Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-25

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80 Gs is-ii S,na! r,,Se al he course Ia
&c 1,Auvt with es.rd 10 Spain, upon .
gre AT qass,ion that was discussed aiC &c
ciied in public, that Of our differences
with Great Bfi,ain, j strang: and heed
less admissions, winch the we'll knowa po
li,ical standing of ,anse geni.-men con.
tratiicted Of Itself. For how low must tina,
Representative he in the confidence Of his
constituents, who could not al once eHsc
tualiy reslrai, their Impotence 10 ccnsurs
his conduct, by assuring them hat he was
prevented only by a public crisis which
demanded secrecy, from giving them that
entire satisfaction with regard To il, which
he was ready 10 do. AID would not delay
u moment longer than necessary for III.
security OF their important interests. Tn
fortunately small number Of the House
OF Representatives lost sight of the inpor-
lance of secrecy in such circumstances,
and of the consistency of conduct due
from them. Without the smalles. change
OF circumstances, or single a-gumcnt
which had not equal Force at the COM
msncement, the injunction Of secrecy, as
10 the debate, and the measure Adopted,
was removed. Immediately the inlenli.
on to make purchase Of lhe Fiofidas, the
sum allotted as earnest money for the
purpose, the reliance on the success of
that measure, which was displayed in The
= rejection f the proposition to increase the
regular troops, all became officially pub.
lie. Much cf the inhalnma,ory declama-
ton Of the private debate, all the offensive
sentiments uttered against France and
Spain, the charge of wealthy upon the
court OF the former. and lie imputation of
scrviliiy against thar Of the latter, have
been since given to the world under le-
gisla,iYe sanction, in the gazettes of the
union. Papers which, il is said, and their
way as certainly to the bureau of foreign
affairs in Paris, and to The mantle piece
OF the imperial Boudoir, as they do 10 the
coulting-rooms of our merchants, and the
breakfast tables of our country squires.
The sensation produced some years since
IN France, by insinnations Of the same ma
iure, cannot be forgotten. The fate OF
the negotiation may justly b. deemed un-
certain. Fit should fail, war with France
and her allies, Spain, Iiaiy, and Holland,
Ir... possibly be the consequence. War
Win France, after she has trampied Aus
,ria in the dust, driven The arctic bear
bowling with anguish back to his polar
prison. and rendered mute the British Ii
on. For myself do not despair of the
favorable issue of such contest, if it
should be forced upon us.
do not from that apprehension regret
the rejection of;he late proposition to in
crease the standing army, although l
deem it possible that We may soon require
hundred thousand men instead of four
thousand. II war is to take place, sim
cereiy wish we may receive The first blow,
nOtonly that we may give evidence 10 The
world Of the sincerity of our pacific pro.
fessioas, but that the spirit of the people
may be completely reused, and our tri-
fling Discussions hushed, that the irresis-
tible elasticity of the American character
may be completely displayed. l cannot,
however, Cease IL regret The i1discre,ion
in debate, and The much less excusable
fiueluatlon of opinion, which may possibly
have opened the way to ncalculabie Gala.
mites.
Your. Friend,
TIL M RANDOI