Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-20

formed in the year 1885, to separate it
from the union, and 10 unite il TO a 10.
reign power.
On the appearance Of these pieces we
telt some hesitation as to the course which
II became an Editor, whose Object was
the diffusion OF truth, To pursue. The
subject had abundant in;eres, 20 command
the pubic attention; but this considerasi.
on did no. seem 10 justify the circulation
OF wha, might turn out 10 be gross CT.
Illumination of ,irtuoas men. Circum.
stance. have, however, occurred since thu
commencement of these publications,
which induce US to lay before cur readers
their most important contents. SUCH is
the interest they have excited in Ken.
lucky, that they have been reprinted in all
the papers of that state, even in those
which pronounce them tissue OF SLAM.
ders. The Impression Appeals To be re.
neral, that it is time .hat the charges ,hsy
expose :houd be brought olcmnly before
The bar of pubic opiuon, and receive the
award they merit. When, indeed, char,
yes OF SO deep hue are thus widely dis
seminaie6, the best chance oe obtaining
an impartial and just decision on them, 10
10 lay before the pubic chs material. on
which to form Il; by suffering them %
hear all that can be sad on both sides.
~ TINS Course it may be presumed iha, if
the charges are founded in truth those
tU.y imphcals will feel the weight of The
public censure and if they a.e false, that
Justice Will BE- done 10 The innoceucs of
the accused. We have ano,hgr reason
Tor this course. Having received com.
municaIion from res2s Gable character
IN Kentucky declaring some par, of he
statements given in the Wesern World
incorrect. we ca.;Iiot with any propriety
insert this communication without: prsvi-
ously pub!ishing the statement 10 which
II relates.
Let II, however, be understood tina, in
repubiishipS these pieces, wcrsean not in
the least degree TO sanction their truth,
Al presehtwe feel it duty TO stand ai,os
from either side and we shall MAINTAIN
this neutraiiiy Until we are better inform.
ed on the subject Than We are at present.
There are, however, Some important
iacts which our readers ought 10 know, as,
"ithont them, they cannot fully under
stand The subject. About the period when
The Kentucky Spanish Association is said
to havS been formed, an interesting neyo-
Cation was depending between this coun-
tfy ana opaln relative TO the navigat,oI of
the Mississippi. Mr. Jay, who was then
minister f1r foreign affairs, conducted the
:'egocia'on Ola the part Of the u. States,
with Air. Gardcqgi, the Spanish minister.
II vas well Understood that Spain was ex.
iremeiy a'erse 10 yielding to us the free
navigation OF this important outlet 10 the
productions OF The western country; and
X was aPprehended by the people of KEN
lucky and heir neighbours that the Allan
NC states were criiniDally lnsenslble to
the magnitude OF the vblect. A conven.
non was actually eptered INTO sbetween
Mr.. Jay and Mr.. Gardoqu., by which,
The u States abandoned the navigation
OF the Mississippi for twenty-five wears.
alter which l. was 10 be free 10 the inhs.
btants OF both countries. This brought
the feelings OF lhe people If Kentucky lo.
Crisis. they p-tcei ycd an tins mea-
sure, should 1t be ratified by Congress.
The grave of their prosper, y; it is, in.
deed, truth, which Cannot be denied.
that II would have been a death blow to
their greatness Il is but TOO probable
that 1t would have LED 70 an open disn,en,.
berment of the uHiun, OF a laten, aliena.
ton OF Kentucky from The u. States. In
this point OF light IL was viewed bv Con.
Sress, who, after a long and pro.ra ctell
discussion, rejected The convention. Dur
ing this discussion the party in fayor of
Tic convention were veFy near fleeing
their object. no less than seven sales, Il
we are correctly Informed, having, i'm
some preliminary Questions, manifested
their i:'endl'Dcss TO II. The present fede
raj constitution was about this time sub.
United TO The several states fer ratification.
heniucky was still hc!Eticaliy part of Viz.
glnIa. When the convention OF thc latter
state met, it was soon discovered that. sr,
iara' dependcdonh her vote, the constitution
hung III awful suspense. la the progress
OF the debates it oas found that the votes
rom Kentucky would turn the balance. 1t
Is 10 this circumsa nee that we are 10 as.,
cribe the animated debates that arose r.,.
lauve TO the navigation of the Miss;ssip,i.
Those who were b''s;ile 10 the cons,it,ii,oy,
endeaVored 10 convince the ken,ucky de.
Iegales that, unser The new notifications
oil power and its distribution amostr thu