Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-25
Il Dolls. per annum.

present any question. IF the gentleman last
up, who had quoted e part of the instruc.
| uons to our Ministers. had read little more
OF that report, he would have perceived
the gross error of the construction he had
put upon 1t /; for he would have found that
our Ministers were authorized to have made
treaty, Containing a stipulation respect.
ing inPressment to terminate at the con-.
ciusion OF a peace in Europe-the object be-
ing 70 guard against the possible continuance
OF the practice of impressment durinp the
war in Europe. He would have further
seen, that, when that peace took place. the
necessity for such a stipulation ceased
What tsaid Mr.. CO. was the injury which
we complained of, and what was Tire claim
OF the enemys The claim of the enemy
was, that he had right, in time of war. to
enter on board American (nentral) vessels.
and to judge who were American and who
British seamen, and to take thcrefrom
%aomsoever he thought proper. What was
Ine ground OF complaint on our side That
lts eneny' IN the exercise Of this pretended
rlSh., frequently took American seameu, to-
the detrIment or the commerce, and denri.
walton of the personal liberty Of Amer;can
citizens. AT me time those instruct;ons
were expedited to'our Ministers, there was
war raging in Europe, which no gentle.
man then pretended to think would come tn
termination in many years. II appeared
20 be contest, which would endure for a
series OF years, having already. with lille
lntermission, lasted twenty wears. Those
statements and those instructions. a mart of
winch mad been quoted, were then given.
respecting the question of impressment "a
sprlnglng out OF state of war !; and il was
at that time the report was made TO this
mouse, prociaiming the necessity of uncess,
nt
mat state Of war, Mr.. G.. Continued. hav.
ing ceased, and with it the evil of impress.
nent, there was no necessity to Continue
the war on that account, And. had Un
continued the war on that account. whar
'Heh would nave been the language Of the
gentleman and his friends Thar statesmen
go 10 war for practical injuries thar. as
Great Britain never impresses in time of
peace in Europe, in the present state Of
things to have continued the war on thar
ground would have been fighting to resist a
speculative claim. on the part of the British
government, which in practice had ceased.
iohaVe done so would have been unwise.
and would have met the severest reoroha.
ton oil the gentlemen On that side of the
mouse. Every body who heard him, knew.
Mr.. Z. said, that such would have been the
cialhor rung from one end of the country To
10 the otner. ANY one who adverted To- th.
very document, OF which the gentleman had
read part, viii ind his whole argument
answered oy 1t (taking in connexion with If
the circumstances OF the WORLDLY as com.
pletely and dsmonstrably as anv prorosition
IN Euclid The idea that we had relinoujsb-
ed our right in this respect, becalse II wae
not reclted in the Treaty, was, in his onni-
on Preposterous. 1t could not be maintain
ed by the semblance of an argument. 7. is
nor at Gil affected by it, unless that il is for.
t,lea oy the events OF the present war, and
the spirit with which it has been wsaed
which will probably make foreign noSers
more Careful of invading cur rights The
benefit OF the claim TO Britain can nevsr
compensate tor the injury she might sustain
oy provoking us to war, IN resistance of il
ana IN defence OF the personal liberty of the
cI'lzens, In the late war, this nation has
acquired Character which will secure re,
SPect to its rights, If ever an American
citizen should be forcibIy impressed, Mr..
Z. said he should be ready again to draw the
sword IN mis- defence ; and no government
Gould prosper that would, with impunity.
permit such damnable violation of the per-
sonaI rights of its citizens. Government it.
sell Is only protection; and they Cannot be
separated. feel pleasure and pride, said
Mr. G. in being able 70 say, that am of
party which drew the sword on this cues.
ton, and succeeded in the contest tor, to
all practical purposes, we have achieved
complete success.
Mr. KING spoke in favor Of the loves.
number proposed to be retained, the ones.
ton being not on war but peace essab-
lishmeht, and the men not to be disbanded
unless circumstances shall sanction the
measures He was not surprised, he said.
at the strong opposition to day made to con,
hrming the vote Of yesterday. When ne
approached the Hall this morning, he said.
he had seen certain ominous birds d the pa
lace circling about it, and he expected a war
breeze woutd be the consequence The
house was nos TO suppose the President had
willingly sheathed his sword that ne would
willingly lay aside his sixty thousand swords
and bayonets. No; power was two sweet
to be so easily surrendered. As to the war.
its success or failure might fairly be drawn
from the treaty which terminated il. De.
pend on it, said he, the world will adycrs
to that and Hot to the opinions of honorable
gentlemen on this floor. Unless we find our
rights there, is in vain TO look for them
any where. Ii was enough, on this head.
to say. that not one Of the risAte for which
we mad gone to war, were touched upon in
the treaty. Nay, il any inference were
drawn from the Treaty. the mark Of dishon>
or was on Us, and part of cur territory was
IN tue hands OF the enemy, That, ne said.