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


ar nv as low as 5000 men. Re was not
thi is opposed to it, frnn any apprehension
OF insircerity in the Peace between the u
nit ed States and Great Britain but he was
IN favor OF proceeding on the common rules
OF prudence and caution. The late enemy
his d at this time large force on our coasts
at vi borders, say FIVE and thirty thousand
m en-; and with Great Britain, as a rival
D alton, Holding so powerful force in our
n sghborhood, it was not in his opinion,
CO fnpatbe with prudence to reduce the
No Gitary Establishment. In his dealirNys in
SCI sal life, Mr. M'Kim said, when he paid
n' ,ney to any man of ever so great ard un,
qu estionable integrity, he took a receipt for
th' money; and, ii such a person owed
hiI money, he took his bond or note for it
an with these documents, he could, if ne.
&c ssary, defend his right before legal tri.
bu nal. but, it was not so between nations,
WI lose last and best appeal was force 1t
be came the duty of nations, therefore, not
in iiscreetly to disarm themselves. He said
he ,>was friendly to small Military Esta-
b ishment, and was willing to reduce ours
in moderation. liz the existing state of so.
cfety, without indulging is cpgenerous sus.
p icions, it would be most wise and prudent
never to put ourselves. ia the power of other
nations.
MIR WRIGHT said he rose, not to speak
TO the reduction of the army, having alrea-
ely expressed his opinion on that subject,
but briefly to reply TO the gentleman from
IN. Jersey (Mr. Stockholm who had just told
the house that we went to war for free
trade and sailors rights illegal blocSades
and spoations that he will not speak of
the character of the peace, and yet in the
game breath tells as that the right Of i'm
pressment has been given up, the right of
blockade has bsen Eiyen up, and our claim
for spolistiou has been given up. should
be glad to know (said Mr.. w how ne
could more pointedly have given a characs
ter to the peace or indeed, more incorrect
iy have given that character. Sir, after
the advice of the President. to cultivate
harmony in every section Of the union, and,
indeed, when remarks tending to irritate
Great Britain lave been reduced on this
fsoor, l had hoped that remarks calculated
tD stir up the angry passions among cur
SELVES would have been forborne. Ifor one
WAS prepared TO act on the principle of
.,mncsty--to drop the curtain of oblivion on
abe past, and TO cultivate uni0n, so Deces-
sary for the harmony and prosperity CT the
ration. Sir, the war was declared to AR
rest the practice of impressment and ilie>
ssai biockades under the orders in council,
;and to obtain satisfaction for spoliaiions
objects admitted on all sides to justify the
war But the gentleman has told us that
fdley have all by the treaty been given up
...-he has forgotten his own remarks on Form
er occssions--thas Britain never claimed
the right of impressment of our seaU1en,
brst TO take her own. He has forgot that
he pressed us to put stop to the further
progress of the war, as the orders in couns
cal were revoked, x yet he says the right of
impressment has been given up--that the
sight of blockade has been given up, and no
Compensation for spoliation has been OBJ
i.ained. Sir, it will be recolecsed by all,
'!hat Great Britain never claimed the right
OF impressmeut of American seamen, and
Of course that the right would not have
been among the causes Of the war but
that she claimed the right to take Ameri-
can seamen sailing under the flag of the u
nited States, and under hretence OF that
Claim, impressed our seamen. Sir, the or
ders in Council imposing illegal blockades
were revoked almost cotemporaneously
with the declaration of war, and before she
knew It was declared, but l never had
ioubt that our preparations for the war of
(which she was informed, at the time of the
I evocatioB of the orders in council, was the
;ause of that revocation--of course these
riders in council and illegal blockades were
bandoned long before the Treaty, add of
curse it could not be necessary by treaty
effect what had been done without. by
q ie war. The fiTacdce Of impressment
was also, by the war, determined, and we
{ an never forget that the opposition con
TENDED that they had very few seamen inn
! Eressed, fewer by far than we are taught
we're given up and restored to liberty. but
sept as prisoners of war, although ca/ifur-
al in time Of htace. as their friends called
j I ask, then, il the right of impressment
{ American seamen neUer claimed has
! ieen given up ? or the right of blockade
{ Sven up without treaty, has been revived
" its not being inserted in the treaty p
Iestyi And also ask, il the claim of c.
Britain to take her own seamen has not
! zen agreed to by the treaty, If she has not
I Upon the genteman's principles, abandoned
II So much, sir, as to im2ressment and
iockades. Now upon the subject Of spo.
iatiens. / hum5ly ask, if they have not
zen remuneratedl They took 9l7 ships
time Of peace we endeavored to regain
hem by repeyin, but they were eloigned,
rather purloined, and We obtained Cas-
has in Withernam, whereby we. nave
eealy taken two thousand Of her ships,
ichly laden, Of double tue value Of OURS so
rfloined. then ask, if this be not per.
ect satisfaction, and il it would be lawful
release the ships they took after being
hrs remungrated by a condemnation on
mr Capias in Witheruam Sir, am sor