Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-06


question between any other nation. There
is therefore no right of prescription.
bnt, IL seems, ii has also been claimed e
ererctscd, during The whole OF the three adj
minIstratious or our national government.
And IS 1t meant to be asserted that this
Claim and exercise constitute a right II
It is, l appeal to the uniform, unceasng
and urgent remonstrances of the three adj
ministrations--I appeal not only to the
warm feelings, bat cool justice of che Ame-
rican psople--nay, i appeal to the sound
sense and honorable sentirsent of the -Bri-
fish nation Itself, which, however il NAV
have submitted at home tn this practice,
never would tolerate its sanction by law, a :
gainst the assertion. If it is not, how can
1t be affirmed that it is OH our part a mere
pretence
But he first merchant of the T. s. in an
swer to Mr.. chickering's late enquiries, has
informed him that since the affair of the
Chesapeake there has been no cause of
compiaint-that he could not find a single
instance where they had taken one man out
at merchant vessel. Who is it that en-.
Joys the dignity o: first merchant of the u.
,. we are tot informed. But il he had ap-
Piled to many merchants in Boston as res
pcetable as any in the u. S. they could have
told him of q valuable vessel and carso. 70.
tally lost upon the coast of England, late
IN August last, and solely in consequence
OF having had two of her men, native Anne.
ricans, taken from her by inpressment.
TWO months after the affair of the Chesa-
peake.
On the 18th OF October, the king of En-
gland issued his proclamation, eomsraro,np
ms naval omcers, 10 Impress his subjec S
from neutral vessels. This proclamation
IS represented as merely "reQuirins the re-
turn OF his subjects, the seamen especially,
from foreign Countries" and then Is it is am
acknowledged principle that every nation
ms right 10 the service OF its subjects in
time OF war" Is this, sir, a Correct STATE
ment either of the proc .arnation. or of the
question 1t nvolves,in which or rightj is CON
cernedE The king OF England's rigiit to the
service OF his subjects in time OF war ism.
thing to us. The question is, whether n,
mas right to sei2e them forcibly OH Loard
OF cur vessels while under contract of scr.
vice to our tizens, within cur iurisdictio,
upon the high seas And whether he has
right expressly to command MS naval off :
GERS TO seize them-is this an ackrowled-
sed princip!e Certainly not. lyhv tben
rs this proclamation described as founded
upon uacontested principle And WHY is the
Command, SO justly offensive 10 us, and so
mischievous as Il might then have been
made IN execution, altogether omitted
But 1t is not the taking of British subjects
rom our vessels, It is the tax ng under CO..
ior Vi 'iat pietence, our own, native An;e.
iican c1uzsns, which constitutes the most
gaming, asgravation Of th.s mcrciless prac-
ice Yet even ths, we arc told is but a
Pretence for three reasons.
/. Because he number Of citizens ,b,s
taken, is small
Z. because IT arises only from the impcs
Poss'bhty OF Distinguishing Englishmen
from Americans
8 Because such impressed American CT
uzens are delivered up, on duly authenti
Gated proof
l. Small and great in point of numbers
are relative terms To suppose thar the
native Americans form small pronort;o,
OF the Whole number impressed is m stake
the reverse is the fact. Examine the of.
hcIal returns from the department of state
Ihey give the names cf between four and
I'VE thousand men impressed since the com.
niencement OF the present war. o. which
number: not ohe fifth part were British sub.
Jects Inc NUMBER of naturaiized Ameri-
cans could not amount to one tenth. / ha.
zard little In saying, that more than three
tourths were native Americans. If il he
said that some of these men. tboueh sr,nea,-
ing on the face OF he returns, American
CIT zens, were really British subjects, and
had iraudn'enily procured their projections.
reply that this number. must be far ex
ceeded by tbe c. SEES Of cit zens impressed
winch never reach the department of state.
lie American consul in London estimates
the nImncr ofiInprss during the war.
at nearly three times the amount of me-
namesreturned. II gle Dllure ofthe offence
os considered In its trU- colors, 10 a DeoDle
having just sense Of personal liberty ard
'ecuiity, 1T Is IN every sIugle instance, of a
nallgn'ty not nTeri1r to Ihat Of muraer.--
ne very same act, when Committed by the
recruiting ohicer Of one nation within The
territories OF another, is by the universal
aw ana usage OF nations punished with
death suppose the crime had, in everyin-
stance, as by It's consequences it has been
% many, deliberate murder-wouid il an
swer or silence the voice of our complaints
to DC told that the number was smalI1
= The impossibiity ofdistinguishine En-.
gIiSh from American seameu is not the on
~, Gor even the most frequent occasion of
impressment. Look again into the returns
from the department of state--you will see
that the officers take our men without pre-
tending TO enquire where they were born
sometimes merely to shew their aniuosity
or their contempt for our country some
times from the wantonness of power. When
they manifest the most tender regard for
the neutral rights of America, they lament
49, ~.