Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-01-06

vessel in times OF peacS and in r.scefu, n,sursr
Her relative position is her own, sad no one has
right to board her, without her express eonsert
The mariners ~ hoaiyi, subject To the laws of
their own vessel Now as an A. vessel is rrcr anil
her men tree, does nothe, who forebly EN-; / , on.
board. searches aud mpresses violate our SOVEREIGN
V Certainly he does The admittance and ie-
tention OF the sca,nen OF sovereign on boo,,i
the vessels or another sovereign is fit subject ne
complaint FROM the injured sovereign and a suitable
matter otnegocation uith the aggressing patty Now
his The duty efthe party asgricved to make official
ana Formal representation of the injury alcdued IN
havt heen Inflicted on his sovereign rights & hence
results an obligation the sovereign of the opores
sing subjects To redress the gricvanee-If the Tiev
anec trea' orimaenary) he not rcdressed BY full
and iair Investigation Of the subject matter of com
plant, and amcabie settlement by the respective
organs OK power-then and ONLY then, has the com
planning party right TO redress retaliation OF the
wrons, IN t'e most summary way. This produces
that state of things, which we emphaticay term
war, aud which licenses honorable force In war
ihuSed, bciSercuts may capture and detain men ms
wen by sea as on land but in a state of profound
peace war Cficers have othng to do with matters
.hat c;n Admit ot delay and that tAc peculiar SUBJ
Jeets OF treaty. Then why does Great Britain while
protesting tc most friendly disposition towards our
eohti!' even IN time OF peace, impress our seamen
Imusr the pretcSt OF reganing her dcsertcrs -
The answer is obvious-she wishes to >" make us
pay ieaify for our independence" ON the Sc
eoHu mead, would briefly Observe that If Y ,,cscr
or ea eannot DC disseminated aud identified by A
uui.ers, who certainly must know the numbers of
'eir crews and the personal characteristics of their
h less can they be positively known Ly
their officers :!
The last reason is the ultima ratio of Einrs II
, r clue, to the subject OF impressment--
ne British naval officers take men from ou, ves
s, not because the men have deserted, hut becais.
.ney want men and must have them. A cogent rea-
sou indeed! Then the plea of cxpc,lienee and no
cessy IS to work the utter destruction of social in
'ercourse, aud sovereign rights NV God How
s-now long shall the common Highly way of natl
eC u p.estea aud endangered by the naval banditti
VI W. britain i-iiow long be the clement of the
piccaroons and pirates of the Elder Alsicrs ,-How
ionS snail liberty bleed with impunty 1.-The time
rust rs not Tar distant, when the avengers trus,y
sword will be unshcathed and b,-ant,isbed unIots
our grievances be rcdrcssed
MS Is not The only instance Of b. ae gression on
our persons aud property No. The American
oor o'eeds ut every pore-the blood of American
eiuSens still cries aloud for vengeance Hundreds
OF hves have been lost by B cruelty and millions nr
~ property, have been put into the b. excheouer
,"s.ahu now commits extensive ravages under her
aespiic'c orders IN council, OH our commerce, be-
'ause, iorsoott, France deyours her substance She
even calls upon government to make France
treat with her-and even menaces the entire ami
i,"auoh Oh our trade in case we do not obey bcr or
$50 -Acrchui ood is 1t come TO this Aud
us. we unen be brow-beaten by every pcttyforginr
Darrister OF Westminster hall, and cs;oled tre1,p
ped, ana driven by the unprecedented demands of
every treasury -feasting rock of ST. James's No
iet us nerve the tremendous ann of thunder tbay
tueu ,iie stormy days of revolutionary horror and
smayeu our infant destiny into happiness Let us
un'.hh mat independence for vi ich our venerable
,oreiathers fought, bled and died and in doing it.
.et US strenuously and strictly adhere to the same
principles OF honor and heroisn When but an in
rant Hercules in the cradle, grapplcd and Killed
tue huge serpent OF despotism, which had crent into
inc repository OF innocence TO hiss away our reposc
alu happiness-hen, in reason and in strength we
can now with effect, engage the British IioH.-We
T r tle or nothing to apprehend from G. Britain
IL VIII sttemPt TO establish an the ensuing num-
''i MELVILLE.