Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-06-22 00:00:00, page 2

RICHMOND,
"FRIDAY, June 33, 1810.
fcu . : »-!—rr ..^arj^.-r-TiTsli1 u ITAmm i
■ i he lettrr, of which an extract has
been first pu dished at Boston, purport*
-ing to be froai Gen. Armstrong to Mr
.Madison, has either been purloined by
a member of Congress from the confi
dential communications of the presi
dent to the legislative body, or it has
been fabricated. Mfhether genuine or'
spurious, however, it proves nothing
but what the messages of Mr Jefferson
and of Mr Madison and the public do
cuments ever since the year 1807 opfen
lv announced, to wit: the danger to
Ameiican property from the decrees
and orders of the belligerents. Wy
think it quite probable that Mr Quin
ccy could give a very clear account
how the extract wa3 obtained, if it be
. a true one ; and from the manner of i'
we should be inclined to think it has
been garbled to suit federal purposes.
The federal presses are very anxi
ous that Congress should be called
and war declared against France.
Thevhave forgotten to recollect the
murder of the Chesapeake : that, with
th«!n was only an “ affair /” If the fe
deralists had shewn a becoming spirit
againtt the British in 1807 and since,
our foreign affairs would have been
lo”gngo adjusted, and Franca would
rot have had pretext or oppor.unity for
seizing our property.
William and Mary College^
Junt 1810.
The public EXAMINATION will
commence on the 27th of this month.
ORATIONS, as usual, will be deli
vered on the 4th of July.
We hare not room in this paper
further to comment on the desp.»clu
es ; but we omnor refrain from adding,
th t ev**rv American of independent
mind must feel a pride at the firm and
lofiv tone i'' which Gen. Armstrong
vindicates his irovirnmrnt against the
unfounded insinuation* uttered a
gainst it.—Nat. let.
A lett'T from a g'ntlrmaa in New
Oclcans, to hT friend in KiiBselvilh-,
(Ken.) da ed Arril25, savs, there are
nine French privateers taken bv the IT.
States gun b'»ats, now K ing here, and
in the rivrr below, rdl for trial—many
of the French here are suspected fo
being concerned in lilting them ou
thry sailed from tr.Ls under A.ney-'i
colours.
The provincr of West Florida will
in less than two months thrj>w the -n
selves under’he p’Otecti >n of the U u
ted States, if it is consistent (or them
to ba received— if not, under the go
vernment of Mexico. Consultations
are daily holding with the g vernorat
I/Uton Rouge—none of the inhabitants
are now afraid to approach him with
propositions. They all equally des
pise Bonaparte, since they find he has
possession of Sp tin,
A letter from N w Orleans, dated
24-th May s t\s—M Oar ports is full of
French privateers ; and I fear our
trade -will experience every vexation
from them Una su -mer.”
Boston, June 6.
Yesterday (he Legislature made
choice of Benjamin Homans, Esq. of
Boston, Secretary of State ; and Tho
mas Harris, Esq. of Charlestown,
Treasurer.
The counsellors chosen from the
Senate having resigned, the following
gentlemen were elected yesterday s
Levi Lincoln, Aaron Hill,
Daniel Kilham, Marshal Spring,
Samuel Fowler, Wm. Aspinwal,
Thomas Hazard,jr. Thomas Cutta.
Martin Kinsley,
Boston, June 12.
DINNER TO MR, JACKSON.
Yesterday * largo, number of respec
table; Young Gentlemen gave a splendid
entertainment to IIi» Excellency the
fbiMsh .Ambassador at the Exchange
Coffee H'>URe. Many distinguished
guests were present be'.ide Mr. Jack
son. Henry S rg$nt, Esq. presided.
Toast of the Minister.—Commerce
without Restrictions—L berty without
J «ict nticusaees— Patriotism without
Fear.
