Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-11-24
From the Ms4lovAL Isr1LLlcsvvl.s,.
I . I II = 2 l. CPL {.
TIE ID e re WCR.
No. XVII,

! .
On the existence vi these sentiments,
i'as Il foundation, the great negotiation re-
speeding the nagis alton Of The Ms,issip ii
| commenced.
TINS object had ever been foremost in
the thoughts o. the President; it may not
he incorrect TO suppose that its vast poll
! 'iG,,i Importance no less justified 1t 10 his
Judgment, than his affection for the peo-
pie oil hrntucky principally taken from
the bosom OF iIIs native state. RECOMMENDS
ded 1t TO has heart. It is cel tam that II
determined the designation u. Mr.. Pluck
ney as minister 10 AlAdrd. The strenu-
Gus eXertions OF this cliiZeo IA the Old
congress, IN promoting The free navigate
on of the MISSISSIPPI, were not forgotten.
I II mas been said that Il was emin-niy ow-
hg 10 them that the occ.u,ion OF Inc river
/ tor lOhs period Wa frustrated. What
! was done at Madrid does no, distinctly
/ aPJear- That a,cgOciauon was conmisn-
! ccq Il an early period ~ CERTAIN; 4 Il that
THIS hesOcIaiiou reodercl the mind, of
that cabinet and that % France familiar
wi.h tie subject IS eX remedy PROB 4U.e.-
AJo this pcriod,-tk sing of Span ceded
, Louisiana to France, undvra secret frc1Is.
/ IhIs Circumstance a,tehdai5 the cesa,ou
has been varioGsIy interpreted; aud IN the
I period ot 1iarIn mas been construed as T.
"idencc OF at lntetuon On the part al the
/ French government 90 disturb thc peace
oi Inc Cuited States through s. = l.Irahs oil
/ SPAN, who still RETAINED Possession OF the
country But belther iaCts nor considera-
tio"s OF policy iayOr ,He v~isIencc oil such
| a ulotsSe. AOund;,nt reasons Tor secrecy
/ is found in the inab,i>y of France 10 PIE
serve The colony iron British seizure -
: and hence il WIS wisely determined by
! France not To deciate it hers unri! tho
peace with En., la.ld should 6e better co.s-
soiIdated, Oh lne trsach ..laf.uG le-usta.
/ b,isheu.
| In this state OF things ON the l7th OF
! October, 500, the right oG deposit II New
! Orleans WAS suspended III TIC op4.ls. ~
tendanL
| TWO alternatives were presented TO Us
war, OF negocia ion. FOR on one point
! there was no difference of opmion.-1he
govetnment and The nation were equally
Impressed with the necessity oil measures
iOr restoring our violated rights.
Ihc administration Clearly perceived
the path of duty, ana instantly pursued IL.
she suspension Vi the right oil deposit DC.
Cured during the recess of the leg islatule.
The CONSTITUTIONS, In the distribution ol the
powers conferred upon the various depar,-
ments of the government, gives To Con.
gress exclusively the right OF Declaring
waIG while it devoves on the President
ihe duty of executing the laws. There are
CERTAIN acts Of one nation towards another
that necessarily constitute d state oil war
between them; but it IS not pretended
that The suspension OF the right OF depo-
sit was OF me number. Notwithstanding,
therefore, that act, the pre-cx,siiBE staCe
of pace Continued. An event may
be said 10 have occurred leading to sta,e
OF war; but that Essentially differs from
war; one is the cause, aud the other ali
elect, which may, or may not occur, aud
no reasonable mind ever thought OF con-
founding things SO essentially different.
1t was the duty of the Executive 10 pre-
serve peace, which always exists when
there Is no war actually declared or Wa
ged' This conclusion - sustained by hi IN
federal authority, whose orthodoxy viii no,
be disputed. Mr.. Hamilton, in defsnd-
ing the proclamation of neutrality, ex.
pressly says, " II the legislature have a
right 10 make war Oh Che one hahd, IL Is, IN
tic ofher, IRE duty If The ErecuaUe 10 Ire-
se'-0e Eeace MI war is declared" Again,
i'm the same defence, we find the principle
laid down" INtile, therefore, the kgisla-
fure can alone deciare 7Oar, can alone trans
, form the nation from state of peace 10
a state Of war, it belongs w 1he EUecudve
Ho7ver 10 do 7ghafeUcr else fhe lar oTaa,ions,
co-oheTa'ing 7Difh tie treaties IT fhe courf,,t,
e'yotn in The intercourse ofthe Uqihd Sfa,es
sUiM IOretgH HO1Uers. In this distribution
OF power S, the wisdom Of our constitution
IS manifested. Ii is The province and du-
~ OF the Executive to preserve to the natl
oo the blessings Of peace. The legisla-
ture alone, can interrupt those blessings, by
placing the nation in a state Of war"
. Peace IS and always has been the pre-
dominant desire Ofthe American people
and 50 sol ciIous sthc c1nsliiut1ntor GUARD
: II, and $ fearful oil its being bazarded by
. the adi)ltiOn or mistaken policy Of ans
- ono MAJ, that while ii gives to Congress
exclusively the power Of declaring @ar, .,
lfLat.f...