Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-23

there any to shew whether they were naturali-
zed or native citizens of the u. States This
paper contains also copy Of the orders Of both
governments for retaliation, and ofthe cores.
pordcnce between their respective Commissa.
res, concerning the treatment Of prisoners.
rhepaper marked ID. states various grounds
OH which the British government has refused
to deliver up American seamen, impressed into
the British service, ON the application of the
agents of the U. States, regularly authorized
to demand them, with the correspondence re-
lating to the same. 1t communicates also such
information rs this department has been able to
obtain oil the conduct of the British govern
ment towards American seamcn on board Bri-
tish ships of war, At and since the commence
ment OF the present war. Among the causes
assigned for their detention, the following are
the most deserving of notice
1. That they had no documents, or that their
documents were irregular.
g. That they were released from prisons in
GotteDburg.
5. That they were exchanged as British SUBJ.
jects.
a. Were said to be iinrostors. <f
S. To have married in England
6. Did not answer the descriptions given of
them in their projections.
z. Had attempted to desert.
8. Were sent into the service Ter snug.
Cling.
9. Were not to be found on board of the ship
stated
10. Had voluntarily entered into the British,
service.
IL Were natives of foreign countries, Prus-
sia, Sweden, Italy, &c.
1t is probable that some of the seamen, whose
discharges we're demanded, may not have been
native citizens of the u. States, but very pre-
sumable that the greater part were. Indeed the
pretext assigned for their detention seems to
admit it. Had they been native subjects of
England, being there, their origin might have
been traced. But that is the ground in few in
stances only. In urging that some had no pros
tections or that their projections were irregu-
lar that others had been exchanged rs British
prisoners We're impostors; had attempted TO
desert; did not answer the projections given
them were natives If Prussia, Sweden, SC it
Is fairly to be inferred that the public authority
in England, to whom this duty is assigned,
sought rather TO cvade the application, than to
justify the refusal. The pretext that some
were natives OF Prussia, Sweden, SC. deserves
particular attention. On this circumstance the
Secretary will remark only, that in extending
improvement, in American vessels, to persons
who could not be mistaken for British subjects
and refusing to surrender them, on application,
to the voluntary service from which they were
taken, it is evident that the recovery of Bri.
tish seamen has not been the sole object of the
practice.
Of prisoners in England, it appears that con.
siderable number of our seauen had been
transferred from British Ships Of war, TO pri-
sons; that their exchange for British seamen
taken in battle was demanded, in the first in
stance, but that that claim seems to have been
since waved. 1t mighthave been expected that
the British government, on being satisfied that
these mca, or that any OF them, were American
citizens, would have liberated and sent them
home at Its own charge. They are, however,
still held prisoners in confinement That many
ofthem, if not all, native citizens, cannot
be doubted, for hsd the proof not been irresis-
table, il cannot be presumed, While 80 many
others are detained on board British ships of
war, that these would have been exempted from
that service.
. That many are still detained on board Bril-
fish shipso warrnay be fairly inferred, even
without other evidence, from the indiscrmi-
nate manner OF British impressment from
the distant service in which the men thus
impressed are often necessarily employed
depriving their friends of an opportunity &c
communicate with them and from the in
considerable nuFber discharged, compared
with that which has been demanded. With
out relying altogether on the reports hereto
fore made To Congress 10y. this Department
the letter of Commodore Rodgers, hereunto
annexed, affords data from which an esti'
correspondence between Genera, Taylor &
the Captain of the British ship the Dragon
and Commodore Decatur and the comman-
der Capel, deserve also particular attenti-
on. If the British Government would order
strict search to be made. through the Bri-
fish navy, for American seamen, il would
then be seen how many of our native citizens
have participated in the lot of the unfortu
nate men mentioned i'll the correspondence
referred to-
The Contrast which these documents . -
aert, in the prctensions and conduct Of Grea
Britain, with the pretensions ard conduct O
the United States, cannot fail To make deer
impression in favor of the latter. The Bri
fish Government impresses into its Navy
native citizens ofthe United States, and com
pels them TO serve in it, and in many ins,an
ces even to fight against their Country, whilt
1T arrests as traitors and menaces with deatl
persons suspected 20 be native British sub
jects, for having fought unde r our standard
against British forces, although they liat
voluntarily entered into our army, after ha.
wing emigratedto the United States and in
corporated themselves into the American
society. The United States on the othe
hand, have forced no persons into their ser
vice. nor have they sought. nor are they dis
posed to punish any, who, after having free
~ emigrated to any part of the British doni
Mons and settled there, may have entered
voluntarily into the British army.
The remaining enquiries relate to objects
other than the immediate conduct of the par