We understand, Mr. Jaclcgon will
leave tow* this day for New-York.
gyj. ii-'Mil*. ■ „ I,t
DOMES T i C. p
<
Bost6m, Jane 7. 1
. i
All 2 o’clock his excellency the Gover
nor, attended as usual on similar occa. |
sions, met the (wo branches of (he legisla
ture in the Representatives'chamber^ and ,
delivered the following SPEEGli^
Gentlemen of the Senate, and
Gentlemen of the House of Represen
tatives, *
The independent and respeflable el
edtora or this Commonwealth, by a ma
jority of their suffrages, having honoured
me wish the office of their supreme ex.
ecutive magistrate, an honor at this peri
od increased by the existing state of our
public aCT-tire, I have accepted' the im
portant trust, with that gratitude, which
| »s doe to such distinguished confidence}
with that diffidence, which is fearful to
da wrong < and with that solicitude, which
is inseparable from a sincere desire to do
right.
In this enlightened age of the world,
the criteria for judging of rulers, are their
measures, not their piofcssionss those
only then who>e conduct is candid^ up
right* and honorable, can enjoy, either the
happiness of conscious teciilude, or the
pleasing expectation, of the approbation,
esteem and support of their fellow citi
zen- And should their rule be meritori
ous, how often do circumstances of a pub
lie nature occur, which leave to govern,
meot a choice only of evils | deeply af
fefcling the feelings and interests of the
people, and producing jealousies, discon
tents and opposition ?
Such of late has been the state of our
national concerns, and the consequent di
visions have exhibited prospeSls of seri
ous alarm. Is it not the duty of the Trus
tees and Guardians of the inestimable
rights and liberties of the people, to des
troy if possible this germ of political con
tusion, and at the shrine of public safety,
honor and welfare, to sacrifice all private
and local views, prejudices, and discordant
passions ?
i» i i..— e__i _ •_-_4t_-4- -c _
•• - Iitwu H JM jk IllWiV ui MIU l
chambers whom I address, there cannot
exist a solitary doubt that in a pursuit so
deeply intere-iing to the public tegarcL 1
less of political distinctions, they will co
operate wuh me, in attaining these impor.
tun; objects : a> d to secure success, let
the man le of friendship b«* diawn over
past obnoxious measures, and our exer.
tiona be diieclcd to prevent their repeti
tion.
Whatever may be the points of differ
ence* between the parties, in this they
will undoubtedly agree, »hat union is the
! vital pnneip'? °f liberty .• for as well may
the physical body have a being without
air, a* iks body politic of our repubi.c,
without that principle.
Font time im ntnmnal, the sue.
cessfui maxim nl ambition has been “to
divide and conquer ;** and even free go
vernments have ») far san£lioned it, for
I prove.ting th: union, ami preserving the
J subordination of .In ir colonies, as to dis
Srm’hpi? j '-ah u-ier mong (hem.
j Scebwa. the p.diey of Great U itain,
j fr. e anting the colonies winch first lorrn.
j *•** Unit-d ‘dates; a policy wiich in
1 en« t" iy period of their separation f.om
; her. expiated tt:em to imminent danger,
. sd w»» their most formidable foe.
but "he go-d sens* of the colonists
prevailed, a d with a population r.ot cx I
tend in t| two mllions of inhabitan s ; with'
ex- cu ivc. and judiciaries^ almost wholly
opposed to them with re^al troops in their i
fortresses, ci ies and p:mcipic lw.»ns, to
awe and con roul them j with few arms
a d m luary stores; and without public
funds, or an organized g vernment to
condu6\ their operations; they t dopted
this motto ** uni.ed we stand, divided
we fail and their unioHj successfully
commenced, and triumphantly termina.
