Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-08

so securely up, that at the very moment 1 am
Pcaking, the cannon OF Britain may be carry
ing ruin ard havoc into our defcnceiess sea-
ports. Mr.. G.. could not persuade himself,
that British admiral would voluntarily
sumo so awful responsibility. He could
not believe that the aGmiral's own orders
were less precise and positive than those
which he gave TO the captain OF the Leo
pard. Yet, if he could even believe Mat,
he could not believe that this outrage
would have been followed up, and con-
summated by bringing to trial, condemn
ing, and executing one of the unfortunate
men, who owed his death to his confidence
IN the inviolabi,ity of the American flag !;
and that too, after it was known at Halifax,
what poignant sensations the attack Itself
had excited here after the Presidents
proclamation itself was known there. He
would bave paused, SAID MIR. q. before he
proceeded to this dreadful extremity. He
would have waited for new, and more pre-
else orders, ifhIs instruction had NOT been
already clear, and explicit. Can we, said
he, In events subsequent to this, find any
cause to console each other with = hope Of
peace No, sir. From the tine the procla-
nation was issued, to this very moment, has
Il British squadron remained in our waters,
pcrsisting IN the violation of our territory,
with an air of scorn and defiance, which
while it ought TO awaken all that is Ame-
rican in US, excludes almost every ray of
hope Could gentlemen indulge In hope,
when they heard that the British vessels
in the lakes had been armed That the
British forces in Canada were e..crea-
sed and concentrated That the forth
| fications at Quebec were repairing |!
That at H.liiaZ, one hundred men
were draughled from the militia, to assist
in placing that post in state OF defence |!
That an additional number of ships and
troops we're expected? Did any thing from
oar ministers at ST. lanes's encourage
nope? Any thing that could be collected
from the political journals there? When
we see the British ministry, said he, pre-
pairing for war, taking those steps which
this government ought Co have taken long
ago, could they longer console each other
with the hope ofpeace There was nothing
to induce them to de'ay for 4 moment, the
most active preparation. ltIs true, they
were in some degree eXcuseabte, for not
having acted on this subject hitherto. The
| Presidents Message. tho' it had commu
nicated to them Information Of the attack
on the Chesapeake, did not state, whether
1t was in the opinion of the exc cutivc NEST
probable that We should have war, or that
We should not have war; it merely stated
that p ace m ght not continue. They were
left, therefore, to deliberate as they could,
uninfluenced and undirectcd by an express
sion of what was the opinion of the eXecu-
tive. Bat as from the q, own impulse, they
had at last arrived at the subject, he no.
ped they would go fully into it. Our ports,
| he said, ought to be fortified, whether we
are ultimately to have peace or war. But
4 L. (
entreated gentlemen TO consider, whether
the prospect was not as gloomy as it could be
! in any State ofthings short OF actual war. But
if, Contrary to ali sound calculation, cur
peace should continue, the determination
to fortify ought i'll his opinion not to be gi-
ven up; that at another time we may be
better prepared than we are now. He no.
I ped therefore, some opinion would be cx-
| pressed as TO the sum to be appropria-
| ted for the fortihcation: he must pro-
| TESS his conviction that neither of the sums
| mentioned by the chairman otthe comm, =
tee were enough to satisfy that part of the
| people to whose safety eifectual fortIficati-
ons were so essential The sum Of $50, 600
| doll trs had been mcpt oned as a sufficient
sum; if they once attempted to fort fy i,
| they must do it eifectually if they appro.
! priated a sum for defence It must be suhi
Client, or the money they did expend, won d
be completely thrown away. Eie hoped
the House would resolve Cffectualy 10 pro-
tect our ports and harborS: when they,did
that, they did what their country demanded
and had right ode mand ofthem. When
they only half fortified, they made show
TO induce the people 10 believe Trey would
do something tor Them. He should as soon
expect 4 farmer 70 ience but half his ground,
y tRus leave his crop exposed, as that they
would go ut ha,f way in fortifyinc against
an enemy He hoped they wcuid not
squander away money to no purpose for
his part ne wonld not vote for less than a
suhic .ent SUN for Ifhe did, he should con-
slider Himself as violating those principles
of economy which should always he atteu-
ded TO in government. Mr.. G.. wished the
House not only to make sound, but act rs
Though they meant to do something Upon
this subject his constituents were ieel,nplv
alive 10 every thing which transpired from
that House {: they had petitioned formerly
and had received petty appropriations
which might all have been expended ON s
feet Of ground. This would not do any
longer; something must eithcrbe done for
them, or they must be told that they must
take care of themselves, and then they
would know what TO do.
At this time, when they saw approach
ing so nearly to them--when a. " saw al
most realized that state Of war which tbev
had so often been told might happen, and |
Tor which the people had been SO often
warned TO prepare, Mr. G hoped tbey
would u1U r Fl.