabled 10
man their ships Of war; and The neutral
vessels and seameu supplying their places.
became IN. fact, though not ia name, au1lk-
farfeS 0 zsa''. The commerce of those ma
tons, wltholt one armed ship on the sea
appropriated Tor its protection, was inten-
ded thus to be secured under neutral flags
whiIe the merchant vessels of G.. Britain,
win lis numerous armed ships to guard
them, were exposed to occa sional Captures.
Such course of things G.. Britain has re-
sisted, not in the present only, but in for
mer wars; at least as far back as that of
1855 And she has claimed and maintain
ed a right TO impose on this commerce some
limits and restraints because it was a COM
MERGE which was denied by those nations
TO neutrals In time of peace; because it was
commerce. OF immense value to the SUBJ
Jects OF her enemies; and because it filled
their treasures with money to enable them
t. their uy,, n n.
3. The third and only remaining nretence
for war with Great Britain, is the unfortu-
nate affair of the Chesapeake; which hay-
ing been already stated and explained, II
VIII only remark here, that it is not to be |
believed that the British government, after
oeing defeated as before mentioned, in its
endeavors to make PREPARATION in London, |
TOR the wrong done by its servant, would
nave sent hither speci Il envoy to give ho-
noraCie satisfaction, but from its sincere de-
sire to close this wound, If our oun gov-
cTnment 7ooH!d suffer il 10 be heated.
Permit me now to ask, what man, impar-
tally viewing the subject, will have the
boldness to say there exists any cause for
plunging the u into war with G.. Brit
am Who that respects his reputation as
a man OF common discernment will saw it 4? |
Who that regards the interest and welfare
Va no NOShNi( VIII say IL w no then can
justify, who can find an excuse for course
OF conduct which has brought our country
into its present state of alarm, embarrass-
ment and distress For myself, Sir, / must
declare the opinion, that 10 free country
was ever before so Causelessly, and so blind !
ly, thrown from the height of prosperity. |
and plunged INFO a state Of dreadful anxietv
and suffering. But from this degraded and
wretched situation, it is not vet too late TO |
escape. Let the dispatches from our min |
isters IN France be no longer concealed. !
Let the president perform the duly reouir. |
ed OF him by the constitution by giving % |
Congress .IuH Information Of Me sfatc oil
the union in respect to foreign nations. |
H6oOc al let him uH'od our actual sifl- !
alton 7vifh France. Let him tell us what
are the demands aud proposals of her ruler.
Had these been honorable to the u. 5. would
not the president have been eager to dis
close them! That they are of an entirely
different nature, that they are dishonora6'e,
that thev are THinOns 10 our commercial
interests, and dangerous 10 our liberia and
we are left to infer.
hope, Sir, that the nature and magui-
tude Of the subject will furnish Sufficient
apology for the length and style Of this let
ter. Perhaps some may deem it presump-
tuous thus to question the correctness of he /
OF cur government. a strong
sense OF duty, and distressing apDrehensj
ons Of national ruin, have forced the task