Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-06-06
FROM THE NATIONAL INrELL1GFNcER.
To the Citizens oftke United States

from THE NATIONAL lNTELLIGFNCER.
To the Citizens ofthe United States.
Notruth is moro firmly established by Sc
ries of conclusive evidences, than that the
difficulties of our trade are not the consequent
ces of the conduct of our present govern nent.
| At meeting OF the London merchants in
1907 or 8, upon the subject of tie orders in
council, it was openly avowed by the most
ninent mercantile authority, that the or
ders In council ought to be enforced, because
the "Anericans zvere gro vt7g too rich"
Immediately after the peace, that well
known member of the British Com mons and
the Irish and En- lish Peers, Lord sheffield,
avowed the necessity of the supremacy Of @.
| Britain on tue ocean !: that is, that commerce
must be undey- her dominion.
The same writer then gave US TO UNDER
st md, that IL zvas not the Interest Of the Eu-
r2ttem to7vers, Tthut rs, IF Great Britain
70 hreUent the ftraticgi erzizerS IF BaTbary
from taxing oar PROPERTY and sLjts, and en-
f'stzOiHg our fersons!
t. The London Courier, a government news
fT2Per, has recently avowed, that no vessel
sF9leM be ALLOWED TO sail on The ocean
of power, it is avowed that not so much as a
coc&-boat should use the sea zpithout their
authority!
The British set up thar ozvn jurisdiction,
| not only upon the high seas, but on board OF
neutral vessels, by their constantly impress
sing their men on the main ocean, and In our
ships sailing thereon.
They even usurp the power of pressing cur
men, foreign and neutral men, and foreign
and enemy men, not of military character,
by mere military power and force, and con-
trary to the established law of nations, in
ships sailing on the main ocean, and even up
| on our coasts.
| They forced our impressed men 10 take
zcages lover than the market Tafea Of their
oson forts, and TO bear arms against nations,
NTH svhom zve are ia heace.
The British Parliament have made for the
king of Great Britain, in the form of a sane
ZION 10 all orders in council, q broad and high
deshotisn1 O the ocean, securing before hand
an indemnity for all such measures TO the adj
using and acting ministers, by their laws of
1898 and 1908, (see sec. IS, of the British law
of 18th June, 1898, vol. 80, page 276, statutes
at large.)
Incredible as it may seem, yet it is true,
that British captain of a frigate has asser-
ted to our government, through the regular
channel oftheir minister, his having juris-
diction around his shin, in our harbor of N.
York, and neither he nor the minister has
4 been punished or censured for these acts, by
4 INC DrICSn government
Home Popham, Whitby and Berkeley, Of
the british navy, who have violated or order
ed to be violated one of our ports, one of our
merchantmen, and one of our ships of war,
have BEEN intolerably acquitted, or without
trial honored and rewarded as The success
lful Instruments of British despotism over our
navigation, trade, and navy.
The British government has assumed to
condemn ships jill their pretended admiralty
tribunals (Which scandalously profess them
selves bound to obey orders Of their executive
and 10 disregard IazDS) for breaches Of our
trade laws, in the case oSSt Domingo and OF
the AiicRn trade though the British king in
councN have held 6st by theiv ssffmcsnl order
encouragement and feward 4Cr the breach of
our embargo law.
Britain has carried 10 her ports our ships
laden with ourcropst SiA with foreign goods.
bound on lawful vQfeges, knd there exacted
heavy taxes trs4T them; Rhus 10y ing under
contribution thScommerCe a the world, by
an msolcBt and dcSpotic usurhtion. Britain
has carried into her ports % ships laden
with supplies adaptedto our army, navy and
.icitllcns from foreign ceuutres, and imposed
like taxes, reiterdting thoSc monstrouS usar-
lpatlons OF the government and re.cnues OF
thc seas.
/ The principles, on which the two last us,ir-
lpatiols rest, win the impre8snont o. PEI
sons from our pubic and private SHIPS, not
being military enemies, and the other iDstan-
Ices OF maritime despotism, warrant the as
sumption, that thc evil dispositions aid con-
lse1uent mal-conduct of Brain, (Which be-
lgan in the year 1872, and have been continu-
led til the seizure Of our Massachusetts hsn-
ermeR in the current sOring) have produced
a very large proportion Of &c present suffer-
lings oSSeur commercial and nautical CHI
! 10 these May Be added long aud serious