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

STATE OF THE POLL.
Parkinson 1879.
Randolph 16s.
Jas. Robertson, junr. I59.
James z. Cooke 1913.
City Of Washington, ,4ttru 90, 1893.
To THE PEOPLE OF THE CoNGREssIoN-
AL DISTRICT COMPOSED OF THE couN-
TIES OF HANOVER, HENRIco, NEw-
KENT AND CHARLES CITY.
Fellow Citizens,
THE following communi-
cation was prepared with view of having
considerable number of copies printed and
distributed, in the form of circular letters,
addressed to individuals, as it has been M,
pr9.:tice to do, near the close of every ses.
sion. But the printers at this place are so
occupied, that have not been able to en-
gage either Of them to print any. /, there,
fore, transmit the manuscript to Richmond.
for the purpose of procuring publication
of 1t, in the form of a general address, to
you; believing that, amongst the duties at
tached TO the character OF Representative,
that oil diitusing information relative to pub.
iic affairs, and the proceedings of the lec;s-
lature, was never more strongly enioined.
ut any period, since have had the honor
OF acting in that character
Critical was the situation of the United
States, when congress convened ON the 2S.h
day of October last. Our foreign reIa tions
had assumed u new and portentous ASPECT
An era had taken place, more interesting.
than any, which had marked the annals OF
! our country, since the adoption of the pre-
sent constitution of government. Violati-
ons of our maritime rights, as neutral ma
ton, had indeed long distinguished the con-
ldncf nf pr. a. Vr
and the injurious, understandable practice
of impressng American seamen, had been
carried on for series of years but if was
reserved until the 22d day of June last, to
commit a direct violation of the nationa I
sovereignty of these United States, bv at
lacking one of their armed ships. That
period will not easily be forgotten; and in
delible will be the impression, which that
transaction wrought on the American mind.
The President of the United States, promnt
to discharge his duty to his country, dis.
patched inform ation of the outrage to Mr..
! Monroe, one OF the American ministers al
the British court, with instructions 20 de-
mand satisfaction. This step was succeed
ed by convention of congress, at the DE.
Rod first mentioned. Whether the OUTRAGE
would be sanctioned by the British govern
ment, and no alternative left but immedi-
, ment would disavow the act, and offer suit
able reFaration for the injury, was TO be
determined by the answer, which it should
give to that demand.
Ii was coDgcnial with the love of peace.
ever predominant in the American breast
to prefer an honorable PREPARATION, if the
British government should offer such repa-
ration, rather than seek redress by force of
arms. Hence the expedient OF making n
prompt demand of such reparation and
hence further fOrbearance, until it might
be known whether the attack was justified
by that government and If not, whether it
was ready to MAKE 4 reasonable and Just
satisfaction. The course thus pursued bv
our government is, therefore, believed to
be In consoAance with the public will. That
congress might be in session, and ready to
act as the emergency should require, thew
were summoned to meet at so early a peri
cd. Several weeks, however, elapsed be-
fore any answer arrived. In the mean time
It was deemed expedient to adopt certain
measures preparatory for defence, in the
event OF an absolute rupture.
an act was passed appropriating one
million OF dollars for the purpose Of fortify-
ing the ports and harbors-and another for
building one hundred and eighty eight gum
boats, in addition to those before provided,
50 as to make up the whole number, two
hundred and fifty seven.
The conduct Of the two governments Of
Great Britain and France, M which system
Spain had also taken part, had become
so oppressive TO neutral trade, that no lon
ger could it be carried on with any safety.
Vessels trading between the ports Of either
or OF it's dependencies and those of its allies,
we're liable TO capture by cruizers of the o.
ther. Under these circumstances, an en-
barge upon American vessels, and prohibit
ton OF exports TO any foreign country, pre-
sented itself as a nectssa measure. From
the operation of certain orders issued bV
the one government, and certain DEGREES Of
the other, nearly the whole foreign COM
MERGE ofthe United States, ifpursued, must
have been exposed to great hazard and,
perha9s, ultimate ruin unless an attempt
had been made to protect it, by permitting
the owners of American vessels Darn them
Tor defence. BY late orders Of the British
council, arbitrary violations Of our maritime
.rightsare extended to a still greater degree.
by these orders, it is provided that the COM
merce of the United States, destined to it's
legal and ordinary markets, shall pass thro'
British ports and be there subjected to GER