.ed 'he revolutionary war, [fad a partv
npiri' (hen prevailed, it would have been
tala! t it would h^ve plunged the patriots
into the abyss of irretrievable servitude ;
it wojld have exchanged their exalted sta
lion of man for that of senseless Automa
ta — and even cemented as the United
States now ure, by excellent federal and
*'a o constitutions, if the invisible hand
of foreign influence, or if deep.roo ed do
mestic p ejudices and animosities should
obtain (he ascenda cy, they Will too late
discover, that the loss of union, is the loss
of liber-y ; for however remote we are
from Nations, or lulled ty the prospect ol
their .friendship, should our un on be des
troyed intestine wars must ensue, end
soon convert this beautiful populous, and
cultivated country, into a barren depopu
latid waste.
llu will not foreign powers, viewing as
thvy do these floutishing commercial
six es with ths invidious eye ofeornpeti
tors, seize the first favorable opportuni y,
for destroyir.g their compe’ition f And
with what ease will they efTefit it, should
on© seceding section of the confederacy,
requiring an equal l umber to oppose it,
leave but a remnant of ths nation to resist
foreign invasion f
If we take m view of the two giglntic
cnmbmtants of Kutope, France and Great
Britain ; nations to whom all o lie s are
most indebted far their progress in arts
and sciences, and for those useful d.sco
veues and improvements which adorn so.
ciety and promote humane happiness;
nations unrivalled by b*ml and by sea ;
who in their conSi^s have nearly ties toy
ed the independence of c*»n nental K trope
and threaten that of the other quarter of
the glt.be j «{ we reflect on the measures
f their mighty governments, w» cannot
00 deeply regret that they have lost sight ,
>f their own dignity and honor ; or Why 1
lo th«y not apply the powers entrusted
hem by divine providence, to complete,
tot the misery, but the happiness of man ?
Why do they not immortalise their lame
>y recording it, not on the sorrowful
ombs of slaughtered millions, not on the
iesolate ruins of mournful principalities;
kingdoms and empires-^but on the bril
liant pag:s of illustrious philantropist-, on
the durable annals of the great, the good,
the God-like benefa&ors of man ? To the
civilized world the answer is a subeject
of the deepest tegret and grief.' Inordi
nate ambition and power allies on the land,
allies bn the ocean, are as insatiable and
unmeroifai at the relentless-grave. Un
parallelled wealth, agriculture, manufac
tures, and commerce, but lurnish endless
magazines of fuel to feed the unouench
able flante of Ambition ; and power, law
less and boundless power, is on both sides
implicitly obedient lo her sovereign Will.
Obligations of every kind, political, mo.
ral and religious, arising from the rights
of neutrals, from the most solemn treaties,
from public law in general, and from hu
manity itself, are negleCfed, cancelled &
treated with ineffable contempt, every
beam of hope that national justice Would
resume her elevated station, has been
ephemeral-"glittering in the mornj it has
been dim at noon, and extinft in the
eve.
France has charged Great Britain with
the establishment of a despotic commer
cial monopoly ; and ha3 viewed ter own
conduft, as the meritorious effect of a
magnanimous volunteer, in a common
cause, to defeat the measure. The King
of Great Britain in leturn has charged
Franee with the fabrication of this as a pre
text to cover her deep designs of universal
domination. Neighboring nations, by
their vibrating conduct towards these
mighty belligerents, have declared that
both are in the right, and both in tha wrong
—■and the U. 9. careful to offend neither,
1 _ _r . . . ... •;
1'ti umiviim KJixuuui) muivmeu ;
the friendship ot each. May their laudable
endeavors be crowned with merited sue*
cess !
France previously (• her revolutionary
war, lor a series of years, trembled at the
rod of mighty Britain. The unparalelled
event has reversed the scene, and France
thercatens the overthrow of her great
enemy —The Emperor Napoleon has in
substance declared it. Napoleon that
great arbiter of ihe East is a most lor.
m'dable foe t His equals is not to be found
in the annals of man. Other monarchs
have been called great t but as a states
man & warrior, he is super.cminent. He
is a prodigy of human nature. He is view
ed bv his enamics as a comet of the first
magnitude} at a distance, they admire
ihe awful grandeur of both, but the ap
proach of .either they dread, as the pre- j
cursor of certain destruction.
Thus unhapppily circumstanced is G.!
Britain, and sho views her safety in war.
