Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-21
PROM re sArlosAL 1srs1Lrcevcse.
ofmnos, with an inguirv into
sac co.nazi6iity Of republican govern-
nae7t with a., extensive territory.
(coS?TEUED. J

(coSTTEUED.
3he best step towards averting foreign
warfare is, perhaps, a cordial Internal u
n IA and harmon. Few wars would have
existed but for the sources Of domestic di-
vision existing among nations. We shall
then by having dried MP these sources of
discard have taken "A decisive step towards
our protection against foreign aggression.
Il is Acknowledged that from this source
We have every thing to apprelend which
The folly and depravity oftyrants can enlist
against us. Our catse is that train and
Justice, of cqnal rights, and general wei.
fare. It's principles, and still more its eff
fects, displayed before an astonished world.
will be more contagious, than the maniac
spirit of war between unoifending nations
rotsed by the drum or trumpet of tvrants
Let us not deceive ourselves. Kings hare
q common cguse as yell az rehu5Gcs. They
know that the moment the principles oftAe
latter exteA,ivelY prevail, they must aban-
don the he'n. Thev viii fight, therefore,
as well as we, nro a'iS Il fcis The more
srtenSivc therefore oar resources, the
.greafer or numjers, the 7riHe,. ON. terri
sory, the moro cajhabie ua shall be 70 orAose
force N force. Aninvading army NAV con-
hagratc I town, or ravage a state, but be-
fore 1t can subdpe such ~ extensive coun-
try. IS the United States, or mould it to its
VIII, II must march above thousand miles,
move an equal distance in many parallel
or diverging line, p SIS hundred bold ri
vers, traverse nountains almost inaccessi-
be and totally unproiuctive 81 means for
sher Subsistence; and all this before an
enemy, who, either conscious of his strength,
will Oictoriowsly repplse the rash valor of
its legions, or hrwdentip ret re on their ap-
proach, and let them waste themselves. In
ele meantime, be the invading force ever
50 large, the numbers of our coultryInen
VIII increase much faster than the loss sus-
saised by the conflict, be it ever so sangui-
nary.
1t will net be denied that this power is
perfectly compatible with the most extern
sive territory. The more extensive the
territory the farther reno: ed from the in
terror, vii, be the Frontiers, ordinarily the
seats of war, and the smaller the proper
ton which these seats bear to the whole
territory. In the same ratio the necessity
for a standing force will be Diminished
The weak points will be fewer. This is
enc Of the principal causes OF the weakness
CT small state. 1t is all frontier. All its
sirizcns arc obliged to fly to arms, and to
neglect their occupations, on every attack
Mat is made or menaced II follows that
It is kept in a perpetual state of alarm its
resources are constantly exhausted by war
er the apprehension OF war, and thew are
Impaired by frequent interruptions, untilit
is deemed a lesser evil 10 submit to the
sword of a military chief or become the fef
OF a powerful empire. Such WAS the fate
Of the Greek republics. This necessity can
never be imposed on the y. States, so long
as they maintain their union.
The general government possesses the
exclusive power OF collecting an impost. 1t
rs. not necessary to SO into any argument to
demonstrate that this power is properly
lodged IN that government, as ii is universal
1y allowed that the regulation OF trade pro-
perry belongs to it, and as the power to le-
w impcsts IS a necessary incident of it.
The utility, however, and efficacy OF This
power, viii increase exactly in proportion
20 the extent " orr territory. For the more
extensive oar tcrritory, the less subject shall
we be to the rivalship and collisions Of negh-
boring states, and the more inconsiderable
will their effects be On our prosperity. IN
che vicinity of an overshldowing nation,
more fertile IN resource and more enterpri-
sing than ourselves, We might seriously APP
prehend q Illustration of our measures COR
the collection of revenue from imported ar
ticles. Raising the same articles in grea-
ter abundance, and consequently accumula-
tinE grenter capital, they wanld have adj
vanteges over rs even in a fair trade, and
much greater arising from their possess
sing power 70 iniure US superior to our
power 10 iDiure them. Put the case of n
fI,ure liberation of South America, and
the developement of the vast resources of
that fertile and extensive territory. How
important is it for our permanent interests
topossess, when this great event takes pla. c.
an extent Of territory that will enables us
70 keep the field of competition with so pow
eriul Il rival, and by the ascendency OF our
power to repress any disposition, which
might otherwise exist, hostile to us. Is IL
not easy TO sec that in future times the Eu-
Topeln governments will make use of
their colonies adjacent to us as so many
levers to subvert our institution, provided
err imbecility hold forth the prospect of
success.
The general government is invested with
The power of quelling instructions. Most
Instructions will be limited TO the state in
which they take their rise. The ability
81 the general government 20 put them
down will be in exact proportion to the ex-
cent OF its resources, which will be in the
ratio of It's NUMBERS and territory. The
more extensive these arc, the smaller will
she 1-eLdf:Ve force ofthe faction be that aims
at affecting an unlawful end by violence,
tllc more Irresistible the energy will which