Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-30

their system must be that of the sceptics,
who were OF opinion that all things were
doubtful
But, strange to tell they wanted not on
ly documents to establish these points, but |
" sufficient time tojudge of those measures |
by their effects )" that is, we apprehcnd, to |
Judge OF their hrmness, Justice and liberali- |
V Qor nothing else was brought in questi-
on, their wisdom not having been mention
ed IN the resolution) by the contingency of
their success in accomplishing the end in
tended ! Certainly, candid consideration
OF the measures themselves ought TO have
been sufficient to enable the Senate To form
correct Judgment of their merits in eve
ny respect; forever the wisdom Of any mea-
sure ought not to be estimated by suisse
quent events, which may be beyond the
control OF human power. The principle
is bad enough to condemn a measure as UNI
wise, because it is not crowned with sue
cess, or to wait for the event when vulgar
minds are always ready to Join in the cry
OF applause, before we will bestow our APP
| probation on wisdom, which derives its self
supported honors, not from fortune, but
from merit. According to this mode of
reasoning Gen. Washington in the midst of
ms adversely contendiRg with the British
forces In New-JerSey, however wisely his
troops were disposed, and however excel
lent the precautions he took to obtain adj
Vantages over the enemy, was not entitled
TO praise, until his success was known and
if he had finally failed, would have been
denied all pretence to the character of wis
dom. Yet, il he had failed and been hang
ed as traitor, every judicious historian
would have pronounced him truly great.
But toJudge of the justice, JfrnlnesS and Ii
oerahEy OF measures by their success, is
much more preposterous For, surely, in
public as well as private affairs, an action
may be just, firm and liberal, althn' it may
not be the wiscst or best calculated to en-
sure success, which might have been devil
sed on the occasion. Altho' the Justice s.
ilberality ofour proposals may be scornfu!-
ly reJected.by powerful despots altho' their
arrogance may desPise our firmness, and,
in the end, may drive us into a war; vet,
the hrmness, justice and libcrality of the
measures we have hitherto adopted, will for
ever remain unimpaired.
BUTT was said that the resolution was
designed as censure on the conduct of the
minority incongress,- tended therefore
to prevent the freedom of debate in that
lbody, to diminish the independence of tie
members, and to increase Executive inAn-
ence.
formed acknowledgement of the resolu,ionfrom
the plain purport of its own language not
from any specchesof members of the house
OF Delegates, declaring their individual
motives IN voting forit. The warm dccla-
nations OF some members against the mino-
| rlty III congress, and the exaggerated prai-
ses heaped upon them by others, ought to
haVebcen put entirely out of sight. since
not word in the resolution expressed a con-
dcmnation OF the minority, unless it was
necessarily implied in the act of apnrovipp
the measures of the majority. But such
conclusion could by no means be drawn
with propriety from such premises. The
motives OF the gentlemen who had differed
IN opinion with the majority would not have
oeen necessarily impeaChed, nor their re-
puDlican principles denied, because the Ge-
neral Assembly of Virginia, exercising the
sduie right OF tree declaration of opinion of
which those gentlemen had availed them
serves III congress, took the liberty of agree
ing with those from whom they had dis
sented. We grant indeed, that the ammo
batlon OF the policy Of the majority Implied
dlsapprobation Of the opinions of the mi
norlty relative to that subject. But the con-
sure went no farther: and no rational man
can say that difference of opinion as TO
inc poilcy OF certain measures, not involv-
ing the vital principles of republicanism,
ought to be construed as a condemnation of
either party by the other The friends of
the minority therefore acted iniuniciouslv
by widening the breach too much. bv de-
claring that the difference between them
ana their opponents was so great, that the
latter could not be applaudcd without the
utter reprobation of the former.
AS to the charge, that resolutions of this
kind tended TO prevent the freedom Of de-
bate in congress, we will observe that il
pays very poor compliment to the in
dependence and republican spirit of the
members # that body. Particularly, VIC
presume that the patriotic FIRE of the Ho-
norable John Randolph, which shone forth
with so much lustre in defiance of the o.
overwhelming majority which opposed him,
would not have been extinguished by the
cold water attempted tebe hrown uponitby
the General Assembly of his native state:
even If all its Senators and Delegates had
combined their labors for that purpose
we have too good an opinion Of the sim
Certify and energy of mind which that gem
tleman POSSESSES, not to be persuaded that
in him reaction will always be at least e.
quail 20 action, and that his talents will e.
/ ven be invigoratsd by opposition, like
some elastic springs which recoil with the
greater force the greaterth pressure is up
on them; and we doubt not that his worthy
coadjutors will follow the example ofthcir
! leader, & be as firm s. inhexible as himself.
/ No fp RI need fhercFora have tcor 49,.