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

l--.I 'AAoii SchipdSSs IL TelatcS 10 I'M
subjects which have been already ilustrat
!; ed, and is an evidence of the extent Of err
ror which exists. But the reader may
Judge for himself.
e.e SUMMARY 4,
OF CONGRESSIONAL LABORS.
T.. " ms day closes a session of congress- from,
the proceedings of which every American of real
patrotism, and independents mind, must turn for
ages to come, with scorn and indignation.
:. he national sovereignty. which had been
achieved by the best blood of our country, has
been surrendered; the policy OF the Jefferson fac.
'ion having placed the United STAKES precisely in
the situation of Spain. Holland. Switzerland ard
me other dependencies of Francf. Lffbeye is an
,na'Odnal wko doubts tbs nai5 of tbe Gssc-.:on e,
bini consult t6e law. Sbic5 Qhhaed our commerce
srifo 81. D"nrTgo, ard tbe de and on 4p5ic5 f5at
tasp spas endcted let him refei to the still more
aisgracefnl tribute of two IT Iions of dollars,
which, under the deceptive title of iacrcascd e,c
pease Of foreign intercourse, kas been granted 10
the Great Nation; let him l,ok at the pros,ra,e
condition ct our country in he internal rela ions
let MN pesuse with attention the debates of CON
gress. and the declarations of Mr. Jsfferson's
9nondam friends, during the present session /;
and he must cease to doubt that we have been
precipitated from the proud, cminence of honor
and independence, on which the courage. wis
nad placed the American commonwealth, into the
deepest mire of in amy and iubjuga,ion"
This is not all. Mahy papers in the
United States are exclusively devoted to
the publication of scurf,lous, vindictive
* abusive epithets and essays against the
president OF the United States. They
WIZ not, rpon any terms, admi, OF expla
nasory or contradictory articles. They by
this means, give up, not only alipre,ensi.
ons 70 caodor and chandler, but become
the base degenerate instruments of viii
tication, and efficient tools of faction.
and uD;rulh.
1t the opinion which HIS been lust eiy
eo concerning the trade 10 ST. Domingo
be Correct, wha, ought To- BE- said to those
who execrate the rulers of the United
States, because it is inhibited? If the
opinion is incorrect, il viii behov,
those who think so, to sups ort their doc
srines, either by the CUSTOM of nations by
national honor or political sxpedien cy.--
1t is very easy to fabricate and emit ex
prcssions of the sublime and terrible but
when they apply to the rights OF indivi.
duals, or to the duties of government, II
behoyes those whose brains Are 50 fertile
in epith:ls, or prolific in censures. to pro-
duce the testimony, to shew, ,he facts, to
unfold and illustrate the subject, in plain,
simpe order, suitable to the ,comprehcp.
slons OF moderate understandings. This
they are now invited TO do---this they are
solicited to undertake--ihls they are dar
ed To attempt. But all will be in vain.
all the invitations, solitations and defan.
ces which, can be uttered, will be passed
over in suIlen silence.
Suffice 1t then 10 say, that the trade 10
St. Domingo, deserves not merely con
domination, but execration-,ba, ,hs CON.
plant oi the minister of the French EN-
pre-, was not only reasonable. but highly
proper and necessary-That the conduct
OF congress and the president, in these re-
lations. Is not only defeusble, but lauda.
bic - & hat they are bIamahie only in this
That they did not act sooner and with more
decision.
When the Disconnected Politicians
will take lime TO reflect upon the Whole
sUhIect IN oil its bearings and copseqrsn.
ces, they will find that the governm m |
OF France has exercised great foIbear
ance and moderation, and that the mini-
s,er OF that empire, would have been un.
faithful TO the duties of his hish station,
and TO he frankness which was due from
him, 10 have said less than the case me.
rited, or 10 have conceded the conse.
quences il the complaint had been d,sre. |
garded.
IL IS not now necessary TO prove tina,
the trade, considering its extent, its no,o-
riety, and the exultations Of successful ad. !
yenturers. might have been considered on
the pa!t of France, as causes Of rupture
land might have presented 10 us, the I'M
pleasant alternative of pecuniary repsra-
ton or war. That government. is sstisfi-
ed with prohibition of any further trade,
and the disappointed traders and their ad-
herents pour out the most yindictive COM
plants against their own government, be. |
cause this act Of national Justice has been
rendered. Almost at the same time the
British with no such cause Of complaint,
have blockaded our ports, itnpeded our
commerce, impressed our people and
haze murdered one Of our counfrymen.
AS far as these things go, il must be
evident to every reader, that the compa-
rison is greatly in favor of France. Nor