Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-06

: sec. am also forgetting, that tn. pnr
pose OF his publication is urgent. and tina
my present object is only 10 deprecs,e
hasty and fatal decision"
ii me judgment of those whose de
termination would make controversy uae
iess' does not shut on, further argumen,
i snaii hnd time enough perhaps to open
I'D better manner, the new benrinp,
and relations ofthis momentous susie8 I:
ana TO maintain, ii necessary, the ground
l have already taken i'm defsncs of orr
national rights.
may then, perhaps, reply to nv En-.
ghsh' as well as my yet unseen Amcr;.
can, antagonists. I may possibly make
convertefone ofthe former, who 40, ;rn;.
la'cs the practices which kedscDd., 81,
engaging IN controversial war under tn {
neutral Gag ofa critic. for his opinions are
founded on such erroneous premises, aa
may be easily corrected; and [ my nos
sioiy even be able to reply with gravity
10 the ohiet argument of my other oppo.
neht' which couragenusly maintains thai ft
I" or interest, TO nouriSh tie coLoa;es.
ana protect HE commerce Of an rneniv.
Msanine, must leave this asssilsn,. Il,
spend their cross Gres on each other: for
the one declining the question of right, de.
mes that it is cur interest TO Suppress The
Usde !" question; the eihsr admits the
interest, tat disputes the right.
Let me Tor the present conclude, will,
tr~ brief suggestions to British mi
Mister on the superstition, tina, states
man OF this country can be really d;.possd
70 give way to the present claim, of A.
merica. And ! will further suopose ,hs,
statesman 10 be Mr.. Fox; not merely
Tor The sake feniveniHg The idea bu, for
mat OF protesting that no difference OF OPT.
Dion on SUCK subje could diminish ,heuD.
is'gned respect which lfeelforhis manlv,
generous, and aiDissle character since it's
very virtues would sufficiently explain 20
me the source of our Engagement.
Pause" would anxiously cry 10 him,
ION measure which if once adopted,
can never be recalled.
" Reflect, that stronger case for the
operation ofthc rights in question, than |
mat which now exists, cannot possibly a.
r'se' The present emergency. The new
s1a'e OF Tue war, the new system OF an
noyance adopted by the enemy, al least ,
IN its widened compass, and increased
prstlicabiiity, nay the very evils experi.
enced by former concessions, might now,
independently of their voluntary na
nre, clearly justify their entire revocation, |
much more The rejection Of clsirns fouud-
ed on afraudulent abuse of our indulgence. |
But If you now give way, and give
way to an imperious demand, founded !
on an asserted right...f you lower your
top sail: at the bidding of statc which
has not ship OF the lire, while above se-
ven hundred British pendants triumphant
l. maintain the empire Of the ocean,,.
hence forth you can set up no fair disiinc-
ton, you can aIledge no duties of tenn
porary necessity, to avoid the fatal prccc I
dent,...a principle on which your bci.ige-
rent energies greatly depend,is lost and |
abandoned forever.
Reject also, that by this rc!raefion OF |
a principle which our governments, as !
we'll as its supreme tribunals Of prize, hiss
strongly, practically, and as maintain,
consistently, asserted you will sink our
credit III Europe, and give countenance
to the foul charges of Bsnaparte.... we
shall reasonably be regarded not only as
ihe tyrants of the sea, bu. what, If not
more odieus, is at least more contempt.
Bile, rs pusillaniinous tJrsuts, who are inso-
lent and audacious when unexpected, but
shrink back from the spirited resistance.
" Nor is it in Europe alone, that VIC
shall incur this infamy. America herself
will despise u.s.. Our friends in that coun-
try will be abashed, and our enemies will
triumph. Your tardy compliance will
not DE sscribed to a sense of Justice, or
spirit OF Cancellation but 10 Commercial
panic, and the dread of a non.impsrtstion
law. Tie advocates for violent measures
wiliexultin The success Of that insolentpoli.
CO, which has sent you r1enaces, instead Of
srgumentss and non.importatiou rssoiuti.
ons, instead Of ambassadors. In word,
our concessions, will purchase for as
among our Transatlantic brethren, not
good will, but derision aud contempt.
Look next TO the consequences TO
Our navy, cur colonies, and our commerce,
Do you mean 10 make peace with
France, and are you sure Of such terms
as ysu are prepared 10 accept! Rsmem
Der sill that you have no assurance, nay
scarcely a rational hope, that any peace
you may nov make, viii last single
year and that the concession now de-
~ urfsd DfH f.nt loo sc yat,,i.to "a