Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-11-17


and had embraced the golden opportunity
Of inyigora,ing their resources, while the
overgrown nations were exhaus,ing
theirs.
This has been the we determination
OF America; and it has bcen her rare fell
city to carry this determination into effefl.
The infatuated councils OF one man carried
her to the precipice from vii ch 50 many
nations have fallen but thanks TO the SUI
preme Being, the wisdom OF another has
snatchcd her from ruin.
The means of this preservation do not,
IN all their details, appear. The usage of
nations keep them in most cases from the
public eye. We cannot, therefore, step
oy step, number the mesSures~or our go
vernment in It's intercourse with foreign
powers. We canno, see the wisdom with
which II timed its demands, the spirit with
which, at a Fit season, itmged. or the pru-
dence with which it appeared for time
To wave them we cannot see DISPLAYED
the happy union of dignity and mo-, Grafton
so important to the harmony of sovereign
powers we cannot see the vigilance which
seized all fit occasions, and the talen,
which made thc most Of them, 10 advance,
by Just means, the Interests of orr coun-
try,--These may perhaps, receive the
need OF justice. by some future historian
who shall have access to The public records
when secrecy may no longer be useful.
But what is most important we contcm.
plate, SO Far rs time has allowed, their
great and happy effects. We contemplate
our country prosperous within, and COM
handing among the nations Of The earth
higher estimation than she has ever before
enjoyed.
Let it be recoliecled too that Ills rare
distinction of young nation has been Sc
cured without the surrender OF single
right, orlhe slightest violation of the mos,
pun6tilious honor. Like other nations
we may not have conquered peace az the
cannon's mouth but we have secured il
by far nobler ,neans, by means which God
and justice sanction.
With one other ration Of Europe we
have had some difference. Spain, owing
probably TO the fcebleness OF her power
more than to hostile sentiments suffered
considerable spUiation 20 be committed
by private vessels on our trade about the
time that similar deprsdations were com.
nitted by France. The circumstances
of our government during The presidency
OF Mr.. Adams having proved unavailing,
the new administration were gharged with
enforcing them. Measures 10 tlns entG
were Immediately taken with what pros.
pet Of success does not appear, when an
0blect OF vast Importance 10 the whole Of
America claimed the attention. Of the 90
vernment. This obie6t, The secure navi-
cation Of the Mississippi, from lis magni-
tude, justified 4 superior attention 10 all
others: and we may well suppose that in
its prosecution minor objects for time
received but subordinate regai ID The
slowness with which the Spanish rnonar-
chy acts is well known, and this likewise
tended to delay the negotiations. Not
with7andng however, these Obstacles,
they issued in d convention, whose raif-
cation; as well as provisions, have beenla,
~ so copiousIy discussed, as TO supersede
in this place all further notice.
The only h0stiiities into which we have
been drawn are with Tripoli, 1t does not
appear that this rupture arose from the
neglect Of any means on the part Of our
government calculated to avert it; and il
Will be allowed that the war, TO which II
has given birth, has been pursued with
such spirit as completely to protect the
american trade, without mourning. until
the present year, any expense beyond that
requisite for the ordinary naval establish
roent. Through all It's vicissitudes the
honor Of the American hag has been up
held by the valor and skill of our searGen {;
and, in a recent instance, their conduct
has inspired The respect Of the world.
\ misfortune, il is true, to which all ma
tons are liable, has befallen US but we
are greatly mistaken If this disaster will
not be improved to strike ssiutsry ter
ror into the pirates of The Mediterranean,
and thereby to command lasting peace.
But that measures, which OF all others
is the most highly appreciated, and which
OF all others deyclopes wider excrtion Of
talent and power than any other, is the
acquisition NJ louisiana. 10 DO this act
foil justice IL is proper to view j. rs form
ing part Of the general measures Of the
administration.
We have seen that the INST conduct Of
the administration he'd laid The foundation
Of mutual confidence between the United