Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-12-25

! facts, which shsw, by what principles the
revelation cCthiHSs has been moved, and
which so to- shew che origin 1t our present
situation, and incidentally afford ideas O.
( the course which events must inevitably
take; whatever may be our dispositions,
or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. wishes or our prelude
| CeS.
With us at this period of time, it cannot
be matter worthy of dispute whether
the French rev0iution WAS, az was not
founded In justice. Those who began it
thought so. Those who we're Interested
in the sabs!sting order of things; opposed
| it, and perhaps governed by selfish feelings,
thought the revolution unjust. Neither can
II be tous matter of dispute, whatever
may be our difference OF opinion OH forms
OF government, or on the issue of the
! FrcHci rcUOluh01, whether il has proriu-
| ced greater good or greater evil !; because
as the revolution has NOT in fact ceased, we
Cannot form an opinion OF effects which
! have not reached ,heir contamination.
| In like manner, we cannot think il of
much moment now, to dishHte about the
RIGHTS or WRONGS ; the justice or the in
justice Of the MOTIVES and ACTS of Those
powers OF Europe who engaged IN the sue
! ceSsive wars and coalitions against France;
! for the same motives which have actuated
IthOse, however, the pretenCes NAV be dis
guised We should only learn from the
EXAMPLES which they afford in SO much
! abundance-to ShuH similar errors, and a
similar f:tc. With their concerns among
each other we have noihing to do and our
! first duty as 1t is our best interests, to
maintain peaceablc relations, and good
faith towards them all. They have nothing
! to do with our concerns, and they have
nothing u apprehend fron our policy, nor
tronI our institutions, that can interfere
with theirs. Onr situation; our political
institutions; and the mode of administer
ing them; all declare, our interests and
policy 10 be RICHLY NEUTRAL.
Such is our condition in relation 20 the
nations of Europe, ahstractcdly. Bat we
shall be told, that although such is our po-
licy, and such our most rational mode OF
acting and thinking III relation 70 the ma
tons OF the world, those nations may not be
disposed to suffer IT'S 20 maintain that pa
ciiic and neutral policy. We may be told
that our poetic system gives us advantages
which opera rs SO many disadvantages
10 oihera. That while we are Increasing
i'll numbers, wealth, art, and manufactures,
sciences, improvements, and even n lie
respect Of mankind; those nations in, DIV
cd in war are decreaSing in all those Cir
cumStanceS; and that our ehcrease is rs
justfH5ie a subject of comhlaink or of qyar
as any preceding war Ill Europe has been
begun
We mean MOTTO answer such arguments,
because they are never uttered bV nations
who do rot think they have power ade-
2 quatc 10 maintain them; and who, WHEN
they employ their lncansto enforce them,
VII listen TO no other logic than tina, Of
force.
PerIapS every discerning man viii see
in this temperate aud general state of the
case, tn" actual circumstances in which
toe United States row stand inrelation to
the nations OF Europe. Ia this spirit we
presume every .Hm6Tic1n CYfizrn III heart
will consider it. And hc who views it diff
farcntlv, We conceive must be either very
Indifferent intormed; subject to very
pernici ius prcjudices; or very ininical to
the best interest 81 the federal union of A.
meriCa. We shall o6s1 few ad. Itionai
reflections Oh the subject in another paper
[Pu6Hc .Aaver'iSer.
{ The Jo!Eo7ving BILL is non 6et5re the Le-
gisla!ure Of Virginia.
A BILL
For the defence of the Eastern Frontier Of
this Commonwealth.
BE il enacted by the General Assembly,
that the Executive OF this Commonwealth
be, and they are hereby authorised and
required, 10 cause 20 be mounted on su,G-
Client aud proper carriages, AL the pieces
of Artillery belonging TO this common
wealth, tit for serv ce, the expense where
Of shall DC betrayed out OF ary monies in
the treasury
AND he it further enacted, That so
soon rs the conscutof Congress shall have
4.