Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-10
VIRGINIA. ARGUS.
Il 1 c II n o " n:
TIIIIRSnAN I.,N % 49,
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


The United States do not identify their
claims with those OF France. rhey nave
not -, anu they do not make, the prv,,-
sioI treaty Of Utrecht, however iua
IN Elves. the basis of any demands
whatever. The United S,atvs SIR. DIV re-
quire, what cry Independent nation mas AN
hdeteas'bie r'sm III " quire. i'm relation to
ITSELF namely, the nuiolu6ii y, crs cN,i. y,
" neutral ndtioe .dnaerican cnlzcns "a ne1-
fral .a"ieriean shifs The Piesiden, AMI
congress have no wish. they have no inten-
tIon' to seduce orproiect British SUBJECTS on
BOARD the vessels, pubic or Pm, Ate, OF the
United States. They only desire To secure
from seizure the ndiive American. The ma.
tive American, at least, Cannot be held iia-
bile to seizure. either by mistake or by design,
The mistaSes under which such s, iEurcs DC
cur are tne less unsuitable. because the pre-
tension IN virtue OF which native Americans
are seized and dets;ned. is not sane Toned
oy any established law or right whatever.
u there were any established law or rlghs
tor tile practice, Great Britain and net
ir'snds could point 1t out. They Gold
refer 10 1t, or Cite il. But they can do n h.
ing OF the kind. They Can uiiy refer t., M.
eeSsny. plea which may be eq ally bro't
/" Vi"oication OF highway robbery, o. any
Si.'.'S VI S'Su uctptT ~
Upon this subject we do not pretend Ia
ct up amy new tangled doctrine. We do
rot pretend that the murch snt ship of q
nation is, to all intents and purposes. a mar,
OF the domain nr territory of a natl M
3ut We say that merchant vessel is Ia
all intents and purposes, a part of the ter.
itpry o! 4 nation for the protection of the
ie trial native citizens OF that nation sailing
II ard ohe n d part oi the territory u
Il nation on the hign seas under the qualifi.
:atiohs aad exceptions established by the
.w OF nation, and BY treaties The law
u natl MS inC treaties. IN all cases, define
what IS allowable; and it any Deliiyerent
lower, exercI>es upon such merchant shin
my ACT ot violence. any outrage Contrary 10
Vliit The law OF nations and treaties admit
II specify, then does the belIyerent mower
;nm'nt an act of piracv OF an act of war.
L here - n1t, IA the whole code Of intena-
ii'nil law. norJi" anv treaty, a single clause
r. principle. whereby e. Britaii can make
d, appear that she has. under the pretext
l aiieSiince, Il right To enter. om the high
cas-, the merchant ve>Sei If a ncu'ra ma
ION, ana take thercir"m the native CT izcns
i mat neutral nation. We dcly her ur her
'u'ocates To desSnate any such cla.l,e or
princIpie: IL there are any. they can be
demand the rec d--the preccdn,. lVe
have heretofore ex ressad ou, SEW ana
ioctrine OF allegiance: 1t is "A q ,e,tipnon
between the subject and his veregn, and
not between Nation and nation. Enc dnc-
.rine IS founded upon Common and ,nup.c,.
pal law, and II Cannot he made torxtt d
beyond the local municipal jurisuictuu If
TIE sovereign. unless by ire;i0 or nv he
general Consent of nations Ii is aIt.eeiLer
impairment to the question To- quote caS.a
II decisions IN the Courts Of England 80 in
those of the United States OF tins subject.
They do not apply. Such cases relate sole.
s. tn the trial Of individuals for some ac.
contrary to their allegiance, zvken you catch
those indiuiduais within fhcir sDprrei,u's
Ju'zsd'en9n. YOU must find the pe.s,nI. :.
on The high seas on board a neutral SHIN.
out within his so,ereign's jurisdiction, Who
then may seize him and try him in c .na
OF the sovereign. IL is plain enough tnar
these quoted cases of decisions are no. ana,
ioS"us 70 the question. 1t c"nnot be leg als
~ Defended, that rights exercised as lnci,
ciuent 10 Common or municipal law can he-
enforced on the high seas, where no munic !.
pa law or particu ar local Common law pre-.
valls. aud where the law of nations is the
only RUE OF conduct. prescribing wat is
rIgir; and prohibls,ng what is wrong. If i,
"ere otherwise. Then might a BRUSH cuss
'om house regulation be executed on Il neu.
raj vessel on The high seas for tn regu ATE.
Custom houses Is more clear, distinct. SS
detenS'1ie municipal right than any right
Charmed under the doctrine of allegiance.
We shpnh be glad to see some thing like
rSHmrHf ~ answer To what we here assert.
we see and near great deal of rhapsody
ma o"Sma;ical assertion Oh this heak bue
we Can perceive no'hing like cool. CnsDas-
''"nate arsu nent. This mode Of treating
he t"pici, strong proof IN itsels, of the
'eebleness at the Cause of Great Bri ainapd
ier partizan,i for we repeat agaiu--ilthe
bhd'iaw ~ treaty oirtheir dc, then the%
f"lin shew tina law or tlLIt treaty
Iiavlns thu pm the adversary cons)le,e-
IN the wrong--haL ing Shewn that hi, oar:
~ us can SUSTAIN IncIr Jretrnslops neithep
~ national law, np treaty, nor admeted
''ecedcht, k-t us meet hin on his ozv,.
frDHnd' f4et us, tor the sake of tImtIinr
i'm from tx proud stand nc has aiken. ,ds
az that I've has the Yfkh, To sieze his own
on board neutral vessels OIL the high
cas-. What il tbe true construction Of
such q riphtf Fle right 10 seize British
tccfS excludes, of Course, the right To
size those Ut he ne,rru Tne RIGHT to
axe BF1tish -uhjectS q rs not, ~ an, view.
ncidde the right to- take I'm, yic0H chizrBs.
he person ct the native neutral is sacred.
MS person Is sciz d, the right claimed u
Hceeded aud the excess of 'r Iight is 4
"otg IL Is, then, 7Yrone eyen Js the ,
'ritisn argument, 10 take neutral \ leIie.e.s
ON neutral American merchantnietA
.lr as tl.is wrong exists IL is mi yerSailv a.t