*»be conceives that by a peace her great i
and only na'ional safeguard, her Navy,!
must be dismantled; that her numerous
f >reign seamen must return with joy to.
i heir native shores; that her national sea
men, in part, will be compelled to seek
employment abroad; and that when im*
pvrious nccessi y shall again require htr
navy, in its present vigorous state an event
which would rapidly follow, the measure
would be impracticable, and the result her
conquest. Her eagle-eyed statesman afit'
on ihis principle, and have declared it. J
They have even declared that a peace I
must establish their national safety ; and
this they view as a political impossibility.
On the part, then, ofthe United States,
will not good policy look forward to the
continuance of a war^in the participation
of which they have been, and will conti.'
nue to be in danger.
Each of these tremendous powers^ pre- j
sents itself at different times to United A
rncrica. wiih the -it.~i.rr.-n. r „
disinterested admirer* But are not ditin*
gtnuous and inexhorable competitors ?
And however impartially the may con
duct towards them, when cither merely
suspe&s (hat she favors (he ether, is not
a juulou* phrenzy thereby excited, urging
the decree of American destruction ? In
such imminent danger, is there not an in*
dispensable necessity of union?
Shall W• not th;n cordially invite
the other great department of our go
vernment, the judiciary, containing
our luminaries of law, the able and
learned counsellors and practitioners
at the bar—our respectable and pious
instructors, the clergy, whose love of
country ahd promotion of union during
the revolution, is a pledge of their sup
port—lhe citizens of the Other learned
profession, who, at that eventful pe
riod, in patriotism aad prowess were
interior to none—-our respectable and
wealthy farmers, merchant?, manufac
turers h mechanics, whose ruin would
be completed by intestine commotions,
shall we not invite them all to aid in
the preservation of our union ?
Will not this desirable measure, if
commenced by government, be sup
ported by the constitutional sovereigns
of the land, the people? Will not eve
ry friend to his country recollect the
sacred truth, “ that an house divided
against itself cannot stand”? Will he
not determine lor himself to relinquish
a party system, and the practice of
misrepresenting and unjustly repro
bating his political opponents ? Will
he not magnanimously impute to his
fellow-citizen? in opposition* a mista
ken zeal aud patriotism* and cot hall*.’
embrace them ? Will he noUdiscoun
tenance every attempt to wound" the
dignity of the pres«. that great palladi
um ofliberty, when urg>d ter prosti
tution and abuse ? And will not in
ternal peace andhappmkss>’will,ttot or
der at home and respectability abroad,
be thus again restored, to this great and
respectable state ?
Washington* the immortal Wash
ington, by h.is farewell address on the
subject* an address worthy of record
oh a tablet of adamant, calls on yoa in j
strains of iri;psistible eloquence to pre
serve your National Union.
"I he great and good Adam?, with
his capacious mind and extensive in
fluence, follows the bright example of
the father aud friend oi his country to
preserve that inestimable blessing.—
And may we not hope that Divine
Providence, so often our Almighty
friend in distress, will afford us aid
and sUpport, and grant an happy issue i
The next object of importance, to which,
fintleihen, permit me to call your atten
tioiij is the militia. Unprepared to enter
into details, my observations must be gen
eral. 1 lie militia is the great depositary
of our liberty and Independence; it is the
first and last hope of onr country. Let the
militia be inefficient, aud sudden will be our
transition to slavery*
Previously to the revolution, the greatest
care was taken to keep ihe militia in an
unorganised and torpid state. Indeed in
this and other provinces, patriotic exerti
ons were made with little effect to coun
teract this slavish policy, But the provln..
cial executives, always opposed to the in
terests of the people, appointed millitia
officers, subservient to regal purposes l and
when war with ihe mother country was in
evitable, one of the first important mea
sures adopted, was the 're-organisation of
the whole militia. Since lliai period, this
state by its own authority, and afteyw^rds
in subbrdinatfan to the federal government
have paid a marked attention to the sub
* ii* icsuic uh8 aoHe uonor to both
governments / their measures have excited
that martial spirit which merits every at.
tentinn and encouragement.
