Virginia Argus

Pennsylvania, July, 1800.
FROM THE NEWARK CENTINEL.
Halloo! Messmates Peters,
AS the crew of the Federal ship will
shortly be piped on deck to choose a com-
mander for the next quadrennial voyage,
I wish you to tell them my reason, for not
holding up my hand for John Adams, our
present commander,
Because he promised the ship's crew,
when he took the command, that liberty
should be his polar star, and the constitution
his compass; instead of which he has been
guided by the false meteors of commentaries
and speculations, by the ill-conceived
advice of a professed aristocrat.
Because, when he got out of his latitude,
and every sea showed rocks which rose
on every side, and threatened to wreck us.
when some of our old seamen, who had been
many a voyage, and understood the use of
the compass, and navigation perfectly, proved
to him that if a head wind did not prevent
him, he would be drawn into the whirlpool
of faction, or have to run his vessel into the
harbour of monarchy—he threatened to
hang them at the yard arm if they ever in-
terfered again; and actually confined some
of our ablest hands under the hatches for
many months, merely for speaking a little
disrespectfully of him and his mates,
Because, when he saw a ship in distress,
and her hands leaving her in boats, he re-
fused to take them on board, unless he was
permitted to throw them overboard, whenever he
might choose to suspect them of the inten-
tion of raising a mutiny; so that many
of these poor fellows, rather than trust to
his clemency, chose to stay on the wreck
though it was every moment expected to
sink. Thus though our vessel was scant of
hands we were deprived of the assistance we
needed of these honest fellows,
who could reef a sail, spike a gun, man the
round top, or work a pump as well as the
best of us. And it is even said (though it
is not known to a certainty, that he threw
some overboard wantonly, who had escaped
from the wreck in a former voyage, and
were hospitably entertained by George
Washington, then commander of the federal
ship.
Because, he gave orders for battle, called
the hands on deck, formed a corps of
marines and midshipmen, and hung out the
bloody flag, when not an enemy was in
sight; he having mistaken a large merchant-
man, who had some turbulent fellows on
board, that had hung out a signal for chase
merely to try the mettle of our commander,
for an enemy's ship.
Because, he suffered an enemy to board us,
take part of our hands, and rob us of our
views, insult our flag, and abuse the
crew, without even remonstrating with the
captain of the enemy, or showing any resentment.
that he knew him to be a pro-
fessed pirate and though his own men and
metal were so far superior to the pirates, that
he might have sunk him at one broadside.
to the bottom of the ocean, and thus pre-
vented any future insult or piratical depre-
dations.
Because, he chooses so many mates, and
makes so many officers, who all have extra
wages and double rations, that our sea
stores will be consumed, and our naval chest
exhausted, long before we get to the port of
destination.
Because, so far from making a profitable
voyage, we shall have lost several millions of
dollars: the expense of hands to work the
vessel, since he took the command, has been
so great,
For these, and a number of other reasons,
I think it the duty of every American tar,
to withhold his vote from John Adams; and
for the following reasons I think it his duty
to bestow it upon Thomas Jefferson:-
Because he was the man who laid the
keel of our first rate ship independence, and
assisted at the launch of the Federal ship.
Because, when he was steward of the Fe-
deral Ship, in her first voyage, George
Washington commander, he kept fair ac-
counts open to the inspection of any of the
crew, paid their wages regularly, tho' not
before they were due; and behaved in so
honest and honourable a manner when at-
tempted to be boarded by a Frenchman and
an Englishman, that they both sheered off
again, after receiving a discharge of small
arms under his direction-
Because, in the present voyage, in which
he is mate, his behaviour has been consis-
tent and peaceable; and knowing that our
vessel was not rigged for war, and that
she had a very valuable cargo on board, he
has uniformly, though prudently opposed
coming to an engagement, as we had every-
thing at stake, and could gain nothing.
Because he has uniformly proved himself
to be a courageous and judicious seaman, &
one under whose conduct we may make pro-
fitabie voyages and happy returns. One
who, while he will avoid all unnecessary ac-
tions, will never suffer any ship to be boarded
while he has a shot in his locker or a man
on deck: one who will never tack, but
making the constitution his guide, and truth
his compass, will bring us peacefully at last
into the port of perfect national happiness
and freedom where we may lie on our oars;
and toast our girls in bumpers of unexcised
whiskey.
Now all you American tars who prefer
the latter for your captain, throw up your
weather-beaten hats, and shout.
Huzza for America, Jefferson, and
LIBERTY!
JACK OAKUM.
Constitution Roads, 4th year
of the quadrennial voyage.
From the GENIUS
OF LIBERTY.