Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-30
From fhe National MtelGgencer.


country the charge Of departing from Just
principles. rs respects hoth the commence
mentand mode q. cainactins tue preseD,
war. and when there are persons in our own
country who appear anxious to adopt and
lpromulgate their arguments. It may be a
profitable task, in the eyes of tie American
people, to advert to the other side of the ,,ics
ture, and see what of hideousness stands
disclosed by fresh light shed upon a single
feature, forgetting for a moment the glare
In which we have long seen the deformty of
others.
In a late number Of the Boston Gazette
we have observed some erudition iisplayed
to prove the outrage committed by the
British squadron that attacked and destroy
ed our frigate Essex, while under neutral
protection ia a Spanish por;. BIT whencs
such eruditicnf We agree, indeed, to it's
soundness, as we'll as to the sound motives
which dictatedit.- But when have the Bri.
tisl been IN the habit OF showing any real
regard to the injanctions of public law upon
points OF this sorts Those Tho have at.
tended to the course of her maritime his
tory Know, tha, in most instances, she.
makes mere mockery ofthem. We cannot
NV answer Tor what our government mean
20 90 IN TINS affair 1t may complain if it
OF atonement, on any side or in any way.
whoever looks tor it must be far pone in
credulily. As soon as the thing is known
IN England, Commodore HilIyar will be pro.
nounced a fine. gallant fellow, second TO
none but Broke. The contiguity of the
spanish shore viii be talked of as a mere
incident, not disparaging the eclat OF the
scene. ferhaps, indeed, il will be covertly
considered asforming an additional merit by
the poidness II evinced-so characteristic of
noble daring in war; If we complain. or
II opain should complain, they viii in the
nrst place eudeavor To get rid of the fact
~ denying It they will say, as in Pear.
cSS Case, mat II was more than tilres miles
from the shore, and thus challenge a war OF
connter'atfidavits of no one knows what
length 1t pressed by the evidence. they
may, to save appearances. and to keen. M
the name OF adherinY in whatever they do
70 pubic law, OF waich Sir William Scott is
SO scrupulous. be broughvinto some nicely
pnrased admission of the irregulai.y of the
ACT. Ihis however Is highly Improbable.
but no mind enlightened by the past must
ever dream OF the restoration of the Essex,
OF OF any other notice of Commodore lilly
al cenduct than to promote him to some
command more advantageous.
we remember the language of the pre-
sent met Justice Of the United States in
the fifth solume of hi. book. aNa,ive Az
mericans, says he, were. frequently i'm /.
pressed, and compelled tn serve against the
Ffench Republic. The British cabinet could
not attempt so excessive an outrage on the
sovereignty of the United States as a iu.t,6..
cation OF this measure would have been.
right TO impress real American citizens
was disayowed and Willingness to dis
charge them, on the Establishment of their
citizenship, was officially expressed. But
time was necessary to procure the requisite
testimonials; q those officers who had noto
riously Offended IN IN respect, experienced
no interpretation on the part of their GO
vernment which might deter them from a
repetition of the offence"
we also remember, that il is only few
years since the British DESTROYED a French
ship OF the line upon our coast, in yioiati N
OF our Jurisdiction, and still shorter time
since the Cambrian frigate committed the
outrage upon the Pitt, not on our coast
merely, but in the very harbor of New, York
was any redress ever obtained for these In
suits to public law! Never it was asked
IN vain. Other and deeper infringements Of
our sovereignty were superadded. On the
other hand, as was well remarked in the
Boston Gazette, when the Grange, a Bri,
fish ship. was captured by the French fri.
gate Ambuseade, in the Della ware BAY. in
the ear 1928. her restitution was deman,
ded by the British government, and decreed
accordingly by our government, although Il
was strenuousy contehded by the Minister
OF r rance that the waters in which the can,
lure took place Constituted in tact an open
sea. thus mas ever stool in honorable con.
trast the conduct Of a government which, in
the view of certain orators, is unworthy &c
belong to the family Of nations.
but we commenced our remarks for a
purpose far more important than 70 refer 10
facts and abuses that have been long well
known.
What wonld be said OF government, e.
yer as ready to proclaim its own superior
good ta'th and civilization as TO charge o.
thers with the absence Ut both ---gha;
would be said, II the Aaown mnctionariea O,
such government, taking advantage Of a
| state OF peace, and striving to shield them.
| serves from detection dnd even from suspi-
| clon by the double security of eInpioyinr
| guarded means and resortng To preyiou!
| denIals. should nevertheless be completed,
detected ~ aiding sayagos to- destroy the
| uyes OF the cIIizess OF the nciehbCurine
| country Would ! act BIZ pronounced nor
ri0is Ler6dys Can any ,hing &c well iin
/ dgincd iii tie cOnd0St OF refined nation
more anjustiiapie, E!ofe inhumanl And