Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-31

A
! tyranny of their king can produce. The
late revolution in France has certainly rem
dered it prudent and patriotic TO submit to
the gNU of their king, destructive as it is.
| As to the channel Of secret instructions,
there was great reason to believe chat the
order to the governors of the colonies, to
seize on the powder and arms in every CO.
lony on the day on which the attempt for
that purpose was made at Lexington and
Concord, came through that channel, as
governor Eden, of Maryland, laughed at it,
telling some of his friends that he had re-
ceived such a silly order, but the people
might take the ammunition for their defence
against any insurrection of slaves, sighting
it may be supposed silly instructions coming
through dirty conveyance, and at the same
time gaining popularity, and actually lull-
ing MARYLAND into state of sec2rity, from
which they were not reused till by Lord
Hillsborough' s intercepted letter to govern
or Eden, it was discovered that though f
den had disregarded those secret unofficial
instructions, he had stated his conduct,
and the reasons for it, in such manner-is
to receive that minister's highest approba-
ton; in consequence of which discovery,
and an attempt to seize on him, he made
his escape to Lord Dunmore's fleet, the
hat channel, came, we may suppose, on
Lord Dunmore's orders to shut the land Of
flee Gas he did to his own great loss of fees
on patents) in violation of the kings own
proclamation, and an act OF assembly sane
toned by his assent thereto; the instruct-
ons to invite our slaves by a promise of
| freedom, to repair to the royal standard
the instructions to British officers in the Jer-
| sizes ssto take nc prisoners" that is TO give
no quarters the instructions to Sir Guy
! Carlton, not to deliver up the negro slaves
which he had honoraby, in compliance with
the treaty, offered to deliver up, and had
called on Gen. Washington to appoint COM
missioners 10 receive the instructions to
hold the posts contrary to the treaty ofTtAce
we're all conveyed, through that same Sc
cret channel You may therefore see, Mr..
! Peasants, and YOU should keep the eyes of
! your argus open, to watch what may be
the consequence of such secret doings Re-
! " not on any negotiations which your go
vernment can possibly carry on with George
the Sd he will deceive our ministers, il
possible. 1t is to be devoutly wished that
instead of appealing to the justice of our un-
feeling oppressor, and wounding his proud
heart, our congress had appealed to the
lively feelings of the nation, TO the real
interests of that commercial nation. Acts
of congress, well supportedby associations,
or truly spirited non-importation and non
consumption agreement, would, without an
act Of congress, answer our purpose better
than any treaty we can evereXpect to make
with the ministers of Britain.
Let congress regulate its own commerce.
and the people consult their own real int.
rests, and Britain will soon discover that il
is her interest to open her islands TO on,
frecst intercourse-she will soon see thai
her interest in searching our vessels is 1ri-
fling, compared with that of receiving then
every where with open arms and affection
Let our citizens consider those things, anC
they will soon bring the British king to hi,
senses, with respect to tie United States, ~
least. For many of the manufacturers anG
merchants of Britain, will abandon her
1.-The revenue be greatly d mnished and natl.
onal discomfort increase, should there he a
spirited non-importation and ncn-cohsump.
ton agreement throughoutth the UnitcdSta
---all of which may be prevented BY proper
instructions to the governors of the British
colonies and commanders of ships of wat
and privateers, issued through fiu6Hc o6fci.
al channels, which might open the ports &c
our vessels, and prohibit the impressmentS
and veXatous searches, without exposing
the king to the modification of discovering
to the nations of Europe that he had beer
obliged TO condcscend TO enter into treaty
OF commerce with his lately reUoited sub
jecfs, and to abandon, on their demand
these searches and impressments for which
he had so long most strenuously commended
as essentially necessary to the support o
that naval superiority of which he and hi!
subjects are so proud. The utmost, in thi!
case, that could be said, would be that he
had yielded to the entreGtles Of his mert
: chants and manufacturers, and not TO I'M
demands ofthe repeited coioniSfS: that hC
was in fact, wisely recovering that CONNER
cial intercourse with them, which he haC
so foolishly lost.
AS to the tools and emissaries of the Bri
/ tish government, let them be watched, anC
: when detected in their work Of mischief
let them be deah with according TO dv, j
they come within the law ; if not, let then
, be denounced, and warned to alter Their
: conduct, or to depart from the u. States
, There was time when such persons wert
furnished with dress or suit of tar and fea
, theirs, and sent out of the state where found
-. If any persons express a fondness 70
monarchy or aristocracy, whether alien
or citizens, let them be instantly exhortet
to remove to Britain, France, Spain, or an
J., other monarchy in Europe, Asia or Africa
j And if they are merchants, let no republi
i, can sell or buy Of them a shilling's worth {
y any thing. Let foreigners, if they will re
side amongst us for commercial purposes
i learn to mind their own business, and t