Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-13
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIo ENcER.
\ REMARKS
On the measures ofthe last session Of Con-

gress.
Continued from last Tuesdays .d,gus.-
! Rchorf Of Committee concLaded.)
I The great question then which presents
ilself is, shall we at this time lay the foun-
datlon for future peace, by Offering a
fair and equivalent consideration or
shall we hereafter incur the hazards and
the horrows of war a-The government
OF the United States is differently orra.
ni1ed from any other in the world. Its
object is the happiness of man, its policy
and Its interest, to pursue right BY right
means. War is the great scourge of.the
human race, and should never be resort.
ed TO but IN cases of the most imperions
necessity. a wise government, will a,
! VOID It, when its views can be attained by
peaceful measures. Princes fipht FIR
glory, and The Hood and treasure oftheir
SUBJECTS is the price they pay. In all
ons the people Dear the burthen of war.
and IN the United States, the people rule.
iheir representatives are the guardians
,oi their rights, and i, is The duty of those
representatives To provide against any
event, which may, even alta d,stan, d..
'n'oiVe me mleres, snd The happiness of
the nation. We may indeed have. our
rights restored TO u by treaty, but there
is want OF iortHpde in applying temDo.
rary remedies 10 permsnen. evils :,bersbv
imposing on cur posteritv burthen
which we ourselves ought to hear. II
the purchase can be made, we ouobt M,
TO hesitate. If the attenpt sbomId fail
we shall have discharged an important du.
~. War may BE me result, but III. A
meIicap nation, satisfied wish cur CON
DUCT VIII be animated by one soul, aud
VIII unite all ITS energies in the contest !.
! Foreign powers will be convinced ,hs, Il
is not a war of ACKNOWLEDGMENT on o.r ,,rt
and will therefore feel M pnseasonsL,e
| ]ealousies towards US. we sbaii 80
proved That our object. was ias,ice; il
WIN be seen tina, our Propositions were
iair and 1t will be Acknowledged liza,
our cause is honorable. Should Alliance.
be necessary they may De advanta rcousIy
formed. We stall have meried and
! snail theretoroe possess general conf.
dence. Our measures viii stand iustig;5,,
not only 10 ourselves and our covn,,y.
but TO he world. -
IN another point of view, perhaps, il,
would be preferable to make The mr..
chase, as 1t is believed tina, smaller sum
"ould be required Tor this obieei. ,bap
would Eecessarialy be expended. # We
| should attempt to take possc ssionby free !,
'ns expenses OF war being indeed al-
most iocaiculablc. The con- ittee have
no information before them, to ascertain
me amount for which the purchase can
oe maze, BIi 1t is hoped, that with The as.
sis'ance OF Two millions cfdollars in hand.
this viii not be unreasonable. A s;r,ilar ,
course was pursued for the pvr,ose of
selling our differences with The reoe,,ev
OF Aigiers, b. an appropriation of one
"'1on Oh dollars prior 10 the commence
n'ent oi the negotiation, and We have
since experienced ITS beneficial fees.
Ohder these impressions therefore III.
committee recommend the adop,ion or
the resolution referred to them i, "a.
following words, viz.
! Heso'Ufd, That . sum or two millions
OF dollarsin addition to liz provision here
'otore made be appropriated TO defray
any expenses which may BE- incurredfn
relation to the intercourse between The
United States and foreign nations to be
paid on; OF any money that may he in
Inc Treasury not otherwise Appropriated
and to be applied under the dire etion Of
the President Of the United States; who
IL necessary is hereby authorised to Dor.
no" The same or any part thereof, an &C
count whereof as soon as may be, shall
be laid before Congress.
Events Of subsequent occurrence have
fully justified 'be opinions expressed in
the foregoing report, by proving that 50
iong as this country shall be held by TO-
reign government, the free passage of the
streams that empty themselves into the
gull viii be obsiruGted, as its sense ofin.
teIest, however mistaken, shall dictate.
There is one consideration which demon.
s'rates The business Of the opinion OF the
committee that this country, st least so
Tar as respects the free navigation Of its
: great streams, must be ours either bv
purchase or force. Such will be the vas,
mass OF interest at sake, and dependent
on their free passage, wbea the popula.
ion OF the western country shall have
reached bot a small stage Of that exten.
SION TO which it is rapidly progressing,
That no power, possessed by the govern
rneDt OF the u. 5. or by any fofeipn natl