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

Il
authorised IN asserting that impressment was
one OF the principal causes of the WA; and al.
though had the orders N council been revok ed,
and their revocation known TO us before war
was declared, We would no doubt have tempo
rized longer; yet THE cause itself must in tie
end have produced war. The hon. gentleman
from Virginia, (Nr Randolph) with whom re.
ciprocate the speculation of friend with pride
and pleasure, because parry feelings break TO
INK OF my friendships, says We have renowned
oar objections to The Brtishpractice of impress
nent, because the treaty OF 1894 is silent on the
subject 1t is true there is no provision respect.
ing IT, but an article of the treaty discloses ,h,
act, that many points o difference were ief
unsettled, and the public documents of that Pc
riod shew that this WAS among them.
Mr.. Randolph explained He did not say
mat the silence of that treaty was a renuncia
ton OF the objection, but it proved that the
practice OF impressment was not considered At
mat tunr, IN Itself, sufficient cause OF war I
IL appears that very soon after the general
Government went into operation this practice
was the subject of re monstrance--this was un
der the administration OF Geaeral Washington
Ii mas been the subject Of negotiation and re
hionsurance undor every succeeding admins.
tfAtioh.-But II is alledged, because il was not
settied lii the treaty OF '94 that il was not con
sldefed by Gem raj Washington as Unsuitable
cause o. war, and il is Inferred that it OUCH:
not now to be considered sufficient cause for
the continuance OF the war. What, sir, shall
constitute Cause of war The spoliation of
your pr pert! Not so, say gentlemen. be-
cause the expenditure for redress wi be grea :
ter than the injury sustained. The violation
Oh the personal liberty of your citizens an the
Il graduation OF the ensign of your sovereignty ?
! NO, say gen iemen, gen. Washington did not
consider these sufficient cause of war VIII
theu, any injury, or any combination of injuries
authorize or require national resentment ,
The reasoning OF the gentlemen would lead us
to eg"tive conclusion. But IN their estimate
OF the actual causes OF the present war, they
appear % consider the business of npressment
us trivial, and the orders in couuc,: as every
thing What, sir, will you go to war for pro
perty, the value of which is only relative, and
winch, compared with personal lisertv, is
worthless, aud refuse to 20 to war for the per.
sonil liberty OF tie citizens For that which
is alike.
Siven 70 The .faol, the rain, tke evil
10 Hard, 10 Waters, Char,res G. The Devil"
you VIII wage war, and not to rescue our fell
low citizens irons imprisonment and stripes :
But however this subject was to be viewed be.
lore we were actually involve in war. must
now be put on footing OF certanty-lfour
claim he not secured il will be- surrendered To
make peace without oht.ining any security a.
gsInst the abuse of which We complain. woulo
oe 10 acqulesce IN 1t, and to acquiesce in IT
would be 10 surrender the rights OF the country
Ih's was the easOninS o Mr.. King who in ore
ot his communications TO government on tins
SUBJECT says lie has abandoned negotiation. be.
cause TO scquiesce,ln tie We've OF the British
government would be to surrender our right.
And sbsiI | be obliged, sir, to come here
"lti' volumes OF documents toprove the rights
O, inc ch!zen-to demonstrate that the naval
"Hlcers Oh bilian have not right to incarce
rate him, to drag HIM to the eangwav and fioo
HIM Shall be obliged by laborious bro.
cess OF reasoning t. prove the obligation of go.
'efnmeHt 10 rescue hi:n from such .ufferinr
NO, gentlemen genera ly have abandoned his
ground, AID sa!, that The imprcssment of orr
citizcns rs uncer proper circumstances iustfi
able cause OF war aud the gentleman from
Worth Caroiha (Nir. PeArson) who OF ened
the debate on this subject ssys, that ia 6l
proposition, accompanied By means calculated
10 give 1t fair chance Of success. were ten.
dered and did not procure a Cessation or the
practice OF iinpressment, he would support the
war. What Is the proposition which he SUI
mits That we srrll prohibit from serving in
our ships the seamen of q b. itain and Other
foreign seamen and confne our crews to our
On citizsns. This selng done he will sun
port the war. i challenge gentlemen on the
o'her side o. the house to say distinctly 10 the.
people tor whom an honorable ge..tl man (Mr.
quincy las said thus debate was intended, that
MS war shodld not be continued for the pr,
'ectloh OF our semen they will not, IN, dare
nos. But ,tthoA are sgsinst the continuance OF
Tie a II is on hal ground and ne other TD..
dohoi"oie gentleman from Virgins, CHR Ran
Go'Fh) say 4. BRIAN las right insist on.
lie services her own subjects and that In
gland would OF be England if she could nc
command them. say, that America viii
CO ase To BE- Anne RIGA If she suffers her TO con
mand them At the price OF the liberty of her c.
tizens and the honor OF her flag. The same
gentleman says, England will mil the flag "a
tne mas s1d go to the bottom with il, rsthe,
Ih"n surrender the right OF her taking her
seansn from OH board our merchant vessel i
hoP-, sir, We shall initiate the noble exam-
pie she sets US, and make every sacrifice ra
'her Than give up our citizens to bondage ana
stripes.
perceive, sir, that sm occupying too
much ot.your time, and will pass over many
OF the observations1 meant to have made. /
will not travel over the history of our negoci
atoms OH this subject as / intended to huy,
done, but come Immediately to the propositio on
OF MIR Russell.-It was, that we should pass
Jaws prohibiting under the severest penalties
Tn employment IF any other seSmen than A.
rican citizens on board our vessels, including
und -r tins denomination only natives and tliosc
who are already Notwithstanding brings me
To the discrimination made by the gentleman
from North Carolina TO whom have before al
'uded. lie would support the government he
SAID IN awar, for the protection of native sea
men, IT such laws were passed as would pro
hibit the employment OF Others. VIII he not
also suPPoits war for the protection Of those
already adopted into his political fanilyi He !
will answer for r., lie will. As n man of |
feeling tor the character ofhis country he will
as man OF honor he will. Look at the con. |
stitution--it gives tie power TO nsturslize. !
Excuse me, sir, Tor deacending for moment TO |
verbal CT ticism. What is the import of the |