Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-18

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'wo wears oi board British ship IF war,
and a'iier> them, equally with natives, 3,
Within he allegiance, and entitled TO the pro- I
secton of g. Britain. II
The principal object of your letter seems
TO ne, to 6nd some analogy between the A.
merican practice with respect to seamen and
the British practice, and to deduce from the
former justification of the latter. Permit
me 20 note the difference, or rather the Coli
tras' between them.
The regulations Of the United States |
prohibit the enlistment of aliens into their
vessels OF war. No such regulations exist
on the side of Great Britain.
Enlistments,'5y force or impressment, are
Contrary TO the laws of the United States-
This mode of procuring crews for public
ships is not only practiced by G. Britain
within her legal Jurisdiction, but is extended
to foreign vessels on the high seas, with abu-
ses which aggravate the outrage to the ma
lions 20 whom the vessels belong.
Most OF The states composing our Union
have enacted laws providing for the restor
alton of seamen abandoning the service of
merchant vessels, to which they were bound
by voluntary engagement. If no provision
has been made for the surrender of deserters
from public ships, it is because such deser-
tiers, although in many instances forced into
the service, would be deemed malefactors
and punishable as such and it Is not the
practice OF any country, particularly Of q.
Britain, to surrender malefactors without
stipulation, which is always reciprocal In
Great Britain, we know from experience
that no provision exists for restoring Anne
rican seamen to cur merchant vessels, even
to the fulilment of their voluntary engage
mems I; and if descrters from American ships
OF war are ever res ored, it is bl the courtc-
sy, not the legal duty, or perhaps authority,
OF British naval commanders, and from the
policy of recommending practice, which
1t mutual, must be evidently in favor of the
British service, the desertion from it being
so common, in comparison with that from
the service Of the u 5.
You observe that your government has
charged you to state, that it will continue to
give the most positive orders against the de-
tention of American citizens on board Bri-
fish ships of war. Ii those orders were to
prohibit the impressment of seamen from.
American vessels at sea, the great source
OF the evil, they would have been a well
come proof IF its disposition to do Justice
and promote good understanding between
the two countries. Nothing short of this
can be an adequate remedy /; and the U.
States are known To be ready to substitute
to the practice the most liberal arrange
nents on the subject. But, suppose the or
ders TO be given as signihed, and in the la
ttude and form promising most efficacy,
how coNld they restore that portion Of he
thousands Of The citizens who have been inn
pressed or passed into ships staff ned or
cruizing in remote parts Of the globe. But
1t is signihed only that your government
Will Continue to give orders against the de-
fention ct American citizens on board Bri-
tish ships of war. 1t follows that they are
to be detained as heretofore, until formal
proof can be produced to the British ADM
ralty, in each particular instance, that the
seaman is native citizen of the u. S. the
difficulty and delay in doing which are too
OBVIOUS to need explanation. Nor is this
the only cause OF Complaint. When such
proof has been produced 70 the British ad
miralty, direct refusal is made to the dis
charge If the seaman, If he has resided in
Glcat-Brtain, shall have married there, or
Shall have accepted the bounty given to
stamen voluntarily entering the service
although for the most part the American
seamen, after having been forced into the |
service, have accepted the bounty either to |
relieve their wants, or otherwise 70 alleviate |
their condition. ! omit other causes of de- |
teDtion which might be mentioned Add to |
the whole, that i IS not sufficient to prove, |
that me seauen taken from American YES |
SEES are not subjects of Great Britain, nor |
the subjects Of her enemy. 1t has been
the invarlable practice of the British cruz
GERS TO include in their impressmenIs from !
American vessels the citizens and subjects |
of every neutral nation, even where it was |
known that they wore such and no instance.
IT is believed, can be given of the success If
an application for the restoration of such
neutral aliens to the service of of the United |
States
These observations cannot fail, as pre-
sumo, to satisfy you, sir, how little ground |
your government has for the complaints |
stated in your letter, and how much the |
United States have for those they have so |
long and SO strenously, out at the same time |
so Intellectually presented, in behalf of their |
Injured mariners.
have the honor to be,
With great respect and consideration,
SIR. your most obedient servant,
(Siged) JAMES MONROE.
The message and documents were read,
and ordered to lie on the table, and be print
ctl
And the House adjourned.
Friday, June IL.
Mr.. Quincy presented the memorial of
Lhc House Of Representatives of Massachu-
sCtts demonstrating against a war with c.
Briran, &c. which he read in his place.
Mr.. Chittenden presented memorial
from 997 citizens of Vermont, remonstrat-
ing gainst the measures Of government, and
particularly against an expected war with
G.. Britain.
MIR. Mitchill presented q memorial Of $40
Of his constituents, stating their love of coun-
trj zeal for its interest, &c. praying that
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