Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-17

tiles would probably be involved by an
adherence to them. As an example, we
mentioned the great extra duty, to which, |
as we understood, The article of cotton
was liable, by the British laws, when i'm
ported III foreign vessels. and which, i'll
persisted in,wouid certainly be met BY
some sountervaiiing regulations.
With respectto the trade to British In
dia, we observed, that We had no equiva-
lent to offer for it that it was for Great
Bfitain to consider, whether commerce,
consisting as it did, almost entirely in the
exchange OF our specie for India produce,
was not of a nature to deserve the most
liberal encouragement; bat, that we had
rather enter into no stipulation on the sub
ject than be restricted toa direct inter
course as had been proposed by the unra-
tiled treaty, both on the outward and re-
turn voyage.
On the other subject, the rights and du-
ties, OF the parties, one being at war, and
the other in a condition of peace, we pro-
ceeded to remark, that whilst the prospect
OF long European peace appeared to ex-
Iist, as was the case when the treaty of
Ghent was concluded. it was less impor-
tan. to provide for questions arising under
this head. But it was impossible to shut
our eyes to the demonstrations every where
making OF new war, which, If il should
assume maritime character, might n. ain
menace the harmony and good understand
ling between the two countries. IL was de-
slrable therefore, to anticipate and pro-
vide for the evil. The first and most i'm
portant point was that Of impressment. G.
britain had always professed Willingness
to receive and consider any proposition
which America should be disposed TO make
on that subject. 1t would, perhaps, be un-
profitable at this time to go intoa discus
sion OF the right, as to which we would
merely remark, that it was impossible that
| there could be a stronger conviction on the
part OF Great Britain, that it was with her,
than there was on the part of America,
| that it was on her side. 1t was better to
look to some practical arrangement, by
which, without concession of right by eth
er party, the mischiefs complained of or
both sides might be prevented. To this
| end the attention of our government has
been turned. We believed that Great
Britain had never therefore contended
that the American government was bound
to prohibit the merchants of the United
States from employing foreign seamen, any
more than 1t was bound to forbid their Ship
ping contraband articles. America was.
however, now willing to take upon herself
such All obligation, and to exclude British
seamen from her merchant service, and
we believe such exclusion might be as ef-
fectually executed as our revenue laws
Here we called their attention to the act
which congress had passed on that subject,
and to the message of the president to that
body towards the close of its last session.
upon the supposition, that if the exclusion
vi British seamen should be absolute and
entire, there would no longer exist any
ground tor the claim of impressment, and
OF course no objection to its abandonment
We stated, that besides the motive which
existed with our government of guarding
against collision with Great Britain, anoth.
er powerful one operated, that of encour-
agelng our native seamen, and of not being
obliged TO rely on the uncertain supply of
foreigners. To this system, as substitute
Tor that otimpressment it did not appear
to us that Great Britain could object, un-
less it was thought to be impracticable in
its execution. We have had no doubt our
selves, that even admitting that there
might be, as in cases Of smuggling, occa- |
siOnal instances of evasion of the system off
exclusion it wouId nevertheless be, upon
the whole, much more favorable in its re-
suit to Great Britain. This system would
apply to, and operate upon, every Ameri |
can vessel whilst that Of impressment
reached only the cases of those vessels
with which itaccidentaIl came in contact.
We were aware of the difficulties which
had heretofore opposed satisfactory ar
rangement on this subject. Still it was one
OF such vital Importance, SO tending to
bring the two cOuntries into collision, that
it was impossible il should receive consi |
deration too earnest and too anxious.
The next point which it seemed to us im-
portant to settle, was the trade Ut America
with the colonies of the enemies of Great
Britain. Towards the end of the last Eu-
ropean war, questions growing out of that
trade had been terminated by the conquest
of those colonies by Great Britain, but ma
ny OF them having been restored at the
peace, the disputes which heretofore exist
ed might again arise. The former ar
Engagements on this subject might, with
some notifications, serve as basis.
We then stated, that we did not intend.
in this preliminary and unofficial converse
ton, to discuss the other points belonging
to this branch of the subject. A definition
of blOckades was desirable and could not,
itseemed, be attended with much difficulty.
as we believed that there was no real DIFF