Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-22
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N""pi"tiS HSdNiiV Of the OOSSrNdtiollS IN tl(
Argus of the 18th instant, relative to the
Fcderalists and British Merchants.
With respect to the latter, the writer OF
the accusing paragraph, has taken the
pains of three times repeating the 2sSerti-
on that thew are not indie ted to the Viz.
GINA planters, but the planters are indebt-
ed to them. When n man makes many as
severations in support OF any fact which, if
true, would stand in need of one aftirmati-
on only, his testimony is generally consi-
dered as suspicious. The person VINO wrote
that paragraph, appears TO be Il still more
questionable witness when we observe he
has evidently betrayed his partially to Bri-
fish men, and, of course, we presume, his
attachment to British interests, in the sem
tence in which he says IS there is net n SIN
gle British merchant or factor, gvk0 1ner6fs
lhat mare, or Virginian who exports 20
Britain from this state, at present ndsb' ed
20 planter or farmer, &c, We beg .eave
TO ask this worthy writer, what il the
peculiar aleris of B'1tish merchant
ar factor above all other merchants and
tactnrs! For our part, we are OF opinion
that o;her persons of that description are
IS respectable and meritorious, {not to say
! more SOY than those who have had the
honor Of British Connections, or even Of
giories in its subsection to that Sutltent So-
vereign, George the Sd
| Being of this opinion, and believing from
the most respectable information; that the
facts were positively such as we c0mmuni-
Gated to the public, we shall not repent our
! having given warning to our countrymen,
nor regard the Si7lceB viii h such char
acters must be expected to express, when
| attempts are made TO counteract their
schemes.
| We are told that the observations in the
| Argus were ESin the present state OF al
fairs" extremely injudicicus and impro-
per !---Surely, ia tic hresem state o. at-
fairs, when we appear to be upon the eve
of a war with Great-Britain, such obsey-
vations, if they ever could be proper at all,
are most peculiarly seasOnable and neccs-
sary. IF no dscord existed between the
! two nations, they would be inexpedient,
and therefore injudiciouS and improper
| As to the injurious reflections, VII CHI We
are charged with hav ny Cast or the Fede-
ralists, we aver that, il the whole of the
! piece inserted in the Argus, is taken toge-
, ther, it will not fairly bear the lnteipreta-
! tion which has been put upon it, Our OH
iect was not TO accuse the teder;l party Il,
so far as they are free from the mixture Of
augio-federaists, with being s'inSidioES
and hyhocriticGi fjes" of their country /;
nor as "ScIfe1tS ready 70 sting RE iacQu-
ti0uR passenger :" nor "aS 7v0lves ia
sheeh'S ckoa,htng, reQdy "a deuour lheir I'M
lsishectiHg neigh5ors Al these are The
geuteel expressions of the Virginia Ga
zette not OF the Argus
We only meant TO say that the zeal which
tbs Iederalists at present display in the pub
ic service, and in their various patriotic re-
solutions, docs not proceed from reconcile
alton to the present administration, nor
from disposition to unite with the repub-
lican party, In the principles they have hi
therto advocated. We believe they are as
sincerely attached to the good of their cour-
try as the republicans, and as cordially de-
test the outrdges committed against it BY
the British; but that they are willing &c
unite with us, only upon their own terms
that is to say, they are still welded to tho
system of energetic government, of navies,
Notifications, standing armies, *, of course.
ofhclvy taxes, which are its necessary con
sequences and will Coalesce with us, SO fal
as we agree to measures which tend to pro.
mote the establishment Of that system, but
no farther.
These are the opinions which we inten
ded to have expressed, and shall continue Il
entertain, until we have better evidences Of
a radical change in the principles of the
federal party than any we have yet before
US. We conceived 1t, therefore, to be i'm
portant to prevent, as far as we we're able
the spirit of coalition, (Which is certainly
praiseworthy, and desirable, where it Cal
properly Accomplishment from being car
ried to an imprudcnt length: and we mus
be excused for again declaring that the re
Publicans ought to take care, viii c they Ii
! bera.ly receive the federalsts as friend
., and felIow-laboreis, in their country
, Cause, that they do not embrace their h7Yn
cities, and be induced to JON with them Il
S abusing tie worthy men, who now conduc
t our public affairs.
THE Enquirer has joined the Virgini
r Gazette in full cry against the Argus
\ In that paper of yesterday the paragraph
e III opposition to- us have been republishe
without inserting the piece to- which thos
= paragraphs were intended as an answ a
10 This we humbiy conceive was a little un
n fair There is also long preface 90 til
] republication, consisting ofncarly colum
Y Of remarks, about the necessity of pUiitica
= concord, and the supposed union OF the ie
d deralists and republicans, which is tneT
t pronounced to be complete Ii this is re
c ally SO, we congratulate all our couutryme
T. upon this happy event; and, particularly
j. the Editor Of the Enquirer; as the win
,f will Of course continue TO blow always ON
c way hereafter, and he will be saved th
- trouble of shifting his course so Frequent,
---As coalition IS now the order &C th