Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-13
PHILADELPHIA, June 6.
DESERTION TO CANADA.


We lind in several of the papers some
animadversions on an unhappy affair
which took place in the early part of the
last month within the Canada line.
The public papers to the eastward
and westward have, during the es-
adjustment of the public toi &c on the
frontier towards Canada, represented
the desertion from the United States
troops on that frontier, into Canada. as
immense indeed it is too true that the
desertions had become matter OF the
utmost seriousness and the detached
stations and relatively small numbers
at each station, had rendered an exact
and uniform discipline utterly inprac.
tlcaole where the battalion officers were
themselves all inexperienced, of vari.
Gus habits, and newly brought togeth-
err. The hostile disposition of the Ca
madam government, and the CORES.
pondlng temper of its adhsrents, sti-
muiated, no doubt, by the embargo I'D /.
on commercial dealings, and the pros
Pect OF war, had induced the Cana
dams to hold forth every temptation to
our troops to desert; great numbers
did desert, and were received with o.
pen arms and marked attention in Ca
NADIA. These things we note, merely
to account tor the temper of irritation
winch produced the unfortunate trans
action, 10 which we have Immediate
reference transaction. however
which is not to be justified nor counte-
nanced, any more than the similar in
iraction or our territory in Vermont by
British military party ten or twelve
years ago; by another British military
party at Detroit four or FIVE years AGO
the OUT age and murder of P arce in
me waters of New York the outrage
OF the chesapeake by Admiral 3erkS-
ley; the burning of French shin in
our waters about the same period or
TIE recsnt outrage by the British shin
OF war Melampus. We note all tbesi
iacts' ana might note others of older.
ana some OF recent date, and similar
not TO justify the conduct Of
the United States officer who violared,
the territory OF Cana la, but to repro.
bate the false ideas ofthe duty and tae
erroneous conduct Of the officer. and 70
shew how differently such persons.
guilty OF such conduct, are treated bv
the y. >. from the treatment which
those have received who violated our
territory and rights. Ii our govern.
meht were 10 follow the prece dent set
them oy Great Britain, captain Bennett
would, Ike captain Wight, who mnr-
aered Fearce, or admiral l5erkelv WIN
murdered and hanged so many A me.
ica'S' DC promoted 10 a higher station
aud command, he would be appointed
mayor or a colonel and h. wnuld
nave been distinguished for fnt.re nro-
motion. Ii we do not mana e. matters
DETER, we act at least with a deco,un
more consistent with the laws of nati-
ons and the rights of jurisdiction.
m (Aurora-)
=, ms Following article we find in The
New York Gazette. ''''
The Montreal Courant of 81. oo1
u''. contains an account of an un2lea.
SAINT occurrence that took place on ths
ist ult. atElizabeth- Town, Upper Can
ada. An American vessel, bodnd from
Ogdensourg in the state of New YorL
70 Oswego, anchored in bsv ON ,bn
SIDE OF 81. Lawrence. having
on DSard capt VIM. p. Bennett, of the
''h United States regiment of infantrv
and some OF his men. While Ivino
.here, captain Is. hearing of a desertr1
oeins IN that settlement by the name