Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-30

OF further delay; but surely no reiicctirs
mind alter aitenslng To this speech. pub
hshed, as we'll IA spoken by an American
political leader of tho 6rs, eminencc, can
retain that idle apprehension.
The occasion Of Mr.. Rsndolph's argu-
ment, vas motion made by The most
Jealous If the French f,arty, Tor a general
non.importaGon bill; i. e. for the prohis
bidon OF importing any British msnufac.
lures, whiir ths disputes between the Two
countries ale unsettled aud the event OF
tais motion was a decision in the mega.
tive, BY q majority of 70 TO 47--It ap
pears therefore that Mr.. Randoi ph's very
f97oer3nl cad eloquent orgtmrnts, were as
scntcd TO by large majority.
Afterwards on the i7ih of March, a Ii
mited noo.impor,a'ion' resolution was
brought ~ by the same party, and carried
on division Of 81 to IS, in The house Of
representatives; on, by the il, est accounts
there Is reason 10 bell We it vas reiscled
by the upper house the se0ste.
The opposition headed w Mr.. Ran.
dolph, had defeated, in former instances
The violent proposals Of the gorefnmen,
party, or rather of'the French iactian, b.
which the government party itselfrwas
pushed on to viclen, PASSIONS. Yel the
government, and even the French faction,
d'd not venture to propose imsnedia,e
war. When therefore we are instructed
by this able and interesting spe ech, in the
principles and views Of the American OBJ
position and perceive THAI war with
This country would be most powerfully
opposed, even a case of strong and ac
knowieoeed pravocation, ie seems abso.
luseiy impossible to apprehend tha, the
congress would resor; 10 tina, extremity,
or to such offensive measures as mus; in.
evi,abiy lead TO war, rather than admit,
OF deliberate or even a tedious discus
SION.
wish the patience of the neutralizinc
agents IN this country, who, under the
spcclous name Vi B.,,ish American NEE
chants may be secrc,iy importun.ng 90
vernment Tor decision Favorable to their
private views, could be as surely relied
upon. 1t is not only IN America, fear,
that "the spirit Of eyaricious traffic" 10
use the words Of Mr., Randolph, i. oppos
ed TO the national welfare.
If the people of The u. States could in
any case be brought to submit to the bur
lhcns Of a maritime war, for the sake, OF
what This gentleman Justly repre senls as
an e,hemeral and pfecarious commerce
1t mast be at ieaat ON an ultimate refusal
OF redress FOR wrongs, which bad been
moot fully investigated, and lnconies,ib;y
established.
Tn: auh nrity Of Mr. Randolph is the
more satisfactory on this point, because
he does not directly dispute the Justice OF
those complaints which The clamora Of
the neutraizers had for msnt made
popular in America. Itisinderd easy TO
perceive, tina, thi, candid " enlightened y.o-
riot, saw the Injustice efi quarrel, in
which sell Interested men endcayor 10 in
voi7s his country. But he was TOO wise,
neediessly 10 oppose hinself 10 those pre
judices, the force OF which it was better
no eiudr. He avoids therefore the ones
ton OF right, and admitting for the sake
OF argument at least, That The pretended
inJaues are real, asserts in terms of the
m"s' absolute assurance, that the PEOPLE
OF America will not consent to ayen.e
them by war.
WI agree (says hc) TO pass for an
/" ideot, IL this IS no; the public sentiment
{" and you will find it. TO your cost, begin
"the war when you will"
1t IS not, however solely, or chiefly in
regard to the question have now in view,
or the safety of further discussion, that
The speech OF Mr.. Randolph S important.
invoke the declarations of this Anne.
rican leader, made IN The he4rig of con-
gress. to attest, that The str,6tuyes on the
colonial traders of tina, country CON aimed
in my fcrn.er publication, were IN 10 de-
gree unfounded. I appeal to his SEMI
nents OH the true interests of his fellow.
citizens al large, that they ave on tie sarpe
SIDE oil this controversy with our own. u
rely on bis opinion, and still more on his
irietrsgsble asgumens, in proof. that a
war between that country and this. would
be but in slight degree noxiou, to the
commerce of Great Britain; While es
consequences would be ruinous 20 Ans
rics, ard such as her citizsns would not
even for bIief period, be brought patti
emily 10 endure.
In word, quote this respectable an.
thority, not only as 4 caution sgaipst pre-
cipilatcd declaration, but to show Ina, IL
md and ruinous concessions, may be safe
ly and finally avoided.
Put what rnskez ,l,is var, ;r,.Tt:,...