Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-04-29

went so directly To break that harmony be Ii
'"een the two countries which IL would be |,
80 desirous To preserve. He thought that
no rational or fair man Could say that there Il
was any thng III those papers which shcw
gu any desire on the part ut his maiesty's |
government to do any thing unjust or OPP |
pTessiNe towards America. The American |
government, however, had been pleased to
assume, mat very considerable number
OF American seamen had been impressed ON
BOARD our ships OF war and they had made
out their list so far as to- calculate them al
<O'OVo' In order to give any color to such
d statement. they must assume in the first
pace that every man taken out of Ameri
can ships was really an American seaman.
ne statement, however, was nothing like a
true account Although the whole number
lempioyed lii our fleets amounted to I45 600.
when the lords of admiralty, in January.
| 1871, called upon those sailors who claim
co TO be American seamen, to declare them.
selves, there were emily $500 who pretend
ca 10 De American seamen, and this year
there were considerably less. when the
| truth OF their allegations was examined, it
uio not appear that more than fourth of
those who claim to be American seamen,
cou'd support their Claim in any manner
peel, that IN the hopes of getting their dis
Charge, many would have asserted them
Selves TO he American seamen who were not.
instead OF twenty thousand, it would there
tore appear, that sixteen or seventeen hun
area was the greatest number of American
seaInep. which we could have in our navy.
no" Could anyrational person really believe
'hat tlls Country would goto var viii hme-
rica Tor the purpose # keeping such a small
number ut Americans in our navy When
| the American government however, set
forward IN such strong colors the number of
Americ ms impressed in our vessels il was
| remarkable that all the maritime states of
| America IRON which those seamen must be
supposed to be taken, denied the evil to
nave existed in any material degree, and
ldisaPproved of the war that was underta-
Ken on that pre.ence.& lit was the agricul-
u al states OF the south, and the provinces
the Mississippi, who joined the president
i.tnis ground Ut war: but the public feeling
VI the maritime and commercial states of
America was very evident from their not
having gwen single vote for that president
VINO made the unpressment of their seamen
| tne great preteXt of war (Hcar hear. J
| lie brueved that it would be very evident, ON
tue perusal OF The papers, that this govern
hent had acted throughout in the spirit of
conciliation and forbearance, out thar no
snch dispositions were manifested on the
part nt he American government
mere were some who thought that since 4.
the commencement of the war the Govern
| ment had not acted with sufficient ypor
i MS was question that he was prenared
To discuss whenever il should regularly be
brought forward. He would confess thar
MINISTER'S did feel a spirit o. conciliaion ra-
ther than of irritation, and that tbey had
hoped, even after the declaration of war.
mat the American Government. might he
Drought to something like a spirit of concili-
anon an nearing of the repeal of our Orders
NJ IouncIi.-t1e should however, be prepar-
ed IN show, that if Ministers did not imme
uiateiy send as great force as MANY tho't
mould nave immediately been sent against
efica' u was because such force could
NOT then be spared from other services
Asto defensive measures. it was evident thar
they had adopted sufficient measures for tb.
defence o. Canada, & orr possessions in that
part of the world. Neither had any of our
valuable fleets been captured. as nicht have
been expected in the first eruption of the
war, when The assaiants might choose their
own time Cor commencing it. Allthat they
could be charged with on this head, was not |
having immediately sent force stronp e. |
hougn to act extensively, Some men expect |
ca mar TINS country was t. be eqnally strong
nv iand and by sea, at all points of the world |
where war might break out. Thi, IVA.
however, not rational supposition. and he
.rusted hat ne Could prove that Minister'S
nad used every reasonable diligence to meet
ms war, when it could no longer be avoided
There were some who thought that the Order
~ Blockade had been too long DELAYED but
u must be recollected, that many of the
amerlcan vessels were then bringing suD-
'hes either to his country OF to its allies.
ana hat therefore we might have been the
'nHsre'S bY such measure. He thought it
'oua annear upon the whole OF the papers
',onoItted ~ the House, that although spi-
NJ on Cancellation governed the councils of
ms country. vet iic one could Law their fin q,
ger uron any rart whore they had sacr feed !
" comproa ised the tights and interests of
he nation.
m. R"rinp did not believe that the as. {
eitions ofthe Noble Lord were correct a, {
ne hostile dispositions of the American {
"VerH "ent, who's conduct was little InfIu
tced nv he European system ofpolitics.- +
- contended thai ne Orders in Council
we're m tact witt them, the grounds of the t
y ciarator OF war; bee use the Noble Lord q
= one ut h's very last DISPATCHES 10 Mr.
'oster, which was 20 he communicated in c
x'cnso to the American government, had @
'rected MN not 70 encourage The most dis d
ant expectation that these Orders were n c
p given up, while in fact they were epeal- d
u De'ore INC despatch arrived at irs desti- t
alton he would appeal 10 that Hon. Cen
'eman Mr. Fo<ter) who had fulfilled with |
y much abll'ty he Instructions he had re A
eiveh, and had now a seat in that Honse. |:
'hethrr It was not his opinion, from his s
OF the sentiments Of the Ameri t.
an Executive, that IN earlier sacrifice of I,