Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-27
Dtrglnta argu9..
R I C H NJ o N d:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER OF, 1907.

vi duuiliohai appropriations TO the Navy
Department are particularly interesting, as
they evince the disposition of certain per-
sons in that body to find fault, at any rate
with every thing which can be done by the
President of the United States. They ac-
cuse him of having made appropriations of
the public money without being authorised
by law; and censure him severely for not
having convened Congress Immediately af-
ter the outrage on the Chesapeake. AS
usual, Mr.. JOHN RANDOLPH leads the at
tack, and seems cordially disposed to hunt
down Ut he could) the present republican
administration to which he was once so
warmly attached. Let us give those mea-
surcs, which he has made the subject of
reproaCh, a concise and candid examina-
ton.
The facts appear to be, that the -Presi-
dent, Perceiving the necessity of preparing
for war with Great-Britain, in case the
perverseness of her government should
compel the United States to resort to that
alternative but, notwithstanding the in
dignation which he felt for the insults and
injuries we had received, being still des-
rnus OF remaining at peace with her, and
with all the world, if peace could be pre-.
served on honorable terms was of opinion
that the best course to be pursued on the oc-
casion was to send messenger to Great
Britain to demand satisfaction for the vio-
ence committed, and security against the
repetition of similar outrages, and, in the
mean time, (until an answer could be OBJ
tained) to make the proper cXertions to put
orr militia and navy, in a state fit for ac-
ton. Il surely will not be denied by any
rational politician that this was the true
Course which wise regard for the public
good pointed ont. But, it is SAID, that, for
the purpose Of making these preparations,
or, of taking any other step which their
wisdom might prefer, Congress ought to
have been called Why, distrust, we are
told, the representatives of the peopie9
The President has not been guilty of that
distruSt nor of any want of respect for the
representatives of the people He is not
enc of those who fear the tumultuous passi-
ons Of popular assemblies in free and en-
lightcned country like this, or who think
that the people by their representatives
cannot be trusted with their own govern
ment. The reasons which actuated his
conduct were very different and, We hum
bly, conceive, we're the following:
He knew, in the circumstances of this
country, of Youthful nat on, fiourishing
in the prosecution of the arts of peace, and
rising rapidly in wealth and strength, but
needing all shat wealth for the Internal inn
provement Of an immense territory, and
particularly interested not to waste that
strength in Improbable contests, that the
continuance o. peace was point of the
utmost Importance
Conscious of this, altho' he might with
great plausibility have imputed to orders
from the British ministry the improper
conduct of Capt. Hnmfhries, Tor rather of
Admiral Berkeley yet, as it was POSSIBLE
SrT it,hf ba,
thOrised by them, he conceived it proper
! Gas well for the sake of our own inter est,
| as of that decent respect which one gov
eminent owes to another at least to en-
! quire of the government of Great Britain,
! whether this was the case or not, before
war should be declared. 1t would certain
| ly nave been an unnecessary expense to as
| semble Congress fer the purpose of sending
a messenger 20 Great-Britain and, until
this had been done, and an answer rece;v-
ed; Congress won d mot have had the in
! formation TO enrbe them To act on the sub
| jcct For the purpose of avoiding the ne
| cessity CT Frequently converting Congress,
which would be attended with vast eX-
| pense to the union, the President had all
ready been authorised bv law TO adopt GER
tain measures 10 restrain and reprcss the
Insolence OF foreign vessels within our juriS-
diction. lie had also the power of calling
cut the militia to repei any invasion of the
sterritory of the u. 8 IT. short, lie was lie.
igallv &c ted with every power, which was
requisite to be Immediately exerted in the
emergency arising from the capture of the
Chesapeake frigate. There was nothing
therefore, for Congress to do, if it had
met at that period, but to make appropri.
atoms to defray the expenses of preparing
for an expected war; since it is not to be
supposed that, in the state of uncertainty
then existing relative TO the conduct ant
intentions Of the British government, wal
would have been declared Immediately.
But, if Congress had been convened fol
the purpose Of making those appropriations
another meeting Of that body must have
been called about the time when the return
ofthe messenger was expected from Eng
land, or as soon as possible afterwards; Sc
that the United States would have beer
subjected to the expense of two sessions o
Congress in one year.
We believe that the President maturelJ
weighed all these and other important con
sidcrations, and determined, from motive.
OF economy and public convenience. not &c
. require the members of the national iegis
lature TO assemble, at a time when they
could render very little service 70 their
constituents, and would consume their owr
time and the public money in long and un
profitable journies to and from the sea
, of government, only for thepurpose of pas
sing single act Of appropriation. HI
thought it better, (conhding in their yea
r