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Editorial
March 31, 1810
Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
A signed letter 'Spectator' corrects the Argus newspaper's misrepresentation of Col. Thorndike's Senate statement, clarifying he said Britain had the right to take their own seamen from merchant vessels, not general impressment, and accuses the Argus of deceptive omission.
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OCR Quality
98%
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Full Text
Another Argus Twist.
The Argus says "Col. Thorndike, lately in our Senate, declared that Britain had the right to impress from our vessels and he hoped she would never give it up. This is a false representation. I was present at the debate to which the Argus alludes--Col. Thorndike said that Britain had a right to take from our merchant vessels their own seamen"--this and nothing more he said.
The Argus man, (whoever he be,) seems a little squeamish in this one instance of telling a full broad faced Lie, and so he goes round about to produce the effect of one.-He omits the words "merchant," and "their own seamen" whereas had he inserted them as a good christian ought to do, the sentiment would have been correct-and such as Col. Thorndike did avow, and thousands of others have avowed. I would advise the Argus man (whoever he be) to read Paley's moral Philosophy; and he will there find much excellent matter on the subject of falsehood and deception.-Spectator.
The Argus says "Col. Thorndike, lately in our Senate, declared that Britain had the right to impress from our vessels and he hoped she would never give it up. This is a false representation. I was present at the debate to which the Argus alludes--Col. Thorndike said that Britain had a right to take from our merchant vessels their own seamen"--this and nothing more he said.
The Argus man, (whoever he be,) seems a little squeamish in this one instance of telling a full broad faced Lie, and so he goes round about to produce the effect of one.-He omits the words "merchant," and "their own seamen" whereas had he inserted them as a good christian ought to do, the sentiment would have been correct-and such as Col. Thorndike did avow, and thousands of others have avowed. I would advise the Argus man (whoever he be) to read Paley's moral Philosophy; and he will there find much excellent matter on the subject of falsehood and deception.-Spectator.
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Foreign Affairs
Press Freedom
What keywords are associated?
Argus Twist
Col Thorndike
British Impressment
False Representation
Seamen Rights
Moral Deception
What entities or persons were involved?
Argus
Col. Thorndike
Britain
Spectator
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Misrepresentation Of Col. Thorndike's Statement On British Impressment Rights
Stance / Tone
Accusatory And Corrective Towards Argus
Key Figures
Argus
Col. Thorndike
Britain
Spectator
Key Arguments
Argus Falsely Claimed Thorndike Supported General British Impressment From U.S. Vessels
Thorndike Only Affirmed Britain's Right To Take Their Own Seamen From Merchant Vessels
Argus Omitted Key Words To Create A Lie
Such Deception Is Unchristian; Recommend Paley's Moral Philosophy On Falsehood