Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-08


of time and words. The fact is as clear.
as the light of the sun at noon day. That
the government ofthis country, IN all their
relations with Eng gland, have mauifesteGa
desire to be governed by tho eternal prn-
cIples OF justice and the law of Nations,
will not, l think, be denied by honest and
honorable men.
Ii, therefore, the new British ministry
were DESTROYS of bemefiting their country.
or OF doing Justice, no question could ex-
list as to whether they would involve G..
Britain in a war with the United States.
or preserve her friendship and neutrality.
But he who rest upon the good faith or ho-
nest intentions of such men as Gieiviiks and
CaStlcredgh, and their conductors, does in
deed rest upon broken reed. They have
neither private virtue nor political integri-
ty Tney are altogether governed bv sell
hsh pursuits and corrupt hearts. They
would, if their power was equal to their
will, sweep from the face OF the earth e.
very vestige of freedom. They are the
men who advised the present King To strike
from his list of privy counsellors, the name
of Charles James For for drinking at 4
public meeting" The Sovereignty of the
People"
l have now in my possession letter
written by an eminent, yes and virtuous,
1894, which exhibits trait in the charac-
ter of the British government, under the
guidance OF the present administration,
which is important in the present situation
OF the two countries. At that time SAN
guine hopes were entertained of the subu-
cation and division of France. Many of
J her fortified towns were in possession of
the allies. Her fleet at Toulon nearly des-
troyed, and Lord Howe had gained the fa-
| nous battle of the LIST and I'd of June. The
hearts of ministers beat high, and their
boundless schemes of tyranny were talked
of, almost without disguise.
1t was at this period that the merchants
of London who trade to the u. S. waited
on the Prime Minister, Pin, to know whe-
Their they had any just cause to believe
that war would break out between CT.
Britain and the United States. PiLt's first
answer was" Be cautious" Upon being
urged to be more cxp!cit, as the mercan-
tile interest was deeply Interested, his an
swer was" The .fmericanS haze Jacobi-
nicGl firincihLes, and must be corrected :"
People of America /! if you believe that
the men who now hold the helmn of the
British government are animated with
one atom less OF hatred to you, and your
republican institutions, than was William
Pitt, be most assured '|you deceive YOUR
selves, and the truth is not in YOU"
Recollect that their agents do not scru-
pie IN the daily prints, even of America,
TO threaten you into submission. A late
paper OF Cullin says that "England has
now cabinet better Jiffed to deal with US
than the late administration-and that
they will make US rue fhe evil hour when
we attempted to buster against the late
treaty. The prints in their pay in En-
gland boast that " the hour of concession
to America is passed" insultingy insinua-
ting that for them TO do US Justice would
be favor which we had no right TO ex-
Pect.
In the new parliament, these men will
have large majority !; this will assuredly
add TO their insolence, and thew will, re-.
gardless OF justice or interest, run the coun-
try headong to ruin. If the French COM
lhLetely defeat the Russians, it may appal
their coward hearts, and we may have
that justice from their fears which we could
never hope from their virtues.
Not content with committing acts of nj
racy-not satisfied with compelling 5000
OF our citizens to fight her battles-not vet
satisfied with numbering an American CT
citlzen, on board an American vessel with
in the jurisdiction of the United States,
they bring the murderer To a mock trial
acquit him-dnd Promote him Is not This
! offering bounty for the murder of an A.
merican citizen Can such conduct be to
leratcd long? Is it hos8ible to preserve
peace with such perhdious abettors of the
most wanton outrage and the most unpro-
Voked murder?
! We love Peace, sincerely and from orr
souls do we love it, We would drain the
cup of Cancellation to the last drop even
with the wrong-doers, but, there is a point
beyond which forbearance would be
crime. To that point very much fear we
shall be driven. God grant am mistaken,
& preserve tous the blessing of peace Lest
however, we should be dragooned into A
war, let us in time prepare our minds to
meet 1t. Let the sons and the daughters OF
the heroes and Sages of the Revolution pre-
pare TO emblazon the deeds of their sires
by glorious emulation in the cause of
their country. Let the emigrants from e.
very cline under heaven, who have here
found an asylum, prove that they are wor,
thy the name of American citizens. Let
hope for, and desire to preserve, peace,
but let us not be unprovided for war. Re.
member Constantinople. Remember also
that the experience of America has en-
Phatically answered the interesting inoui.1>
ny of,
'What are fifty, nay a thousand Slaves,
. o the nerve of single arm
"Ihat strikes for Liberty ?''-Press.