Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-03-25

ls,ence. all that time unsupported and un- |
known tn men whom the people fnndiy
believe, assist with their wisdom and ex
pe.!ence at every important delibsra, ion.
Do you believe that this system. or rai her
this no system will do. am free to answer
II will not. 1t cannot last. am not so
afraid of the fair, open, constitutional, re.
sponsible influence Of government--but
shrink intuitiveiy from thi. left handed,
Invisible, irresponsible influence, which de-
hes the touch, bus peryades aud decides e.
very thing. Let the Executive come
Forward to the legislature us sec
whilst we feel il. If we cannot rely on
i,swsdom, is it any disparagement to the
gentleman from Prnnsy leania to say that
cannot rely Mpon him I No, sir, he has
mistaken his talent. He is not the Pail.
nurus on whose skill the nation at this ty-
ing moment can rfpose their confidence.
will have nothing 10 do with his paper
much less will endorse it, and make my
self responsible for its goodness. will
not put my name to u. l assert that
taere isno cabinet, no system, no plan
That which believe in one place, shall
never hesitate TO say in another. This is
no'.ime, no place for mncing our steps.
The people have right to know, they
shall know the state ofthcir affairs, al Least
as lar as am at liberty TO communicate
them. lspeak from personal knowledge
Ten days ago there had been TO consul
taiton--there existed no op,nion in your
executive superintendent least none that
was avowed--on the contrary there was
an express dsavowai Of any opinion what
: soever. OH the great subject before you !;
--aad i-hsSe gnod reason for saying that
: hone has been formed since. Some time
ago book was leid OF, our tables which
like s me Of ,hcir ban,hngs did not bear
the ,amc etits father. Here was taught
TO cxpect solution of all doubts, an eud
: TO all our difficulties. If, sir, were the
: Toe. as trasr am the friend tn this natl.
on, would e1cialm--" Oh that mine
cnemy would write book ~ the We
~ ouseti in the very FIRST page, i believe
there is complete abandonment Of the
: principle In dispute. Has any gentleman
: get the work I az was handed by one oil
the meinbers.) The frs, position taken
~ thc broad principle ol unlimited free.
uom oitrade between nations nj peace,
whfcbihc wrlrer cndeavors TO extend to
TIE trade bstaeeH neutral and belige-
rent power ;--accompanied however by
. this Acknowledgment. {" But iuasmuch
3 "as The trade of neutral with a bel,ige.
. "rent nation, might, in certain special CO.
; "ses, affect Tee safety Of It's antagonist u
sage founded on tie Principle of NRcks
sIrY, has admitted few exceptions to
: 'the general rule !" Whence comes the
3 doctrine of contraband, blockade, and e.
{ nsmf's property Now, sir, for what does
r. that celebrated pamphlet, War in Dis.
gaise," which is said to have been writ
ten under the eye ofihe British prime mi.
mister, contend, but this =" principle of ne
.eessity."- Aud thisis abandoned by this
{ pH,npbleteer at the very threshold Of The
discussion. But az fthns were not enough.
he goes on to assign as reason for not
? referring TO the authority of. ACCENTS,
that the great change which has taken
NPlace in The state Of manners, in the
"maxims of war, and in hr course OF CON, /.
MERGE, make II fret.y c. ain"--(what
degree oil certainly is this - that eli,
"ther nothing will be fund relating To
"the question, or no,hing suffice MY On
ssfGcabiefs deserUe attention m deciding az
Here, sir, an apology OF tbe-w write, for
notdisclosing the whole extent ofhis lear.
nirg (Which might have overwhelmed
The reader) if the admission that a cha,,ge
ef circufnsiances--(I in The course of
commeyce")--ha made Gard, therefore
will now JUSTIFY Total change efthe law
OF nations. What MOI. could the mos,
iuveterate advocate of English usa,pa,ion
demandf What else Gan they require to
establish all, and even more than they
contend FOR. Sir, there is class of ,nrn
we know them very well,-who, if YOU
only permit them to lay the foundation,
viii build you up step by step, and brick
by brick, very neat and shewy, 4 not lie
nable Arguments. 1 o dctect them Ills on
ly necessary TO watch their premises,
where you will of.en find the point at is
sue totally surrendered as in this case IL
is. Again--is The marc Rbcrun, any where
asserted in this book hat free shin.
make free goods mo, sir, the right Of
search is acknowledged, that enemys' pro.
perry IS lawful prize is sealSd s delivered.
And after abandoning these principles,
what becomes of the doctrine that metc
sitting ct the goods from one ship 10 an
other, the touching at another port, chan
yes the prODerty--Sir. give ~ the r,r,,, b,