Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-24
Dlr0Snla Nraa9.
RIG H NJ o n d:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER "a, 1907.

REPORTS are still uncertain and con-
Trajectory, concerning the state of our ne
gociation in England and tine question of
war or peace continues doubtful. IN such
situation ofaffairs variety OF speculate
ons will naturally be made according to the
different opinions entertained of the pro-
bable result We may therefore be indu-
gcd in hazarding few observations OH the
subject.
Notwithstanding the news that Mr. Non
roe had left London, that British insolence
had been swollen to the highest pitch by the
capture of Copenhagen, and had declared
all neutral vessels trading to any of the
countries under Bonaparte's dominion or
influence TO be lawful prizes, we conceive
there may yet remain hope that the door
| OF accommodation kept open by our govern
mcnt will not finally be shut. We are in
Guccd TO say this, not from any impression
that Great-Britain has returned to her sem
ses, nor from any reliance on her dispositi-
! on 90 MS justice but we believe the utter
| destruction, which would attend her from
the loss Of the American trade at this
| junoture, will restore her at least to a lucid
| interval, and make her, like a mailman on
the edge OF precipice, stop short, AMI
pause before she plunges into irretrevab
perditicn. The necessity Of her o7cn FIRE
scrUG;ion, which her miniOns in this coun-
try pretend is her Indictment fer !nsistingon
the right of seizng our sc amen, is certain
ly so much more pressing in favor of her
not relinquishipg trade BY the loss of
which nearly ali her merchants would be-
GENE bankrupts and her manufacturers
starved, that, surely, If she possesses the
| smallest glimmcring of rea>on, SHE will NOT,
FOR her own sake, so 20 war with the Unit
| ed States.
Thouch many men will commit injustice
, for the sake ofpromoting what they suppose
to he their interest, or OF gratifying their
passions, few or none will perpetrate it,
wien they know it to be TO their own dis
| advantage. Veal, rs the intellects of the
| tyrsnt George the Sd, s Of his present mi
nistry generally are, even they mus be sem
sjbe that their subjects cannot dispense
with the trade to the United States, at
time when Bon"parte has shut them out
| from nearly all the continent of Europe !;
and, if, indeed, they are so simple as not
| 20 know this, their wealthy merchants
I know it, and the remonStrances of that nu-
| mcrous and powerful class OF men must be
| heard and complied with We think it
! therefore NEST probable that the return of
! the schooner Revenge, which is now so anx-
! ioGsly expected viii bring information
/ that some arrangement has been made, by
| which thcY will not lose their trade with
| America, and our seamen will be relieved
! from the danger of inipressment in short.
that we shall still enjoy the blessings Of
! pcaCe, not because our enemies are unwil-
! ling to disturb us, but because they cannot
| do IT, without great and irreparAble in
/ jury to themselves.
1 -
l TIyR ppertJA-r nj fi,a IT,;+ol
accused 81 his enemies nf induigng real
inclination to 90 70 war with Great Britain,
hidden under the feigped appearance Of Il
love OF peace. His demands are said to@ie
unreasonable, and such as cannot be gran
ted by the government of that country with
out endaagering its national existence
These are heavy charges indeed. Let
US see how they are supported. What is
it that our government demands of The Rri.
fish ministry? Only that retribution may
be made for the abomiuablc outrage on The
irigate Chesapeake, and security gwen q.
gainst the repetition Of similar wrongs
for that purpose, that the flag of the Unit.
ed STAKES shall protect ali persons sailing
under IT from violence and oppression
which can be done only by maintaining q,
correct principles that free ships consttut,
free goods, and that all persons i'm sucl
ships shall be free fTom arbitrary 8eizu-I
or imhreSSmcnt.
The President does net demand that GU
flag shall protect dcsctcrs IRON, the BritisI
service from being legally reclaimed, o.
proof that such is truly INC case. Thos
! whoarguc upon tie supposition, that he O. n
tends for an absolute exemption Of British
seamen from the claim of their officers
either grossly misunderstood, or wilfup
misrepresent the nature of tho crntrCycrs
st present existing bet vecn the two coun
: tries. If the government of the u. STATE
, had M fact insisted on concession OF tia
, sort from Great Britain, we would not SC ~
= pie to acknowledge rs conduct 70 be ui.rea
sonable and not auihoris", by tho law ,
nations. But the fact is otherwise III
, question is not whether British desertcr
! shall he reclumcd, or no. but whcthc
they shall he taken from on board cur YES
seis, and 6Nj Orce ?--that is to say, whethe
n every British officer shall be Judge in hi
d. own cause, and seize every man whom h
may think proper to charge with being
dererter from his ship?
The latter is the course which has m
p thcTto been pursued, TO the dreadful injur
y OF many thousands Of unfortunate America
Citizens, and the great annoyance Of o.
T. commerce. a nuisance so intclergblc ca
y no longer be submitted to by free pcoDie
- and, if Great Britain will persist in putin
T. II IN practice, inevitable war must be III
u consequence. But, if she is nor determine
- to 20 to war with all tho world, and like