Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-02-15
d" POLITICS.

no 10 ulS grand OBJECT winch prin.
cipaliy interests the minds of men in the
United States of America. The tom Of
the government. the habits If The people,
and the wonderful revolutionary events
which have occurred, both ia America and
Europe, within the memory Of the prescnu
generation, serve to fix their attention
more strongly on this Object, and 10 nuk,
1t dear 10 their hearts.
Comparatively, the fewlast months have
passed away IN remarkable tr:nuuIil -.
The general ascendancy acquired by lie
republican over the federal party seems
to have eXt;nguishcd much of that AMI
mostly which might have been expected 20
prevail II the contentious had been main
FAMED with nearly equal numbers. The
large, mistaken and augmented maioritics
III favor OF the republican interest, e3ll,i-
Oited at most of the elections, eyince a de-
cision among the pcopie Concerning their
political sentiments which does not aprcar
likely To be speedily reversed.
Ihe most fruitful source OF alteration
among the parties for the last six
months, has been The proceedings Of The
national Legislature and executive, on The
SUBJECT OF The dispute with Spain, concern-
In5 New Orleans. fhe sudden withheld
ing OF the right OF deposit at that place.
which had been sol nIniy stipulated by
treaty, created a strong sensation in tie
minds OF The people Of the Omitted States.
4 doubt, however, early arose whether
this h~arranlaEie acl originated iron. ;Le
! lhtendant OF Louisiana, or from, The S1a-
ni'h court. Whilc this question remain-
ca undsclced, the government ofthe Unit
@d otates deemed it more advisable to at
tempt settlement of the differences bv
negotiation, than abruptly 10 adopt forci-
Die measures which my HI lead 10 q war.
( hey therefore determined 10 take such
! precautionary and preparatory steps IS
would provide against the worst, and at
the same time TO open negotiation.
! Bat ne opposition, observing the pom.
larity VI the economical aud other saiutarv
reforms undertaken by the present admi-
"is''alioh' ana despanlng Of all means but
foreign "arto unhinge system resting
upon 80 deep foundation, crupioyed eve
~ means IN their powsr 10 p5eciptate tho
nation into hosulilSs with Spain. For
tiis purpose the disContents and laur,n,rs
OF The people Of The " Western States. more
, immediately sufcring the Inconvenience
and prvatIons resulting from the suspen-
SION oi the deposit al New Orleans, were
warmly cherished and encouraged: and
'Ilhls Of 40 equivccal meaning we're indus
lriouaiy thrown out, that they onght them.
selves without waiting for the concurrence
or authority OF the government, to provide
remedy, and that hostile one, for the
existing restriction on their trade. The
suggestions, though well calculated to qra-
t''y The feelings OF The moment, Obtained no
SUCCESS. he Western States, strongly
attached to the administration, to republi-
can principles, 10 the authority of the con-
stltutIon, TO law and to order, refused TO lis
ten 10 propositions so destructive to evetv
thing that ireemen mold most dear. Thus
The affair was quietly leil 10 The ope alton
OF the circumstances which the govern
inent mad early transmitted 10 the court
of Madrid.
AT length the order oC the king orSpain
arrived, the conduGl of the InteIdant was
dlsavowed, and The right Of deposit entire
ly restored. Thus The business was ter
minated with much more dispa.cb Than
could possibly have been done bv aDy ar
raugemeit of violent measures, aud WIN.
out any breach OF ~ good understanding
between the two nations.
The efforts of the l-deralists To involve
the United States in the cala,nilies of
war, were, on this occasion, prompt, bold
ana peFsevcring. Their disappointment
indicates degree good sense, modera-
ucn and reflection, in the great body OF
the people which does them much honor,
and 1h'ch, unfortunately Tor mankind. il
not always displayed by a nation, when
theIr passions arc reused by a sense OF in
jury.
Ii will not appear surprising tina, this
di3tote WITH Spain was he grand TOPIC Of
discnssi"n M the newspapers, and OF de-
bate in %. national legislature, for several
n,,o"t"s During this agitation a pam
phle,ap appeared undervery singular circum-
stances, lnttuled An address TO the eo-
vern'nent of the United 3tates or the ces-
SION OF Louisiana To tho French; and on
he laie breach of treaty by the Spaniards.
including the translation Of a memorial on
the war Of S.. Domingo, and the cessioa
oil The Mississippi TO France, drawn up bv
a Itcnch councillor OF stale" The oh