Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-07-17


The imaginary Importance Of the go
vernment oil England, draws to close. Ir
The TWO last wars, that with America, and
The other with France, she was defeated
land disgraced in all her projccis aud the
present war, as far as it has gone, p;yes
symptoms of a similar fate. There is ey;.
DENLY madness in her councils (bcsides
the royal madness) that has po foresight,
and cannot calculate events.
One would suppose, that when govern
ment goes to war Of It's own choice, and is
the trsS to declare it, (which was the case
"iththe English government, in Tie ps.sen,
war with France,) that il had arranged all
It's plans. and had every thing in readiness
to pntthese plans in operation the instant
It declared war. But this was not The case
with che English government, for as il has
put no plan IN execution, The inference is,
'hat either II had none, CT those i, had were
too imperfeeily formed 10 be executed.
Take which ofthe differences you will and
IL shews the incnmpetency of the English
government 10 the condition into which i,
has plunged itself.
1t was laughable enough, to see how the
British parliament passed away its time in
debating whether there was cause for war
or not when they deciaredit. A ministerial
victory in parliament does not decide q
battle an the field. Philosophers and ne
'uraiis's have to Go with causes, and poll
ticians with consequence. For example.
II would have been madness in America
10 have declared Independence if she had
not possessed the meansof obtsiningit, &
me same may be said of every hostile de-
claration.
AS far as differences can be drawn from
circumstances. the British government
went TO war from internal craft, and not
from external policy. After the pubIica.
ION m England OF small work OF Tho
mas Paine 10 the year go, entitled aDe.
Cline and tat Of ahe English system of Il.
'lance," there was so great a run upon the
nshk OF England, that the bank could notI
stand u. The directors of the bank made
their condition known 10 Nj. Pitt, who
undoubtedly knew itbefore, but farce v a.
become necessary. Pitt, in order 10 wast
on the blow that threatened destruction 10
the bank, and also to the government,
brought bill into parliament to resfrsin
the bank (for that was the term used> from
paying IT'S notes IN specie whereas the
case with the bank was, that it could not
pay--it had not wherewithsl, This a0,
4 at hrst, was only for few months, but il
was afterwards renewed, and continued 10
be renewed in every session from year to
year. by the last renewal, the restraint
las 1t was called) was to continue Ill, some
Time alter the end of The war then psin.r
on. But when that time came, the bu,,.
could not pay any more than IL could be-
iore and therefore the government, after
" nad made peace, declared war again,
ana this was made Pretence for again
shutting up the bank. That bank will ne
yer opsn for payment. LIS run is as Gxed
as fate.
he same farce about cause instead of
conseqae'cewas again a6led witt, respect to
the declaration ofwar against Spain. Pittl
made q long and wordy speech OF three
hours, TO shew, in his way, there was eanse
OF war; whereas II was the consequence only
lhat should have governed him.
In a treaty between France and Spain.
when the last war ended, il was s,ipuIa. ed
that IN case either should be attacked. he
o'ner should as an auxiliary, assist her
-'N' - >~tN~lb HuitlDSf OF. SntDS aud land
forces, This was committed for in mo.
ney, and, instead Of ships and forces.
France agreed 10 take three millions s,er.
ling ANNUALLY. The case therefore with
F'tt ought so have been, not any thing a.
bout the cause, but about the consequence
that IS. whether i; was not better to lei
SPAN iuifil her engagement in this man.
ner quietly by communication, than to force
her. by declaration Of war, 10 Join France
with her whole force by sea and land. II
IS Bonapartc that is the gamer by this con.
duct OF Pit, who, by thus increasing the
force of his enemy, has made that Of En-.
gland comparatively less.
When the family ofthe Bourbousreig Sign.
ed 10 France, the natural powers s. resour-
ces OF that country. which are grestyr
than those Of any country in the world.
were never efeciualiy called forth. W..
righteousness, effeminacy and intrigue
were then The dri,ies Of the court, aud The
nation was governed by misiresses aud the
favorRcs Of mistresses. The case ncw is
the reverse or what II was then. France,
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