Virginia Argus

VIRGINIA ARGUS.

RICHMOND:

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1807.

THE circumstance, that Mr. Monroe, the American Minister, and Mr. Rose, the British Envoy extraordinary, are coming to this country in the same vessel, has at least a civil appearance, and may by some be considered as affording a glimpse of hope that the differences between the United States and Great Britain will be accommodated; but we cannot derive from it any consolation to the friends of peace. The King's proclamation (which is presented to our readers in this day's Argus) evinces clearly the pertinacious adherence of the British government, to principles against which every true American must forever contend. His said Majesty does indeed, virtually, though not explicitly, admit that the officers of his ships of war, have no right to search our national ships, or to take by force any seamen from thence,—but the third paragraph of his proclamation expressly commands the search of our merchant vessels, and the seizure of seamen, "who are his natural born subjects," and shall be found employed or serving on board any such vessels. He does indeed direct that no unnecessary violence shall be used in taking them; but this very expression implies that violence may be resorted to, if necessary to accomplish the object of seizure.

Thus then according to this proclamation, a man who was born in Great Britain, but had removed to America either before or since the revolution, who was one of those who fought for the establishment of our liberty, or had since been admitted to partake of its blessings—a man who was long ago naturalized as a free citizen of the United States, is now, (if found on board a merchant vessel, in the prosecution of his lawful business,) liable to be taken by force and pressed again into the service of the British despot, all allegiance to whom he has repeatedly and solemnly renounced. The single accidental circumstance of the place of his birth is to overbalance all his ties of fidelity to the government of his adopted country, and to the ship owners into whose service he has voluntarily entered. His own rights and happiness are considered as nothing; and all the fruits of his hard earned freedom contemptuously annihilated with a single dash of the pen!

We can assure Mr. Rose that the government of the United States will never consent to the continuance of such a state of things; and that, if the principles of his majesty's proclamation are insisted upon as the basis of negociation, war will not be averted by his embassy to this country.