Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-01

convene congrt SIS Immediately after the
outrage on tine Chesapeake.
1t has been said that congress ought to
have been called for the purpose of laying
an embargo. and Of suspending all inter
course with Great Britain until ample repa-
ration had been made for the injury, and
sufficient security given that it should not
be repeated, that, therefore, 40 messen-
ger should have been sent to that country,
but the first advances to peace and re-
Cancellation should have come from her.
Sentiments to this effect were often express
ed in mapy OF the patriotic resolutions to
Which the general lrtrst Of public indigna-
ton gave birth and it would have certain
~ been proper TO adopt all those measures
at the instant, If i, had been ABSOLUTELY GER
tain that the British government had au-
thorised the brutal conduct of Capt. Ham
fhrieS. twas indeed beheped by ourselves,
that such was really the case: the sarious
pubic meeting ,whichdeclared' he same Cpl
Mon, were certainly justified By the circum-
stances in doing 50 and nothing but CT Brit
aims evincinga friendly disposition towards
this country by acccdiug 10 our just de-
nands oughtto induce anychangein that Opt
Mon. If, on the return Of the sch'r Revenge,
1t shall be found that the king and his mi
niStry will not conclude treaty with the
United States ON the principles of justice /;
that they will not rcinquish the prete nded
right of searching our vessels and sezing
our seamen; we shall Arrays believe (not-
withstauding their recalling Admit Berke-
ley, aud 5lisavowing the violence committed
by the commander OF the Jeopardy that
our first opinion was correct, and that, in
fact, they directed and approved the cap
fure of the Chesapeake frigate. Ii will,
Their, be proper to determine on all the mea-
smes above mentioned, and, indeed, to go TO
the ultimate lenEth Of declaring war. We
believe, indeed, that the President himself
conturrcd in the general belief that the Bril-
fish ministry we've chargabe with the muir
, der of our seamen, and the gross insult on
our national nag; aud therefore expected
tthat war would he the necessary conSe-
foucncc: and the Truth perhaps is that, if
we ultimately avoid that calamity we shall
b. indebted for tue blessing To tie successes
of the emperor Napoleon Compelling q
Britain to lower her tone and yield to the
demands of America for the sake OF her
own preservation and TO the wise aud pru-
dent policy of The President.
The moment OF passion excited by just
Indignation for intoerable wrongs, vas n"t
the moment most suitable for calm deli5e-
ration, and for deciding on the best course
which ought TO have been pursued.
e The conclusion. that congress ought to be
called Immediately, which was hastily
drawn from the opinion that the govern
ment of Great Britain had sanctioned the
attack ON the Chesapeake, did not correct
1y follow from the premises. Although
that opinion was founded on very strong
grounds, it was h1s8ibke that it might he q
- ;1 ,;cE 10 n,
not, could not hostfiucLy be asccrtained, but
bv sending messenger To make the eAqui-
ry; until which was done, and the messen-
ger had returned, congress could not have
sufficient dato upon which 20 act conclusive
~ This is tie course therefore which the
President pursued. and the time isnow APP.
preaching when the return Of the messen-
ger Will iu,nsh those data and, then, thC
republican, majority in congress will, il ne.
CeSSary, act in such 4 manner rs to vindi.
cate the insultcd honor OF their country.
If they had been assembled sooner, how
readily would the federalists and ether op
p0nents of the administration have abgSeC
Mr. jefferson for calling then together, a
time when he could not furnish them Wit
the necessary information concerning th'
views * designs of the British government
Hwy readily would they have said (and how
Justly tool that he had subjected the unioi
20 4 great and useless expense The,
would have said that the p, sident ha'
meanly shrunk from taking any responsible
lity uUon himself that the members O
Congress were met together in the dark ant
were Obliged TO sit with their hands folded
unable 20 do any thing, without running Tia
risl. Of committing dangerous error.
Such probably would have been the Ian
guage OF certain members, who formerl
opposed lhc act for harfiat hon-importa
tiuD Of British manufactures, as a measur
leading to war, and would surely therefor
not have been in favor of a general non i'm
psreston, before the temper and resoluti
6ns OF the British government, relative
the affair of the Chesapeake, could hav
been certainly known. They would hav
insisted, with great propricty, that wa
measures oughtnot TO be adopted again'
any nation III every proper effort for tn
preservation of peace had proved abortiy'
From gentlemen Of their extraordinar
uiIdne8s and Pacific di8fosifiOHS no lc'
could have been expected.
We repeat, therefore, that if coHgre'
had been convened by the President, in
m iateiy on his receiving the news froI
liorfok, there would have been nothir
which they could with propriety have dor,
cxccptto pass an act ofHPpropriation. TIL
laying an embargo considering the va
nuurer of vessels belonging to the Uni
ed States, at that moment in BIRTHS
ports, and afOat On the ocean, would hay
been a useless and dangerous measure