Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-11-02


temper and disposition, which ae.uate'
the former administration was 7he De
mon tiot faqlcieG The energies Of the U7itec
States"
The federalists now buster about e,..
crossing their resentment, and talk about
q powerful navy, but such ponscnse is a.
bout equal to their former folly. If VIC
had taken the same precaution that Rus
STA did in their. treaty with Britain, we
should have stood as respectable as they
now do with the heligercut poNers.--
Both sides now court fkem, whereas NE
have become The dupes OF each party.
france fsels resentment because OF our
tormer yindictive conduct towards her,
and England despises us for our disgrace
ful fnsiAanisnty in croaching 10 their inn
positions. That something must be done
to give security and stability TO our com
merce is allowed both by federallsts and
republicans. The former call for ships
OF war, but the latter propose. u more for
mdable and sure weapon. We should
only exhaust our wealth by the one, with
out any prospect of success, but we should
sope nihfo'is By the other, with the GER
tainty of complete triumph. Our com
merce is more powerful than navy, and
non intercourse with England and her
islands, would be more eifeetual to place
MS N the respectable attitude Of nsutrais,
than feet of SO sail of the line.
AS the subieel of our commerce has
been fully considered in former publca. |
ton, together with comparison OF Jaws |
treaty, a..a that OF Russia, between Eng
land, must beg the Indulgence of my
teliow'cIiizens 10 reperasal of it, under
the well known signature Of " OLD !
SOUTH"
The oMstroTEEcE of the British natl !
on has been SO long subject of exultati. |,
on, ard from political motives so general |
~ admitted, that an attempt to place Ame- /
RIGA in an attitude OF opposition to Ter
marine mandates, is considered ny some, (
as the height of arrogance II not cf mad |
ness But nc country has been more over
rated in itsreal commercial strength, pro-
vded ether nations woald exercise those
natural advantages which they possess.
The United States, by exaggeratirg the
power OF Britain, end Iessenipg their own
energies, have originated tie errors they
have committed, and -aubstantiat6d the
benefits oblainedoy England in cor CON-
meTcial Negotiations, The fears excited
T! by the friends of the British treaty, that
war would be The consequence of refus-
ing IT, were derogotory 10 our national
character, as 1t exhibited pusillanirnity
on our part, which stimulated Britain 10
! further excesses. The declaratan of our
approximations OF her resentment, and the
dread we displayed at her proves, led
tine government TO pursue system ofdc-
: probation unawed by any measures Of re-
taiiaiicn from the American admiaistrati-
ons Our language on that occasion was
that of timdity; we became supplieanls
! TO their clemeney; we openly crouched
TO the treaty, Tho we secretly detestetl
/ its principles and thus governed BY fear,
| we unfortunately surrendered every neu-
! trail right 10 the uncontrolled manage.
rnent of an expensive English judiciary.
So Far from considering Britain as ON.
I pipolent either in her marine, cofAmerci-
/ al or Manufacturing station, believe
there is no power in Europe more COM
| pletely dependant, as theyreiate to these
! particulars. Her marine depends greatly
on Russia, and her commercial and ma
nutacsufing interests are priRcipaiiy SIP
! ported by her connection IN America.
! The immense quantity OF manufaeiufes
yeaslY imported into the United States,
together with The export oG our staple ar.
tic!es to The West Indies, and within her
own dominions, give snch balance Of
trade, in the various directions of her
commerce, as would Cir short tine stop
ped) strike fatal blow 10 the revenue and
mercantile transactions of that country.
The Benefits arising from or commerce
; with England, are followed by oil the au.
. thors who have written on the sub;ea
and the dread e%cited d0fine Che short
: petiod Of our embargo, proves tho pro-
, priety OF It's estimation IN The American
( scale. Our embargo threw The whole ex-
change OF London into CONSERVATION.
This principle was strongly urged in
c the state conventions Oh the question 81
; the constitution; it VS. ever consideted
j. the haiiqd,u1a OF or nstioDal impotence.
{ Mar. John Adame, Che late pfesidcn
4 when IN England, asserted, 10 my hear.
: ing, that the commerce OF America was
= the mosI powerful weapon 10 aiisck Bri.
h laih; aud further declared, that if tho