Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-16

nc Ohitcu otatcS carry IN the session, MIR.
lacon, the Chairman, at the c.ose of the
session, made the following Report:
The committee, TO qyhoni tyas retired that
harf Q/fhe Presidents message "zyhieh
relates TO the Shirt and management il,
zohich fhe 7oar has been zvuged by the en-,
enmy,"
REPORT:
That they have collected and arranged
Pll the testimony OH this subject which
Sould ut this time be procured. This testi-
Hony is submitted to the consideration Of
tine House, arranged under the following
heads:
First. Bad treatment of American pri
eoners.
n Second. Detention of American prison
fers as British subjects, on the plea CT natl
witty In the dominions of Britain or Of natu-
ralization;
Third. Detention of marines as prisoners
OF war, who were in England when tho war
was declared
Fourth. Compulsory service of impress
cd American seamen on board British ships
of war.
Fifth. Violation of flags of truce;
/ Sixth. Ransom Of american prisoners
from Indians in the British service;
Seventh. Pllage and destruction of pri
vate property Oh the Chesapeake bay, and
III the neighboring country.
Eighth. Massacre and burning of Amer
can prisoners surrendered to- officers Of G..
Britain, by Indians in the British service.
Abandonment Ok the remains OF Americans
killed in battle on murdered after the sur
render to the British. The pillage and
Shooting OF American citizens, aud the burn.
wing OF their houses after the surrender Of
the British under the guarantee Of protec-
ton;
Ninth Outrages at Hampton, in Virgil
MA.
he evidence under the first head de-
monstra,es that the Biisish government has
adopted rigor OF regulation untrlendly to
the Comfort and apparently unnecessary
to the safe keeping of American prisoners
generally. Ii shows also instances of a de-
Parture from che Customary rules of war by
the seiecGo1 and confinement In close ori
SONS oil particular persons, and the tyans
portation OF them for undo 6ned eau
SOS from the ports OF the British coloniessto
the Island of Great Britain. ~
The evidence under the second hea6e4
taEiishesth the fact that however the practice
OF OBTAINING American ci,izens as British
subjects may be regarded as, to the princi
pie 1t involves, that such detention continu>
ed To occur, through the agency Of the ma.
val and other commanders of that govern
ment. Improves, too thai however unwil.
ling to allow other nations to Eaturalize her
subjects, Great Britain is disposed to en-
force the obligation entered into by their oi-
uzens when naturai!zed under her own
ia"s. lh's practice, even supposing the
release OF every person thus detained, OBJ
v'ously subjects our captured citizens, upon
mere SUSPICION, to hardships and perils
from which they ought to be exempt ac-
cording to the established rules in relation
TO prisoners of war.
The evidence under the third head shews
that while al! other American Citizens were
permitted To depart within reasonable
sme after the declaration of war. ALI ma
rmers who were in the dominions of Great
Britain, whether they resorted to her ports
In time OF peace for lawful purposes, or
were forced into them under prctence of il
legal commerce, are considered prisoners
oi war. The Injustice of this exception is
not more apparent than the Jealousy it dis
closes towards that useful class of our fell
low Citizens But the committee can but
remark, that II the practice of hi ing Amer
ican sesmen to navigate British vessels il
generally adopted and authorised, and that
II Is suffered appears from the advertisement
OF George Maude, the British agent at Port
Royal, which Is to- be found with the testi
IDony collected under the first head, that
the naval strength of hat empire will be
increasing IN proportion to the number Of
our seamen i'll bondage The present war
having changed the relation Of the Countries.
the pretended right of impressment can no
longer be exercised, but the same end may
be accomplished by the substitution of this
mode. Every seaman thus employed 1.-THE
terms OF whose engagement have not been
ascertained) inc reases m naval strength
OF the enemy, not only BY eepri ing the Uni
ted States OF his active services. but nv en-
abiing Great Britain to carry on and even
extend her Commerce without diminishino
The number of sailors employed in her YES.
sells of war.
The testimony collected under tie fourth
head proves, thar il is the ordinary practice
OF the officers of British armed vessels To-
force impressed Americans to serve against
their Country by threats, by corporal pun
ishneht, and even by the fear of immediate
ezeCutloh--an instruCting commentary up-
on the professions OF the government, of it's
readiness to release impressed American
seamen found ON boarl ships OF war.
On the evidence collected under the fifth
mead, It IS only necessary to observe, that
IN one case. the case of DR.. M'Keehan, the
enormity is increased by the circumstance
OF the Tag being Invested of every thing OF
hostile character, having solely lor its OBJ.
Ject the relief of the wounded and suffering
prisoners who we're taken at the River Raj
sin on the 22d January, 1918. The treat
ment cf DIR. NJ 'Keehan, not by the allies of