Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-03-08
a dollars PEI aaaa,a.

| '"-JSSe, coming U5m tie AnlSrIcaii Eovefn-
meat 1t has never asserted any xe iusive ,i,br
as to the iInpr OF British sea,ncr, r.,
Aiaericanf vessels, which II was not prepared
10 acknowledge, us appSrt5ining equally To ,h,.
government OF the United States With respect
10 American seainen when found ON hoard Ri;
tish me chant ships; But il cannot, by acoetl.
"S 20 such basis IN the first instan @, either
aSSut'e, or adhii, that TO be practicable, which,
wnen attempted on former occasions. has al
ways been found to be attended with great diff.
hcuit'ss as the British commissioners in 1906
expressly declared, after All attentive consi.
aeration OF the suggestions brought forward
ny the commissioners on the part OF America.
they We're Unable TO surmount.
4 Whist this proposition, transmitted tl,rougI,
'iie Brpish Admiral, was pending In America.
another communication on the subject of an
2rnisuce was unothcis!iy made to The British,
1 government IN this cyuntry The agent fro,,
whom This proposition was received. ackpov-
| iedsed thar he did not consider, tina, he had
any authority himself, to sign an agreement, on
VIC part Oh his government. Ii was obvious
that any supIlations entered into, in conse..
\ qaence OF this overture, would have heir h;rJ.
I ING on the Britisl government, whist The 0n.
! vcrnneat or the United States would have H.,
iree TO refuse or accept them .ccor, ding ~ ill.,.
circumstance of the moment This l,roDositi-
on was therefore nee ssarily deciired.
After this exposition OF the circ,,mstonc.s
4
declaration OF war by the United States. Un
Royal HiSness the Prince Regent, acting II, The
name an on the behalf OF l,is Mliesty' feels
| himself called upon 10 declare ths tead,no
/, principles, by which the conduct of G Britain
mad been regulated in the transAc, ions connec.
| ted with these discussions.
| His Royal Higness can never acknow,edo.
| any blockade whatsoever 10 be ILLEGAL. which,
mas oeen duly notified and is supported by an
adequate iorce, merely upon the ground OF it's
| eN,eht, or because the ports or coasts biocka.
| ded are not at the same time invested bv land.
His Royal Highess Can never admit, that neu.
trai traae with Great Britain can be consti;,-
teo Puohc CRIME the Commission OF which
| can expose the ships OF any power whatever to
| be denahonsiIzed. His Royal II .ensss can ne
| yer admit thar Great Brian can be debsrred
| OF It's rights OF Just and necessary retaliation.
Through the fear OF eventually affecting the in
teresl OF neutral. Ills Royal Higiiess can
never admit that IN the exercise Of the urr-
| doubted and hitherto undisputtd right Of
| searching neutral merchant vessels in time of
War, the mPressment o British seanlen, when
| found uicren, Can he deemed any violation Of
4 a neutral nag Neither can he admit the Ia
\ KING such sean,en from ON board such vessels
| can be considered BY any neutral states as a
hostile measure, or justifabe cause of war.
| There IS no right ore clearly establish
ed, than the right which sovereign has to
I
! ~ in time Of war. Their allegiance is no
optional duty, which they can decline, and
| resume at pleasure. 1t is call which they
are bound 10 obey it began with their birth,
and can only terminate with their existence.
II similarity OF language and manners may
| make the exercise of this right more liable
to partial mistakes and occasional abuse.
when practised towards vessels of the q. s.
! --the same circumstances make it also a
right, with the exercise of which, in regard
tosuch vessels, it's more difficult to dspense.
But II, TO the practice of the United States
10 haroor British seamen, be added their ass
sumed right to transfer the allegiance OF
British subjects, aud thus to cancel the iu-
risd'ction of their legitimate sovereign, by
acts of DECENTRALIZATION and certificates OF Cit
izeDshP, which they pretend to be as va
Id out OF their own territory, as within It,
1t is obvious that to abandon this ancient
right OF u. Britain, and % admit these no.
vel prctensicns of the United States would
be to expose to danger the very foundation
of our maritime strength
Without entering miputely into the other
; topics, which have been brought forward
+ by the government Of The United States il
may be proper to remark, that Whatever
the declaration of the u. States may rave
asserted, G. B.itain never did demand ,has
= | 4 n
, France; and she formally declared her viii
lingness entirely to fprcgo, or modify in con-
cert with the United States the system. by
which commercial intercourse with the
enemy had been allowed under the protec-
: ton OF licenses; provided The II. s. would ace
: towards her, and towards France with real
impartiality. The government Of America.
t IT the differences between states are not in
termlnabic, has as little right TO notice the
! ALTAR OF the Chesapeake. The aggression
iii this Instance, OIL the part of a British of
hcer, was acknowledged, his conduct was
disapproved, and repatriation WAS regular
ly rendered by Mr.. Foster ON the part q
his majesty, and accepted by the govern
!, ment OF the u. 5. tits not less unwsrrant-
ed IN its allusion to The mission of Mr.. He's
: ry; mission undertaken without the AN
thority, or even knowledge, Of his maiestv's
: government, ard which Mr.. Foster was au-
!, Woriscd formally and officially 10 disavoy,
J. The charge of exciting the Indians TO oRfcn.
b slve measures against the United States q
. equally void of foundation. Before the war
= began, policy the most opposite had been
y uniformly pursued, and proof Of this war,
o tendered5y Mr.. Foster 10 The American ecy.
: vefnment. Such are the causes of war
which have been put forward by tho govern.
. ment Of the Uuited States. But the real
origin OF the present contest will be found N
that spirit, which has long unhappIly actu.
ated the councils Of the United States, thei,
marked partially, 10 palliatIng aud assist.
; ing the aggressive tyranny Of France thei,
| systematic eAdeayOrs to inhame their pco
, pie against the defensive measures of G. Bri
tain (; their ungenerOus conduct toward,
spain, the intimate ally of G.. Britain ann
/ Z lNsafrs ffr.aa h.. Il.