Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-26
From the LiperfOOl Chronicle, August 5.
WAR WITH AMERICA.

From the continent of Europe the atten-
ton OF this country has been diverted to
that OF America, by an event which cam
not be two much regretted--an action be-
tween an American and a British friGate,
as we noticed in our last, in which several
men were killed, This act OF hostility o.
rlginated IN an attempt to search the Anne
rican frigate, which was resisted. liz is
hardly possible to describe the cousterna-
tion the first intelligence of This event oc-
caSioncd amongst mercantile men, who
contemplate the bare possibility OF an a.
meric2n war with horror, yet the minis
tcrial papers, with diabolical phrenzy,
have hot scrupled TO congratulate the pub
lie on the probability of such ruinous e.
vent taking place. If at any period it was
the interest of u commercial country TO
enlarge its system of warfare which has
generally, if not always, ruined the cause
1t protested TO serve, we think the present
time, of all others, the most inauspicious.
We sincerely hope that wa shall not be
plunged into a course of unmeaning host-
i'ties with nation which, for seventeen
ears, has been profiting but silent spec
;atress ofthc commissions which have occu
pied the attention OF Europe-and in whose
prosperity we are greatly interested. Sc
ven millions of our annual exports have
their market in America; and though
ninc-tCnths OF the revenue Of America may
depend on her external commerce, and its
consequent dim!nution would become GER
tain from rupture with England, yet the
disadvantages of contest would prepon-
d"rate against us. While we have been aug
| menting cur public burdens, America
has been changing her internal economy,
and widening the sources of her CONNER
| c'al prosperity. Our West India colonies
would become materially injured by a war,
| the Atlantic would ;eem with innumCrablc
cruiscrs, to the great annoyance of our
trade, and 70 the ruin of our manufacture
ers Our government ought not to forget
hat several of the powers, which we as
sumo upon the ocean, such rs those of
searching neutral ships, ur allowing or dis
! allowing various branches OF ne utrai trade
are such rs to occasion no Slight interrupt
on, modification and loss to the Americans /;
and undoubtedly these acts, Unnecessary for
cGr interests, ought to be attended with as
conciliatory 81 language and manner as pos
,'5.c. Thefe is good evidence, however,
TO believe that tho contrary is the case, and
shat they are very frequently attended
with circumstances of studied insult and
oppression. For this, the temper of our
cheers and sailors IN many respects so adj
lTiraEic, is chiefly To blame; but it has
Hot hitherto been sufficiently the care OF
government, by express and percmplory
liniuEcrlops, to guard against this impoitic
conduct.
At late hour last night we received
lChartes'on papers to the 9th plt. inclusive
Their columns are filed with details of the
unhappy renccntre between the Leopard
and Chesapeake, and the resolutions OF
meetings held in various parts of the Unit
ed States, in consequence of that unfortu-
mate affair. Our limits will not allow their
insertion, but the substance of them is, tc
express the horror and Indignation excit.
ed by the occasional determination &c
support with life and property the govern.
mcnt, in obtaining satisfaction-to prevent
all intercourse with British ships of war
to refuse all supplies-to invite the pilots
to re use their assistance towards conduct.
ing any such ships of war into their har.
bors--and to hold as infamous ali who vic.
late these resolutions, or refuse co-opera-
ton. At Norfolk the conduct of the citi.
zens OF Hampton, who DESTROYED the wa.
ter casks belonging TO the British fr,gate
Ale'ampus, was voted highly laudable and
praise worthy. The meetings, il is said
have been conducted with great temper
and moderation, considering the circum.
stances under which they met, The mer
taken from on board the Chesapeake, are
said to be native Americans, and II others
are reported 20 be detained on board the
\ bellona, ship belonging to the same squad
ron. The volunteer companies Throughout
the union are rendering their services tc
government. The Norfolk paper states
that the irritation of the public mind, far
from moderatng, appears daily to in
crease-an officer from the Leopard had
the temerity to venture on shore the peo-
pie, mcensed, broke into the house where
he had taken refuge, and were about to
4 proceed TO acts Of violence, when captain
Decatur of the Chesapeake arrived, and
! with great difficulty rescued him-he was
afterwards put on board boat, with a
guard OF soldiers. and conveyed to the ship.
1t was reported that threats had been
thrown out, that the British squadron
would obtain supply of water by force.
Preparations were made by the people to
resist the attempt. Business in Norfolk
was entirely alta stand All party distinc-
tons were set aside, and every man stood
prepared to resist further aggression.
NEW YORK, September IS.