Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-31


one single article which she produces
Throughout her empire & let them make her
feel the loss of the immense advantage she
has so long enjoyed of finding in the u. S.
the market best suited to her interests for
nearly one half of many Of her manufac-
lures and for great part of every article
which she exports from every part OF her
dominions
Let them rccollect the effect of the asso-
citation which repealed the stGmf'-Qct Let
them remember how nearly by an associa-
ton the British government was brought to
the point of abandoning its favorte object
of taxation, and their kings favorite plan
of conquering the colonies, and thence hol-
ding them down forever, under uncondition-
al submission to the will of the British Par
iamenf, that is efthe King, for his place
men, pensioners, and the Representatives of
rotten Boroughs, in the House of Commons,
added TO the Bishops, the Peers of Scotland,
and his own created Lords, and those look
ing up for elevation of title and for lucr2-
tive offices, in the House ofLords, give him
a complete controul over the Parliament.
Let them consider we'll the effects of an
association, and they will find them produc-
tive of lasting benefits to themselves, and
their posterity, by introducing proper e.
economy, and Just attention to manufac-
CuiSo dl uOiHCS ny WHICH UCdilS dfOne lHCy
can ever become truly independent of the
British government to which, at present
they are colonies in fact, as their commerce
is regulated by it, and their vessels and sea-
men are subject to the capricious will of
the British king: often, no doubt, expressed
10 the willing tools of his power through
| secret channel, which conveys royal in
structions, such as the ostensibe ministers
would not sanction, and which are therefore
never entrusted to them. Young captains
in the navy who are proud of the royal
smiles, and who long for promotion, or PEN
sions, receive through This secret channel,
orders which have been productive of so
much veXation TO our seamen, & destructi-
on of our commerce. These.sccret instruc-
tions were supposed to be first issued BY the
king, to the governors of his colonies, about
the time that he was urging the colonists
tocomplain, and as Burke expressed it, was
"GoADING then, INFO resistance" For
lord Botetourt, the governor of Virginia, ha-
wing been convinced, principally by those
patriots, Peyton Randolph, Speaker of
the House of Burgesses, and Robert Carter
Nicholas, Treasurer of the COLONY, that
the acts ofParliament of which the colonies
had complained, were oppressive, and I'M
constitutional, honestly through that chan
mel exerted his influence to prevail on the
King to consent that those acts should he re-
Ipealed, and the taxation of the colonies by
the Parliament, should be forever abandon
ed-The royal assurance of compliance, or
trather, an assurance that this was the roy
al sentiment and intention was conveyed TO
lord Botetourt, which he eagerly commune
Gated to the General Assembly, which be-
ing better acquainted with O.. the sd, than
his honest unsuspecting governor was, al
Though he had been lord ofhiS bed cham
Der, did not rely on the royal promise, but
thanked the governor for the communica-
ton, * gave him credit for his good wishes,
although they could not for his sagacty-
Fhat these lnstruc ion. did not come through
the usual pubic ostena;be channel of convey
sncc. was evident, because, he British minis
try openly ridicuied lord Botetourt's communca
ton of Them to The Assembly, and in the mean
tire. the king had the address 10 let the odium
OF partial cal of the obnoxious acts fall in
America on the ministers and his Parliament ;
and TO let The act which was sent 10 lord Bote-
tourt rs fully complying with his promise TO the
General Assembly and which be believed was
he very act America wished for. ill Mr. Nj
cholas Showed him the sly sentence which retail
ned the duty on foreisu Paper, Paint, Class and
9eG, and honesty confessed TO him that Inc act
was but 4 deiusIon, ard had retained rs he sup
posed. from the first mention of repeal il would
what the Parliament never Intended TO give up.
gay the KING mad the address 10 let this act ap-
psar in England, and in America, ne PR of that
the taxation of the colonies By the Parliament,
was q favorte object of the Parliament BY
which means his fsvorite project Of taxing and
iiub1ugating tbs colonies, was rendered in some
degree popular in Britain, whilst he retained
his popularity in the colonies where, until they
were forced TO renource their allegiance TO him,
his fleets and armies which were laying waste
. our coasts, bu ming our houses. and bui CHEERING
, our. people. wee called the MINISTERIAL fleets
and Grr,firs and his health was drank in bum.
per with the ADDITION Of may be on find bef
Ter ministers" The truih is, that the finding
good or better ministers was of no conseque nee
he who would not comply with the royG
WILL, was speedily removed TO make pace
For one whv would There ought 10 be NJ
= doubt hat the late Mr.. Pitt was s;ncerSl,
dlsp sed TO do all the patriotic things, TO MAKE
, The parliamentary reform, &c which he haC
=, promised but hat he oou i not gain the roya
, assent; and und b;edly Mr. Fox was as inten
upon fulfilling his promises as any nan could pos
u sibly be-but he too LATE found that he coud d.
nothing contrary TO the royal will. The resigna
I ton OF minister, or the call of a new Parlia
' ment has never altered the case, except in an ex
|. | tremity; As when il was necessary TO acknow
!, ledge the independence of his revolred colonies
% save his West India Islands and Canada ant
= his armies then in Charleston and New York
: &c which would have been overwhelmed b.
The immense rsinforcements which were rea
. dy 10 sail from Csdiz with seventy sail o