The materials composing the militia, are
independent aspiring citizens; whose ambi
tious minds never were, and with the ut.
most confidence it is hoped never will be
subdued by ioreign dom nation. Infinitely
will they prefer to finish their existence
with immortal honor in the field, to a sur
render of their beloved country to haughty
and tyrannical invaders—a country tu'e
birth.right of themselves and of those most
dear to them.
Such materials for officers and privates,
are not exceeded, it equalled, on the globe.
Organized, armed, accoutred, and clad,
they ere in this State as well disciplined as
the nature of the case will admit. But :s
it not possible to complete their discipline i
And is :t not an object worthy of every at
tention, and requisite expense?
The rcvolutionry army. for several rears
after it was formed, was but an establish. I
ed militia; and yet n:ver was an army '
composed of more meritorious officers and
privates. It is deeply to be regretted that
their service* were not better rewarded.
Their exertions to attain di.cinline did
them great honor ; bat until the arrival of
a disciplinarian from the family of Freder.
ick the great, the measure was impracti.
cable. By Ins skill, military order sprang
out of confusion, American corps were soon
equal if not superior to veteran enemies,
and these were convinced that our federal
grounds were too sacred to be trodden by
foreign invaders.
Should measures he pursued with success
In all the S.nles to attain this very impre
tant object, and our union unimpiared and
confirmed, be supported by a completely
d »ciplintd militia, then may the U. States,
in their defence, biddcfi-nce to the world,
and rest in s*leiy.
I teel, gentlemen, the obligation of duty,
to turn your attention, for a moment, to the
federal government.
Previously to the revolution, when clouds
_I In.,..! _1_I _ _ _
pest, it was predicted by ministerial ad
versaries, that our federal league *< would
be a rope of $£nd.” This, in a great de.
gree was verified by the form of the con.
federation. The change from that to the
federal constitution, applied powerfully to
the feelings and interests of the communi.
ty at large, and produced the necssity of an
| accommodation. This, having been wise,
ly adopted, and the requisite amendments
having bean sanctioned, a system of fade.*
ral government exists, Whicn embraces the
general, and nearly the universal appro
bation of tho people.
The first candidate for president, unit
ed the public suffrages; but in regard to
his successors, divisions ensued, being the
result of the different territorial, commer.
cial and political views and interests of the
states— which in the beginning had little or
no activity, Tho peace, order and digni
ty which, nevertheless prevailed in the fe
deral elections,and the highest panegyrics
on the people, and on the form of their go
vernment.
We have in the federal chair a preni.
dent, whose enlighted mind, and whose mor
al, social and political virtues qualify loin
in a supereminent degree, for that impor.
tant station. If any nation can boast of a
chief magistrate wl’h superior talents for
promoting pub'ic happ’ness, it is not wit'iin
the recollection or knowledge of the per.
son addressing you. Of what consequence
Is It, whether a presidmt whs born on this,
or on that side of Potbrmc ? Are not tne
U. States one great political family—ex*
quisitely alive to fl.e least commo i injury,
and to the conduct of government for re.
moving it ?
When we consder nlso the respectable
' characters which fall the other great rx
j uitive offices, and those cf the legislative
i and judicial departmrnts, are ihey r.ot so
j far as character has a claim, justly unlit
led to our highest respect, confidence ar.d
support? From men l*t as turn cur sum*
t>on to measures—let os view the ennfun
of the federal government, from ins ti.-st
burst of the Gallic volcano, to tbs day_
*<t Os look at them on the honorable gruiiccl
ol neutrality, charged,in turn, by emu bel*
ligerent, with mean degrading partiality,
and repelling with dignity, the unprovoked
attack,. See our federal rulers, robed m
justice and honor, whilst Europe, convuls
ed to the centre, iias bten in one great .
blase of war, prvserv.ng^ fur- a series of
years, their unoflendinj; states in peace!
