Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-19
PETERSBURG, Feb. 10.
TO ENGLISHME.N.


TO ENGLISHMEN. 1t
1t seems, from the subjoihed letter, which
is'from a very correct source, aadhas been
received by a gentlenhansim misplace, that
our government is iikelytto meet e. Bril-
tain half way, on the subject of British sea-
men found on. board. American vessels
Byicthis letter, 1t appears that our Cow
ernment will, for eyeryiseapand demanded,
surrender 'leige, subject to his maiesty's
Officers, ofequaf mportihce4thiit for eve
| ry sailor, we viii give a merchant, a bro.
ker, or other British natural born SUBJ
| iect. 49, n astric sirS5 as sadf ssEns,is
five must come intolthis fovorte mea-i
Sure, which has been SO much insisted ON
| by Englishmen in this country, we see no,
reason why an exchange should not be
Let those who love the English system 81 item
! of ntn-ex patriatioh, feel us effects. Let
them go, TO use vulgar phrase, <bagi and
baggage want tiens not Eve r.y. mo- mo-.
harchIcal Britah, is a ca,lker in our land.r
His ideas of nobility antigrandeur, corrupt
the giddy and minimizing partef Americans,
who are destined to. move with his sphere
OF action: This fact is witnessed dailyin
our towns, and felt throughout the CONT
nent. sri
The exchange then ishighly advantage
ous in a political and moral point ofvie,Sl-
and;' should it beresolved on, we maybe In.
Geced Tin limitations of the federal Mr. Cole
man, editor ofthe N Y. Evening Postl TO.
l"MARK' - such as may be deemed unwDr-
thy the benefit Of our naturalization laws.
Extract from aletter received BY a gentle
man IN this town, from his friend in the
| CITY OF Washington, dated February 4th.
1903. 30 i's1ldi's s3i -5afli / - -
This being crisis when our fel.owtciti-
zens IN all parts ofthe union should receive
Information of every instance having
a hearing onrpur relations with foreign ma
tons, particularly as they are connectcdsat
this tine with our dispute with Great Bri-
tam, and having a leisure moment, | have
deemed It necessary to drop you a line res
pecting one (ot the manly points said to be
contained in the British ultimatum, not TO
be yielded or surrendered generally, aitho'
a relaxatlon,Jo for the hreSent, maybe agreed
to.s-tr
his majest7's ministers near this govern
ment, are Gas it is rumored) instructed and
specially charged not to abandon the prin-
ciple, fhat those BORN in his dominfons ca,,.
notf1nder any circumstances, withdraw from
nm their allegiance: and this principle.
applying to iondsaen, as well as to seajdy-
ing men and mariners, has opened a field
OF Il scussion intr cate and embarrassment.
The advocates ofthe principle state, that
the adherence of.he British government 70
TINS point, was announced by the British at
torney general, in 1894, in his opinion ei-
ven on question submitted to him, embra-
cling the point, Wherein he declared, that
no native of Great Britain could become an
American citizen, unless he was an inhabi-
tant OF that country at the ratification ofthc
treaty ct peace, in the yea, 1893 also that
ms majesty has recognized that opinion in
MS proclamation of the 10th of October last,
wherein he declares. that no mariners. sea-
taring men or OTHERS his natural born
subjects, can, by means of letters of natu-
rallzation, or certificates of citizenship nj,
tanned from other powers, divest his .safY
natural born subjects OF all me aLiePfa,lec or
IN any degree after the dufy which fhev ore
fohfp7 their iazefui 0yereigh-What makes
this subject the more interesting is, the
part which has been taken, in it, by natives
OF that Country who have become citizens
since 1898, and who are now engaged in
extensive commercial pursuits TO All coun-
tries as American citizens: They contend,
'hatthe principle is correct as It applies To
sea!arIDg men and mariners, and in fact 90
so TAR as to say, that cur interference with !
- ~ ''eI'ph ~ WIS indnDtT, Is Il power OF
legislating, assumed by our government in !
contraventon of the British constitution /: |
they do not advert TO the principle conten- |
ded for, being general and unqualified one,
applying to all his majesty's natural born
subjects, wherever they may be found. /.
The fact is, that to give it this general opeI
ration, would be found to be as unpalatabIe, |
oppressive and inconvenieDt 10 them as il is |
70 the generous 81 afaring men on whom they
arc wiling it shall act.
However, it is reported that our govern |
meDt have. met this point half way that
as the proclamation Before referred to, pro- |
poses the execution ofthe principle on part
only of his majesty's natural horn subjscfs,I \
an election should be allowed US to say on /
which part II should operate in which e.
vent, cur election VIII iall on the landsmen. !
as being less attached 90 our republican |
easier designated, and therefore |
less susceptible Of contest or dispute res
pecting their place Of nativity It-is far
ther proposed, that for every seafaring man |
or marier being a natural born subject Of the I
kndom OF Great Britain, found on board a.
ny public or private vessel of the United |
states, and who shall be claimed by the of /
heers commanding his majesty's armed /
vessels, a receipt shall be granted TO such |
officer, for the mariner, describing his
height, place Of natiyity, &c winch receipt (
or receipts shall be transmitted to the Sc