Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-20

which have lately existed in that i'll fated
ISLAND, towards feeble and helpless age,
! delenc-less women and innocent babes.
Al were consigned to slaughter and bru-
(; tally.
It's indeed impossible 70 reflect upon
this picture OF wre,cheiuess, without
feeling emotions of horror, which surpass
the powers oil description, OF to restrain
Just indignation agaips, those who have
given slG or furnished the means BY which
these internal deeds have been done and
II would be as difficult to exact from them,
adequate rrcompence, if sheir conduit
had been the occasion of bringing upon
their country, the calam,Iss aud dangers
fwar. Better indeed would it have been
Tor America, and for the rights of huma.
nifty and civilization, if mill-stones had
been hanged about their,necks, and they
had been sunk in The depths of the sea:
Whenneutrals carry on trade with BEL
: i'ge,cnssi they expose themselves to car
tnre outwhen theytake advantae Of their
neuir~' cha aeter, to supply banditti, by
whatever name they are called with the
means OF committing robberies and MUIR
ders, upon nation with which the
neutSals, ate al peace, they become the
sccoupices and associates i'm the same
Cruises, and deserve the same punish
merits witch ought to be inflicted upon
the principals.
iresy body knows that pirate is the
common enemy of ali mankind. The laws
ct eSsrJ country, and The hand Of cycry
man are directed 10 his destruction. If
MS DE So lie; us next examine the situa.
ION and character Of the present posses.
sors OF 81. Hom,rgo. Let US distinguish,
We can, IN what they are better than
/ the pirates ol tie ocean. 1t is true they
'ccup' acenn'ry; and call themselves a
nation They also pretend to be 81 fern.
ed by laws aid justice, but who can con.
lde N eiiheI! Who can cav that anv
'hing which he enjoys to-day, within their
reach, VIII belong TO him td.ri,orrow!-
Ley MS next ask those who have direetlyor
Indirectly. contiibated to this state OF things
how they Can discriminate between
the condemnation which IS due TO those
oe-hders and themselves; and to explain,
it'they car, IN what degree they are less
terin,nai than the hends to whom thew
have given the power, and Of course, the
commission to spare neither sex, age nor
condition to whom they have nor only
rnsmshed the means Of subsistence but
have supplied the instruments of des,ruc.
tjoni
Il IS rot unlikely that some readers
may impuie some OF the foregoing obser.
va;ions 10 temper of hostility against
Great Britain. :; mis- is an error. The
writer soicnnly dec!ars, that he is not e.
ven disposed TO awaken ancient prejud-
ces. He desires only to preserve the
r hts and character Of the United States;
aLc This he believes cannot be done, if we
suffer our fears, hopes, regards, ha,reds
or preIudices, 10 en,anglc US in The quar-,
rels or destiny of either Of the beliigeren,
nations of Europe. Nothing has yet an
peard IN the puA':c prints, 10 she w that we
raaY no, support a just neutrality, without
/ duplicating ourselves with either. 1t is
| true hat sone things require Investigate
on and explanation but It does not seem
that either the governments of France or
Great Britain are unwilling to make rea-
soDable adjustments. Way then cry a.
loud for war.
when governments, as 10 the present
war, stake their all against each o,be-.
they will not suffer their own existence to
be jeopaTdised, from tie fear OF disturbing
the commercial claims Of neu,ra,s, who
are enriching themselves in peaceful and
Gaipiul pursuits, while half the world is
IN the blaze OF war; a war, too, which is
waged, not merely TO settle boundaries or
TO revenge insults, but il is q var of ey,er-
nina,ioD. A war for the overthrow or
Kingdoms, and destruction or empires,
In such state Of things, Il cannot BE-
expected that the duties Of ueutrsls, will
be always strictly observed BY themselves,
or lha, causes OF complaint will not ogien
exist against belligerent, whose intent.
ons may be both just and generous.
Notwithstanding the noiorie,y of these
truths, and our we'll known relations to.
words the belligerent powers Of Europe
he difficulties which must necessarily ex.
isl with the American government, to give
| satisfaction to each, aud at the same time.
TO preserve our own rational character
and rights, we find that infiammatory and
discontinued publications have frequently
| appeared. The authors seem to have for.
gotten, npon some occasions, all regard
to truth, decency and respect, for the sta.
ton and feelings Of our chief na.>;,frafe