Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-20
SIR,

SIR,
have received the address from "Thc
convention Of Republican Delegates from the
several counties OF the State of New JERSEY. -
explaining the sentiments entertained, at this
Crisis, by that portion of my constituents
The sentiments are worthy the character of
citizens, who know the value of the national
rights at stake in the present contest; and
who are willing To do justice to the sincere
and persevering efforts, which have been
employed to obtain respect to them, without
resort to arms.
The conduct of the nation against whom
this resort has been proclaimed, left no choice
but between that, and the greater evil, of
surrender of our sovereignty Oh the element,
on which all nations nave equal rights, and
in the free use of which, the United States,
as nation whose agriculture AID commerce
are so closely allied, have an essential nte-
rest
The appeal to force, in opposition to the
force so long continued against us, had be-
come the more urgent, as every endeavor
short of it, had not only been fruitless, but
had been followed by fresh usurpations and
expressions. The intoleraole outrages COM
mitted against the crews of our vessels,
which at one time were the result of alleged
searches for deserters from British ships OF
war, had grown into like pretension, first
as TO all British seamen, and next as to all
British subjects; with the nva liable prac-
tice OF seizmg on all neutral seamen, of eve
ny nation, and on all such OF our own seamen.
as British officers, interested iii the abuse
might please to demand.
The blockading orders in Council, com
mencing OH the plea of retaliating injuries
indirectly done to Great Britain, through the
direct operation of French DEGREES against
the trade of the United States with her; and
on protested disposition to proceed step by
step with France, iii revoking them, ave
been since bottomed on pretensIons me- md
more extended and arbitrary till at length
1t IL openly avowed as indispensable to a re-
peal ut the orders as they affect the United
states, that the French DEGREES be repealed
as they affect Great Britain directly, and all
other neutrals, as we'll as the United States.
TO this extraordinary avowal is superadded,
abundant evidence, that the real object of the
orders is, not to restore freedom To the Anne
| rican commerce with Great Britain, which
could indeed be little interrupted by the de-
crees OF Frances; but to destroy our lawful
commerce, as interfering with her own un-
| lawful commerce, with her enemies. The
only foundation OF this ATTEMPT to Danish the
American flag from the highway of nations,
| or TO render 1t wholly subservient to the COM
| mercial views of the British Government, is
| the absurd and exploded doctrine, that the
ocean not less than the land is susceptible of
| occupancy and dominion that this domini-
on is III the hands of Great Britain, and that
her laws, not the laws of nations, winch is
| ours as well as hers, are to regulate our ma
rltime intercourse with the rest of the world.
When the United States assumed and es-
| tablished their rank among the nations of the
| Earth, they assumed and established a COM
mon sovereignty on the high seas, as well as
an exclusive sovereignty within their terrific
| rial limits. The one is as essential as the
other, TO their character as an Independent
| Nation. However conCeding they may have
been, on controvertible points; or forbearng,
under casual and limited injuries they can
never submit to wrongs irreparable in their
kind, enormous in their amount, and indefi-
mite iii their duration; and which are avow-
ed and justified on principles, degrading the
| United States from the raDk of sovereign
and independent power. In attaining this
| high rank, and the inestmdble blessings at
tached to it, no part of the American people,
had more meritorious share, than the Deo-
pie of New-Jersey. From none, therefore,
may more reasonably be expected, patrio-
tic zeal in maintaining by the sword, the UNI
questionable and unalienable rights, acquir-
| ed by 1t; and which it is found, can no other
wise be maintained.
JAMES MADISON.
BENJAMIN LUDLOW, Esq.
| President S,c 8xr