Virginia Argus

FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.

IMPRESSED SEAMEN.

It is required by the enemy that upon the ocean, on the wilderness of waters, created for the equal use of all, we shall acknowledge her right to examine every one of our own men, from head to foot, in looks and in language, like negroes! like the poor oppressed Africans, that they shall be mustered upon the decks of our own vessels, by our own captains! by whom is this inquisitorial power to be exercised? by the most ignorant and arrogant of a jealous and piratical people, by every officer in the service of impudence and power, whoever captain Dacres or any other braggart may think fit to send on board for the purpose of insult and complaint, to ask "who governs the d--d Yankees now? And how long do you think the states will hang together."*

The British Brute who can use this slang with the greatest readiness is selected for the judge of who is and is not "a British subject" This is called "a maritime right," and submission "in extenso," is insisted upon. May that tongue that would express consent, never speak, to damn the fair possession of our freedom. Yet there are men, calling themselves Americans, Bonds, and Moores, and Allens, who advise us to acquiesce!

Notwithstanding Great Britain is herself in well known and open practice, not only of employing but impressing foreigners of every other nation, the United States have conceded to prohibit their being received on board our vessels, public or private, from the termination of the present war If therefore the real undisguised object of Great Britain be, to prevent the adoption of her seamen, in this act she will perceive the olive branch again presented, as to this point on her own terms. Hence must it be expected, if her allegations have been sincere, that she will cease this outrage on our independence. propose a cessation of hostilities by sea and land, and thereby arrest the numbers who will otherwise be daily added to the list of naturalized citizens.

Beyond this act the United States cannot go. Never let it be said, that our pledge to posterity is forfeited, our blood forgotten, which flowed to free our offspring from fetters to satisfy the jealousy, the malice, or the pride of an inveterate and falling foe.-- Would not the ravenous vultures of commerce and the sea renew their aggravating examinations? report the whippings, the lacerating blows inflicted on the national character? Revive with renovated haughtiness the insulting claim to prescribe the mode in which we shall plough the highway of Heaven. Whom our functionaries may know to be native Americans, her domineering officers would assert to be subjects! Who could be arbiter in such a case? The great English Paley observes "it would be absurd to refer the decision to those whose conduct provoked the question."

To recede from our refusal to submit, or waver in the firm vindication of our rights is to acknowledge this monstrous pretence to be just! Can any American, can any rational reflecting man, admit that a contract entered into according to our own laws, upon our own ground, should be submitted to be judged of and broken, by an ignorant foreigner, whom we never saw or heard of?- That a fellow who can scarcely write his own name. or speak the English language, should be judge of ours? sole umpire--and take out of our vessel to strengthen the force of his own, whoever he pleases? When, in every case, it is his interest to infringe our rights, under pretence of maintaining his own. Submission is followed by plunder, legalized by blockades, refused by violence, and both by promotion and applause.

A manly, becoming, united effort, insures us victory, secures us justice,--peace, free commerce and seamen's rights will immediately succeed.

GHOST OF MONTGOMERY.

* This question was actually put to an American, taken out of his own ship, by the captain of a British frigate.