Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-19


corn and tobacco, (articles which in ordina.
ry times are at least as profitable as the fish
and potatoes of the East) must now remain
upon the hands of the farmer, or go to the
merchant tor an inconsiderable portion of
their value. But why mention the paltry sa-
crincc, when Color with Indignation as SUI
perior dlstresses rush upon my mind The
lgnoniIiouS invaders of our rights have not
only secured the coast of our State, and
seized when they could, the well earned pro-
duce OF our tolls /; the very graves where lay
the bones of our heroes have been visited by
hostile feet, and the monumental marble
on which was inscribed the virtues of the fa>
ther, has been washed in the blood of his
son We have seen cold-blooded murder
stalk upon the land, fasten upon the almost
iifeless skeleton of disease and amidst the
heaven-drected applications of wife. hur-
ny tne bed ridden victim to the grave - Our
maids and our matrons, our wives and our
daughters whose innocence and purity
would command respect from any but sa-
wage have been seized like foul, vitiated
ana polluted strumpets, aud forced into the
embraces OF the most unmanIy miscreants
Day, satnted spirits of our forefathers, could
you nave borne all thin? o No. and swear
by the tombs of those heroes who split the
blood OF valor in the cause of freedom, that
WE will be avenged
L ieei for the honor Of ny Country. and for
the deep and calling wound upon her pride,
%heh any OF my conntrymen gravelv assert,
thal her present measures are wicked & in
iqlitous thai ambition, not Justice, lust
OF Conquest, and not a defence of endangered
rights arc among the real causes of perse-
serance in our present hostilties.'' The re-
cofds OF the nation will shew, that there has
never been moment when the olive branch
was not sem into the ark of the foe; there
la' never been moment. when it has not
oeeh rejected and abused and sent back as
melancholy monitory, that no soft reproach,
no gentle displeasure, no temporising adj
nonitions will ever avail.-A summary view
OF the wrongs which we have heretofore
borne, may be unpleasant, because it will
shew that we have long been bearded and
lnsulted with impunitv: but it may not be a
mss, as II will also shew, the folly and de,
fusion OF 'hoss, who are still disposed TO hear
fresh accession of injustice from the law
less oppreseors OF The human race.--At the
mead OF the black catalogue of rongs, is,
the impressment of our seamen a practice.
hostile to the laws of nations peculiar TO
the realm of England; to which no nation
out America even submi4cd; and which is
aggravated by the circumstance, that it is
directly varient from the principle upen
which England herself practises. I take il
TO be a known and settled principle of law,
strictly governing the commercial relations
between neutral and bsiligerent nations, tn at
tne quarrels OF another cannot deprive me of
the free disposal of my rights, in the pur-
suit OF measures which deem advantageous
20 my country + but, that they permit me
To carry on my usual intercourse, subject on
" to the municipal regulations of the coun-
try to which l trade, and to the exceptions
mentioned in the laws of nations. Those ex-
ceptions originate in the legal usages Of war,
Whlch authorize the belligerent nation TO
prohibit whatever furnishes direct and ims
mediate aid to It's enemy either in resistance
OF attack. Thus, articles Teputed contra
oand, IS, things, which in their actu a state
are adapted to war, rs also provisions dcs~
tined 10 place besieged, are forbidden to be
Carried to the bclligerent Such articles are
prohibited by the laws of nations, because.
they have direct & immediate tendency to
furnish the enemy with the means of main
tenaace and annoyance. and to render the eff
forts OF the besiesers, vain & nugatory. But
thls prohibition does no, extend 20 every ben
ehs Which tue bslljgerent may derive from
tue neutral, Tor that were to give an indis-
criminate death-blow to every species of
every species of ueutral trade must benefit
the belligerent. The prohibition can only
extend to such things as furnish direct and
Immediate aid to the belligerent. If the aid
be remote and contingent, it cannot be de-
MED TO the beiligerent on the score that it
Is contraoand. These principles are dedu.
ced from the laws Of nations, and go to de
stroy the reason of the practice which would
subject to seizure, ON the score of contra
band, British subjects on board neutral yes
sells. But 1t Is clear, that this right to seize.
is not defended on the ground that British
seamen, trading from a neutral to a beIIi
gerent nation, furnish to the enemy, that di,
rect aud immediate aid prohibited by the
laws OF nations; since seamen going from n
neutral to belligeTent port, and from a
neutral even to an English port, are equally
SUBJ cted to seizure. The question which
the British marauder propounds to the de- |
voted seaman, IS, not, 7Dhat is your port OF
destination Svhere are you sailingS But
WHY are you sailing why are you employ
ell in any but his majesty's vessel !-Since il |
is not on the ground Of alforGing ait to the
enemy that this doctrine of seizure IS SUM-
ported, it is not worth the while TO urove.
that the ard given the belligercnt from the
employ of British seamen in neutral
vessels, Is remo.e aud collateral, and less
serviceable to the belltgercnt than the usual
supply OF neutral artcles.-rhe right setun
by -. Britain is based upon principle SUD
ycrslve of all national sovereignty and indie
pendeucc; viz The right to enforce her
municipal laws aud regulations with.
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