Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-02-02
OUR FLAG NOT STRUCK.


tan has struck its ass 20 the enemy Is, sfri-
King It's Rag, il appears he meant concession To
Great Britain other claim 10 impressinent board
vessels under the flag at The United States and
FOR proof ot this concession, he referred Ia the late
acceptance of the British proposition 10 treat Tor
peace consistent with the maxius Of public Law,
aud he maritime rights ~ the British cnilire. IL
is saidthat the same sentimen, and argument have
beer, advanced With equal confidence ia the o,hee
branch of the National Legislature. IL may hence
be apprehen,ed that not a few among ourselves,
aud what is worst, that the foreign government
with which peace is To- be nesoeiat,d viii be mis-
led into belief that the Administration is actually
about surrender the rights Of our Gag ant, the Sc
eurity OF our seniarins citizens to the practice ol
imprGssment.
1t must be obvious, that were it true that the Al
mint ration hal the determination TO make
the sacrifice in questions woud be unwsc IN those
Who have In view the interest and honor OF the ma.
ton, TO hold out such an idea TO the eueniy Met
OF all parties Who are Americans IN their hearts,
must wish for security to our seainen against iiii
fish inpressmcu, the evils Of which have been su
sorelv felt Those who Ihiuk the British have
rilh, take their own sestncn from our SHIPS ny
,riish officers, aad that we ought to submit 10 all
the abuses on American seaincn TO Which Inc pinc-
tic ia necessarily liable, must at least wish that e.
Britain would agree To discontinue the practice, and
that IN the approaching negotiation, She iaiSht not
be encouraged tn hold out against our elun,s ~
persuasion that commissioners are sent viii in
str,ctisns 10 abandon thcm--o strike The nag shat
covers free trade and sailors rights.
But il is hopea and believed that the Adn.ins,ra-
ton will never strike that flag, and that II they
were so lost To the rights aud houor ot the NATION
as TO do IT, that the uaon would order ii tn tc re-
hoisted by other hands that would be more faithful
to their trust. II is believed also that there IS ne
eolnr Cor the inference OF an in ention To yield the
point of impressiaent from the acceptance oil the
nego.i.tion lately proposed by Great Britain, and
it Is 10 be hoped that the British government will
So understand il, ithsta ding the unfortunate
language held On the subject by Respectable men a.
moug Ourselves.
Here Is lhe reWso,ing BY which the intention 10
st,ik. ths .. over sailors rshts is dcduccd Great
Brt,.n las proposed to treat on terms consistent
cithl,eg IN iriliEnc rights Among these rights, u
is Known, she inelides impress hent oy her nrcsrs
n, or,I American vessels. lm agreeing To the pro-
r,osaI th.reior The Administration agree 10 treat
on The m sis or the British right and practice oil ia
pressment.
o,;n;o, hat the impressMent H. question is one of
her maritime rgh's 1T does not follow That she wf
moi discuss the right nor docs q, follow that II tie
discussion shuuj not change her opihion, she Wii
enterinto no spuls,ions securing the OBJECT ol The
Halted S,,,s namely abnlitio OF tie practice
ofinnrcssn,en at on board heir ships TN The con
trary she is quite ia tie habit of accommodating by
t,ea.y what Sue considers her maritime ishts, 10
the rights and claims Of other nations lake Tor
concnssye exnmD,e, the right to cap ure enemies
nroperty on board neutrai vessels. ms Is, :" al
maritime rights asserted by her, the one winch
she chngs with most inteNIDhty, amN att-cnes ''c
greatest Importance Yet iii well known that she
has ali IN simulated in treaties that free ships shall
make free goods. She did 50 IN the year 1893 |
(whea our independence was acknowledged BY ar
ticles in her peace witt. the mariume lowers o bu
roue And in n treaty oil eomineiSc with France ~ |
rho vcar l5s5 the same rule OF Tree ships Tree
goods il aga,n expressly Stipulated
Ru, i, s not necessary recur TO reasoning mr. TO
precetensin this case. We have the direct and
express ,,eelara ION of the British government that
its Wiling 10 discuss and to arrange itis very sub
feet OF irnl,ressme 4 with the United States. We
refer TO official documents IA pratt, anu al SO recent
a d,te ii, 4 is rs much matter OF surprize as |
regret that they should have escaped attention -
Several OF hose documents might &c cIied as bear
ing on the subject. The following extract rom
Lord Cast ereagh's letter To- Mr. Russell, OF Aug
2oti 1872 would alone suffice - Under the GU
eumstances of your having no powers 10 ncseeiaie,a
Unjust decline entering into detailed discussion oi
the propositions which you have been directed 10 |
brng forward" (Onc of which was the subIcci |
olimpressment) " cannot, however, retrai'' on
ole sinp lie point from expressing my surpri5c name
w. thai as n condition einiarry even to asuspen-
sioi. Of host:ltics the government OF the Ststes
should have thought Gt 10 demand thst the british
government should desist tom its ancient and sc-
customed practice OF impressing British scanicn !
fir IN The merchant ships OF foreign stare, sit ply
OH the assurance iht law shall hereafter DO 20
scd to prohibits the employment OF British seainen |
the puois or commercial service oi that state
The .5riti. soyeInmentnOw, MS heretofore, rea-
DIV TO receive FROM tie government OF the States,
aud aracably 20 discuss any proposition which pro-
fesses to- have IN view either to cheek abuse IN tue
exerc Sc Of c practice of irnprcssuent, TO ne
complsii, 10y means less aDc To vexaiiOr, the oh
jects Cor which mprs ssmcnt has hitherto been iounH
necessary bat they cannot consent to suspend the
exercise OTIS right upon which the naval strength OF
theempirc mainly depends, until they are ini!. eo-
vinccd that inehns eau be devised, and will be a
doptcd, by which the object o. be obtained by the
exercise Of that night eau be etiectnaiy secured
Here il is. seen that the BriushYove nment
objected to negucia ion not bccaus: d,scussi
on and a rangcment on the subject OF ion,
pressment was Incompatible with the ma
ritime rishls Of the British EnpiFc, but DC.
cause-Ist Mr.. Russell was thought e.
hqo-uo po~eIs 60 hcseeiate--fnd I'd. be-
ca- Great Briiaii was requit cd 20 desis
from Tie pracuce o. impressmemt, OF. III
ass,Tane. merely that law should there
after be passed excluding British seamen
fi'' m the Anerican service aud she wished
to be fully convinced that means could be
devised and wSuld be adopted by which her
seamen NIGH be preserved to her.
IA the American minister at Gotten
burg will nave adequate powers 10 ncgo.
q ciate, and will of Course make proposi,jSns
calcula ed 70 rego.e the otiier q tiicul ~ /.
ls stated no doubt car feirasl. tha, Great Bf,-
tain, IT sincere. as must be pftSaned. in no.,
late iHvitatiun, Nid tntec into aHicabie ois
cussions, and u fenlir ced ,hRf her nrae,ic,
is unjust, or that Re c;proeat ai.ranaeuen,
can Be substituted for H. wthlm dtir.nen
70 her a. Jvc,, or that her ~ ~ ,,,ltc, s,r.
tales a lsiihIu. 81 her pr<tuce
she will NOS be presented 4fom m
I... g.. 49,. Ali. l. y.