Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-09


the neutral world. From the year 1898 * '94
our commerce has been continually harras.
sed and Intercepted, and those rights which
we claim as dear and unalienable, have
been treated with mockery and dislain.
Negotiation has never proved any thing
more than bird-l lime to lure US into their
'snares.
When such is the character Of All enemy
with whom we have TO deal, are we not
bound by every tye of policy to act with
the utmost distrust and suspicion!
1t would be evidence of the most agregi-
GUS insanity not to avail ourselves of the
admonition to be drawn from experience.
Particularly too when the map of Great
Britain's conduct exhibits none but the
dark lines of treachery, piracy and muir
der. This language cannot be considered
too harsh even at this delicate crisis of aft
fairs euen by the English harty themselves,
who have been daily accusing their own
government of corruption in being hostile to
one country and impurely attached to ano-
sher. Much less can Great Britain say so
herself, when the true likeness of her own
deformity is presented to her view. Let
ii not be inferred that we are inimical to
a settlement of our differences with that
nation. We wish it most cordially, but let
usnot after the ufferings we have received,
brace, which has hitherto nearly proved
fatal. But if she is sincerely disposed to
peace and amity upon honorable terms, we
ought to proceed gradually and systemati.
cally, least We are in tao great a hurry
we may catch hold of d thorn instead of al,
olive.
Under these circumstances we fam would
ask our honest country men if the government
was not perfectly correct in adopting some
precautionary step in 1906? But Mr.. K.
in a temper of ridicule terms that measure,
she misrrabe old non .imttortation ACT.
1t is true that it prevented us from get
ting her fine cfoathes, her leather, her
1uatchea, her this and her that But who
would not give up the acquisition of these
laXuries to preserve fellow citizen from
the most loathsome imprisonment, and his
country from the most outrageous insult
and indigniiy? The measure was cersa n
" attended with its InConvenicnCies, but e.
very one believed that it would produce the
most permanent advantages, and every one
knc7v that it was certain remedy to secure
our property from spoiiation and our sea-
men from impressmcnt.
But independent OF the intrinsic merit and
wisdom of this measure, the voice of the
nation loudly called for the interposition OF
government from almost every quarter of
mite number of "Reminiscences presented to
Congress. And the only possible species OF
protection which our country could adopt
without going to war, which was depreca.
ted by every body, was the miserable old
nan authorization act But il is unnecessa-
ry To pursue this enquiry, because the peo-
pie, aue some OF the distinguished admirers
of Mr.. Il. were at that tine the jealous
advocates of that measure.
In 1907, the neVer-to-5e forgotten attack
upon tho Chesapeake Occur red, which gave
rise TO another measure on the part of our
government, which excited universal salts
faction.
This was the proclamation interdicting
the entrance of British armed vessels INTO
our waters. This occurrence produced the
most lively and general discussion upon the
subject of impressment, and every one Sec
med perfectly willing TO hazard n life to
protect MS fellow citizen from the iron
grasp of Great Britain Upon the subject
of impressment, we take the following hve-
~ extract from a pamphlet OF no inCOnsi-
derabe repute.
"Here too, as in all other Brit ISL pre-
tensions, the abstract injury is heightened
by the name of its infection. The cruel.
ties and outrage, which seem invItabiy To
attend the exertion of almost all their ma
liliinC TIC
rabie inhumanlty OF their tempers, or that
the professions themselves are so radically
wrong, as TO be incapable of lenlent enforce
ment. That American seamen should be
called upon by British cruizers, OIL the high
seas, for proof of their nativity or citizen.
ship, and If they fail in any minute reqnisi-
ton, be pressed into the British ndvy, and
there doomed to protracted service, till,
by the act OF Parliament before cited, they
become ipso facJo, and in their own despite,
British subjects, is a concatenation of MUS
tee, that no rectitude or cirCumspec ION
Can provide against, no argument can JUS
fifty, nor necessity excuse. Ii is not easy
for IA man by his IRE side to imagine the
horrors of this lingering slavery. it is a
bitter draugh,, disguised as it may be, e..
ye0 in the paseantry and tunu't of naval
victory. 10 a iIberal mind, and many such
have been thus inmured, It can make but
little difference whether the body he en-
ployed in dragging loaded carts under an
Aigerine task master, or serving the gun
OF man of war under a petulant master
midshipmau.
% Tins impTessment bad reached a point
OF extent ~ its assertion, and of ferOcity la
its execution. which must soon have ex-
haussed the little remaining forbearauce Of