Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-05-20
rxo~ THE LosDoE couRHEr,
C1Ne ka4:sg AAnisleriek Paser,)
OF mARcu p.

We have extracted from the American pa
pers the report OF ire committee of foreign re-
iations, containing view Of the relationo Of
the United ststes with this country. II dwells
entirely upon the grievance OF unpreRsing A.
merican scanen, & concludes by recommending
the passing ball for the excluding OF foreign
seamen from the public vessels ana merchant
service Of the United States. Tie bill has hsen
passed N the house OF Representative by .
maioriiy of 80 10 Sc. II imposes penalty Of
1000 dollars on the commanders OF men of war
and of 500 dollars on the masters Of merchant
men, for every foreign sailor employed by them,
70 be recovered in fEi tam action by = COM
mon intormer.
The American legislature may pass what
bills it chooses, for excluding foreign seamen
from their SHIPS. but if they think any such
measures Will Induce us % abandon our right
of serscl, aEI eftakiaS our BUN ssa17'sH and sa5'
jscis w5ereOsr SVe find tSsFi, they wiii, and
themselves, At least We trali they will, totally
niisiakeH. The right Of search IS one OF such
vital interest TO our power5 that TO surrender
it I'VE had almost said even. 20 modify iO would
be treason. Tbs seems TO be now the oniy
ground upon which America takes her stand.
The orders in council have been repsaed--the
conces sions upon the subject Of blockade have
lett no ground Of dispute upon that point-tle
only remaining sublsct OF controversy Is the
right we claim OF im2ressirs our own seamen,
when found on board American vessels.
The government OF the Uaited States asserts
The broad principle, that The tia; sf their mer-
chant vessels shall protect the mariners. This
privilege is cia.rued, att ough every person on
board, except the captain, ISpg be an alien.
The British goyernmentassserts, that the
allegiance Of their oubjccts is inalienable in
time Of war, and t,at their seamen found on
the see, ihe common highwsy OF nations, shall
not be- protected by tie Asg Of private mer-
chs"t vessels.
The claim of Great Drita.a TO theservice OF
her seamen is neither royel or peculiar. The
doctrine &C allegiance, for which she contends,
IS common 70 all the governments of Europe.
FRANCE, as we'll IS England, has maintained I
for ceDruvies. Both nations claim, in time Of
war, the scryices OF their subjects. Bcth, by
DEGREES, forbid their entering into foreign EN-.
picy. Both recall them by proclamation. "a
The right ofimpfessiHg our own searen, when
found on board american ships, is only re-
newal Of theusFight Of sealch--and this Mr.
Madison has in l.s fiicial psper disputed also
| for ne says tour Asg like the soil, We irherit,
must secure aiisthat ssils under IT." Yet this
| principle o. the right Of search has been re
| pea,edly admitted by America, in her negoci
/ ations, Tot only with Great Brl ain, but with
! france, in alliance with whom she now At
/ tempts 10 subvert il. The I7ti article Of tllc
| treaty OF amity, commerce and navigation be-
! tween Great Britain and America, dated 19th
| Of Nov. 1894, establishes tie right Of search
| upon the high scas--the 18th article confiscatei
! encny's propertyf and the 27th a'icle r-gu
| lates the mode Cf search. But, as u 10 icay,
/ America without a shadow o? excuse IN %,
| present case, the 9th srtjc.e OF the convention
| between her aud France, dated November i1th
| 1888, admits tltv right Of rccIaiming sesmeI
| who mas desert from TIE ships oi the rcspec
tive natlons--and binds each power TO 3e'iFe
them up on being claimed--so tls', wllethc
! America means to contend the right ot aeAycl
generally for enemy's goods contraband OF wal
or merely against the parIicuiaf right Of Grea
Britain reciaimins her own seamen, she stand
self condemned BY her own existing treaties
a. veil as by Tie law Of nations.
Even one Of The senators Of the United state
is with us Oh the point, iorhc says, that Grc'
Britain never contendcd Tor sht TO imPrcs
American scamen. The RIGHT she claims IS I
take her own slhjee, iom'' IN our meTcanti
vessels. She exercises this sght in relation
Der own private vessels. Thls right she ney'
will, nor can give up"