Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-02

London, was 81 this very time engaged IN
our differences with tha, court,
aud lhst he had given us reason to hope
he should a.nicah!y adjust them; that il
any rriiance could be placed in this as
siraece, i, would be premature TO do'any
thing Wills, hi. nsgocia;ioD Vas pending.
lfEnglsnd wac disposed 10 go 10 W. this
measure, before it could be brought TO
operate upon her, might enable her 10 do
us ipcalcuiable mischief, by rhs capture
Of our vessels, and perhaps the plumber
OF some of our seaport towns. On the
contrary, if she was inclined TO peace, any
evidence of hostility on our part, miEh,
retard, but could not possibly accelerate
il. Unless indeed we could presutus tina,
she feared us, which, after our condhct
towards Spain, il was utterly impossible
that she could do. Whatever impression
we might have made upon her at the frst
of the session. by the proposed measure,
che could not now be made to believe that
We would perse.ere in this, or any other
measure adopted ostcnsibly to eoerre her,
after knowing tha,a power, which had in
jured and insulted US full 40 much in pro-
portion TO her ability TO do it, IS G.. Bri-
tain had done, had been treated in the
manner in which We had treated Spain.
After acting, apparently at least, so pu-
ssi;animousiy towards that nation, nothing
less than an actual declaration of war,
could make Great Britain believe us in
earnest, in any attempt to force her into
compliance with our wishes. We had
deprived ourselves Of credibiity on this
point, and We must take the consequences
IF we had acted consisteutly---;f the out.
RACES of Spain had been met with the
same spirit of just indignation a. those of
Britain, there might, perhaps, have Leeh
some probability of accelcrating the at
tAinment OF our Object With this last pow.
er, by the proposed measure, even admit.
ting that this was the sole motive of its
adoption. But when Great Britain knew
Gao she certainly would do from her mi-
mater here, who had our secret almost ~
soon ~ We had it ourselyes) that we had
ae(ed, to all appearances 1t least, das-
tardly part towards Spain, or rather
France, she would not, she could not be-
Iieve US capable of any olser conduct to-
wards her.
The veil, which he's heretofore conceal
ed this part Of our proceedings from the
public eye, 10 at length removed, and I
hasten to exhibit . consiae statement oil
that Transaction, before that tribunal,
whose right finally to decide all questions
of national import, hope will never be
infringed. Al the commencement of the
present session, the President sent IN two
messages, the one public, The other con
fidentiai. The first breathing a spirit Of
just indignation st our wrongs, and de-
termination 10 pursue all proper means
TO redress them; the other certainly not
contradictory 10 the first. The public
message recommending decisive mea-
sures, particularly towards Spain. with
whom our negotiation bad failed, end
who had injured Us as much to the extent
OF her power, as Great Britain. The pri-
vate message, upon which the majority
o!the House has determined, much to my
regret, to continue the Injunction of &c.
crecy, containing no sentiments in oppo.
sition 10 the public one. a committee,
appointed on thi, message, brongh, in q
relcrt, expressive Of sentiments coDsen-
famous TO those in the FIRST, and conse.
quently not hostile TO those in the last
message. This report recommended il
to Congress to su,horisc the Presiden, TO
raise Certain sroops, the number of which
was intended to be four thousand, for the
purpose of repc'iing and furnishing any
sggressious on our frontiers; which had
been violated, and which were threatened
with invasion for several months previous
to the battle of Trafalgar, the issue of
which compelled Spain to turn her atten-
ton to another quarter. Another object
for which this force was designed, was
the defence and protection Of our lately
acquired territory, which was, and still is,
entirely destitute Of defence, and several
hundred miles distant from the nearest
western state. No offensive expedition
agsinst the Floridas, as some have false.
iy asserted, was either wished or intend
cd by any of the friends ofihis report, as
far as / heard or understood their senti.
ments, Nothing WAS more remote from
our wishes than mar, either with Spain
or England. A large majority Of the
House rejected this report. In this i'm
stance, was in the minority. A resolu-
lion, which had been previously laid upon
our table, (sfter being rejected by the
committee who brought in the reporD
was then o;Tersd TO the House hv ore If