Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-27


EXTRA
WAsnIHorog CRY, Nay q.
At twelve O'Clock this day.
the Presidcat Of he Unit
cd States Transmitted To both
Houses Of Goneress the fol-
LOVING NJ fsS9 z8E:
Feitorv Ciisens of The Ssrafe,
and ejfhe HoRse Of Repyesentatives,
At an early day nfterthe closc of the last
session of Congress, AN ohcr was formctl, com
municsted from his Imperial Majesty, the I'm.
peror of Russia, Of his mediation as the com.
mon friend OF the U. States and G.. Britain. for
the purpose of facilitating peace between
them. The high character sf the Emperor
Alexander, belng satisfactory pledge Tor the
sincerity and impartiality of his offer, it wa.
Immediately accepted and as II further proof
OF the disposition on the part Of the U. $ to
meet their adversary in honorable experiments
tor term mating the war, il was determined TO
avoid intermediate delsy, incident TO the dis.
tnncc OF the parties, by r defnitive provision
for the contemplated negotiation. Three OF
our eminent citizens were accordingly com.
missioned with the requisite powers 60 con-
clude treaty of peace, with persons cloathed
with like powers on the part of c. Britain.
They are authorised also to enter into such
conventional regulations of the commerce he.
tween the two countries, as may be mutually
advantageous. The two enjoys who were IN
the United ites at the time of their appoint
ment, have proceeded to DIN their colleague
already ut st Petersburg
The ENJOYS have received another commits
sion authorising them TO conclude with Russis
atreaty OF commerce, with aview TO strength
On the amicsble relations, and improve tie be
ncRcial intercourse between the Two countries
The issue of thissiriendly interpretation OF
the Russian Emperor, and this pacific nantes
tstion opftbe part of the U. 5. time only can
decide- That the sentiments Of & b. towards
that Sovereign will have produced an accept.
ance OF his offered mediston, must be presuul
cd. That no adequate motives exist to prefer
a continuance Of war with the VI. States, to
the tefms on which they arewillin. to close it
is certain. The British cabinet also must be
sensible that with respect 20 the Important
question Of impressment. on which tbs war so
essentially turns, search for, seizure OF
British persons or PROPERTY on board neutral
vesseison the high seas, IS not a beligerent
right derived from the law of nations, and it
IL obvious, that no visit searcb, or use of
force, tor any purpose, on-sboard the vess els of
one independent power on the high seas, can
IN war or peace be sanctioned by the laws or
Authority of another power. It is equally
obvious that for the purpose OF preserving To
each state its seatariEg members, by exclud
ing them from tue vessels of the other, the
mode heretofore proposed by the u States,
and now enacted by them rs an article OF mu-
nicipsl policy, cannot for a moment Ue COM
pared VITA the mode practissd by G. Britain,
without conviction OF its title To preference ;
lnasnuch as the latter leaves the discrim ma IL
on between the mariners of the two nations,
TO officers exposed by unavoidable bias. as
well ~ by a defect of evidence, to wrong de
cIsion under circumstances precluding, for the
mostpsrt, the enforcement OF controlling penal.
ties, and where wrong decision, besides the ir-
reparable violation vi the sacred rights Of per
Suns, lhight Illustrate the plans profits o. entire
voyages; whereas the mode assumed by the o
states guards with studied fairness and ciEca-
cy against errors IN such cases, and avoids the
elect oi Casual errors on the safety of nav ga
1t'n' and the success OF the mercantile expe-
ditions
IL the reasNnableness ofexecctstions, drawn
from these considerations could guarantee
their fulh!ment, ust peace would no DO dis
tant But it becomes the wisdom of the Nav
tionai Legislature to keep.in mind the true no
l'cy' or rather the Indispensable obi. CATION OF
adapting ITS measures TO the supposition, that
the only course to that happy event is in the
u
And painful as the reflection is, this du-
iy is particularly enforced by the spirit
aud manner, in which theiwa continues to he
waged by the enemy, who, uninnuenced by the
UNMARRIED examples of huunsnity set them, are
adding to the savage fury of it on one frontier,
system of plumber and confagra ton on the
other, equally forbidden by respect for IA: isn~
al character, and By the established rules of CT.
vilized warfare.
AS an encouragement TO persevering and In
vIsorated exertions to bring the contest to a
happy result, IhaVe the satisfaction of being A.
ole to appeal To the suspicious progress of our
arms, both by land, and on the water.
In continuation of the brilliant achievements
OF our infant navy, signal triumph has been
gained by cspt. Lawrence and his companions
IN the Hornet sloop of war, which DESTROYED a
British sloop OF war, with a calerity So unex-
n,mpied and witll slaughter of the enemy so
disproportionate to the loss in the Hornet, as
to claim for the conqusrors the highest praise.
and the fall reco mpe use provided by Congress
IN preceding cases. Our public ships of war
IN general, as well as tho private armed vessels.
have continued also their activity and success
against the CONNIE rec OF the enemy, and by
their vigilance and address have greatly frus-
tratod the efforts OF the hostile squacrons dis
tributed along our coasts to intercept them in
returning into port, and resuming their cruiz-
ors
The augmentation OF eur naval force, a. au.
thorizsd AZ the last session OF ongress, is in
progress. On the Lakes our superiority is near
II hand where 1t is not already established
The events of the campaign, so far A. they
are known 10 US. furnish matteg of congratuls-
tion, end shew tina, under wise organization
aud efficient direction, the army ~ destined L,
frin a.. "a.