Behold them, in the choice of uiiavo.du.ote
evils, struggling with the impatience anti
afft etions ot the people, under the painful,
but indispensible op .ration, for preset vtntg
the vital fluid of the nation, their active
property / And then ifct us declare the
judgment of candor And truth on the con
duct of our government.
Whil.twe admit, that there is no
perfection in human nature, and that
the greatest men do often err; let us
not construe the errors of honest func
tionaries into crimes; let us place in
the opposite scale, their meritorious
acts, and at least give them full credit
for the balance. When this is done,
may we n_.t with truth declare, that
the federal government have done well,
and are good and faithful servants of
the public?
The provisions, made by the con
stitution and laws for the establishment
aud promotion of literature, religion,
morality, and the social virtues, sup
ported as they have been, and assured
ly fvill fee by government, cannot fail
to attain their desirable objects. They
are the true and only sources of pre- ’
s«nt and future happiness* Without
these qualities, what is man? A living
sepulcre, with a fair and deceitful ex*
terior, and an impure and polluted
mind} apd possessed of them, is he
notthe noblest work of God.” IIow
important then to society, is the patron*
age o| government for the institution
and support of schools, academies and
colleges ? These are the inexhausti
Kb iv...~ *■ .._ •_ ,
£3 w uuv. luuriftizty
and literature ; and il.e solid foundati
on of liberty, national honor, and putu \
lie happiness.
In the channels of husbandry and
commerce, flows in a great measure
the active property of this State. These
are natural allies, the aid of one, is in
diipensable to the other, and it is for
tunate for both, that there is a coinci
dence of friendship and interest be^
tweeif them. They are the great pil
lars of this commonwealth, and not a
right of either ought to be invaded, or
impaired, whilst she, in subordination
to the general government, has an aim
to protect them.
Industry and economy, these great
sources of wealth, cannot be too much
encouraged and supported. Happily
for this country, they in numerous in
stances, are inlisted in the service of
manufacturers and mechanics. These
valuable and important olasses of our
fallow citizens, have a just demand oa
government, for every reasonable cn
cduragemem and support. Their pur
suits are practicable patriotism, and
whilst fur national and state parch
ments, establish our independence of
right, their measures, more solid, are
establishing for us an independence in
deed.
When we reflect that the United
States are in possession of numerous
blessings, political, civil and religious,
many of which arc not enjoyed by any
other nation ; that we are remote from
those scenes of war and carnage hy
which Europe is vested in sable ; that
we enpy the uncontrouled rieht, on
__m_... r._ .1
r J'*'*'' v H UV i v J iv/ IV/|lllf <U"
ter, and carry in!o effect our federal i>c
state constitutions; that founded on
them and on law, there exists a spirit
of toleration, securing to every one the
undisturbed rights of conscience, and
the free exercise of religion ; that
the people, at fixed periods, have the
choice bf thVir rulers and can remove
those who do wrong; that the mentis
of education in all i’s branches, are li
beral, general and successful; that
their national strength, resources and
powers, by proper arrangements, may
render these states invincible ; that by
our husbandr y commerce, manufac
tures and mechanical arts, the wealth
of this country almost surpasses credi
bility : let us not he prompted by iny
prudent z.-alots of,any inscription to
Hazard the irretrievable loss of all, or
ol any of thcac inestimable blessings ;
but let us secure them forever, with
the aid of divine Frovid.nee, by rally
ing around die standard of our nation
al government, and by encouraging 8c
establishing a martial spirit, on tne
s d id I our elation of internal peace, or.
der and concord.
Accept, gentlemen,’ I pray you, my
I unfeigned th mks, for your patience J
! on this occasi n; which I consider as ■
J % pledge of your future liberality to
wards me. Unnecessary, an my ob
* Tvatiom may be, in regard to infor.
muioa to ourselves, they have afford*
vtl me an opportunity of discharging
my obligations to the public, by urdhid- \ —
ing matters which may have impress
ed your minds with much, if not \vj*.K
equal importance* As the scas/n rc.