Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-06
nm Occasional UrHer.
FRINGE EDWARD, Dec.

NV second number closed with
Ono a'usons To the abominable practice ofimprcss
.net. wou,d To Iod could throw that subject in
to the dark shnde Of oblivion and be no longer under
the necessity OF imputng il to C. Britain as dor;n
CRIME: but whilst that infamous practic, eY;s1s I,
must be opposed. And peculiarly is IL our nrovinc
% iha'uest steady, firm aud effective opposition TO
measures OF wrong, If which we arc the unUiilin,
,Iehms--Ihe right of imprcssmcnt (itis aIIedpcj
nv the H. marine and the b. Ministry is conseouer
raj to the right Of search. But is This last GOOD
@ ney a'hrn that 1t is, and for these reasons
l. hat british dcscrtcrs are harbourcd ON bosrI A
merican ships Q. That rs these refugces corro, BE-
distinguished IRON American ,eamen nv Ame,i.an
o'hcers unaequainted with tl,cm, il becomes abso
u.ey necessary, that they be searched cut and exa
mined by Their own ofFeers-and g. That the Tr;,
sh navy wants men. and must have them --J'Lo
niSt reason tor torciby entering and searching Ame
Ion Ness',s Tor ueserters, seems to he founded on
uh"N'n OF 'heIr Ministerial Code viz " Once a sub.
Ject Always subject. Tn defiance Of This tvrannco
principle OF law, which claims the euiorant Lcyo,d
tue iour seas, and would drag him from his asyInrn
DECK 10 ms native hell Of thraldon, our heroic anecs
w pro'eu 10 me Arch-prctender, that they were
the SUBJECTS OF the Laws-nnt the subjects of de-
pot whose cruel arm they had fed They ref,,cd
ana Hlsannulled this principle Of eternal slavery Inv
establishing their independence Ne Ji,,,r..coE
eeHeh Dy ioreSn Potentaes, without the friendly in
'sIposuon oi our own government and ta,sa 90.
polutes our bcst terra irma Here tho Rr;,;sJ al
irlsn refugee, The stranger aud the soiourner end
Sale ana hosptabo asylum And shall our land he
"Ni S'S "dnncfb OF government and our sea mt
ny our sea, here understand TINT space Of the n
ee'n "!noh IS immediately occupied by our sbips--
ano 10 the freedom 1T which we have as stronc a
caln As we have to tho soil which We hold by rirbts
OF discovery aHd occupancy We ore ent,icJ L. -
law ni nations TO all The inmunities and ,r;ydos.
attached TO our local situalion--in case wee La H.,
| hrst occupancy Of that situation. WV
Now the sens are the common bis,I,,o. oe II.
iheretere, II the vessel A rides nj the infessc,o,,
/ OF the so y. latitude with the IL ~ Ionc5,,d1.
IN case her arrival aud entrance were pescefol od
uhholeSteh-she has superior claim 20 that mt.
Secu1h' 50 long as she may choose to rnle Therein
Ru INC VesseI following her, ~ direct line has
70 shl 10 the invested point, until il be evacuated
/ oy ne, precursor. Then what right have r. ADM.
rus heutenahts and understraVpcrs forcibIy ia en-
Ter, ~ times oi Peace the vessel Of a, ;rd,,y.t,
cigl-Vioatc las iursdction insult hi, AZ i'm
press iiis men None at all For drns, oP on,
nion ta1en md CO oc' led by tn ves,els ofano,be
the government of the FIRST should ssek indcroni,,
thioigh negotiation, from the Government 81 ~
ias'--not turcbiy enter and arcs. men irdis.r;
n"te'y-lt has, for some time, been = JooLt ~ ;,t
me, whether h. Navy Officers have anv ripbt st eli
even 10 Clam their GcscrteTt for NAV not rnco a.
con'','chly With reason, emigratc from vessel I,
vessel rs Iroro land 10 land without the cotscnf a
bO,oIhncnt -bnt asthe customs II maritime STAT
"leJ Do Pefued d. favor OF rcquis. ton for ,srrto,
soshcn; WI wave The qcerc.--Rut G. Britai,
u9es herself ~ an established princiulc a.
,s. -, ul't when place is strongly with mu
uluou9 OF war invested ~ to epdapoer ;,,er.ss :,
vessels, otlIcr than their own. haze q r;obts -,
such place without their express pc,,,iss.o, 81.
we prncple, which they apply To- blo.t~JcJ No.,
~ extend 'o any srot ofthc ocean, occupied by a.,