Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-14

yon" u'Siciian' OF maryland, con
sui for the United States at the port b
Batavia.
F@oM RAG WAsHIseyos Naoml7oR.
RESOLUTIONS
MASSACHUSETTS FEDER.dLIS ISIS
1 fee excee linei, rsioiced. as ever,
republican IN the United States ought
to do, that the federal Legislators
OF Massachusetts are proceeding in
their career of folly. When they have
reached the last stage of political
.Proaigacy, and their own deluded fol.
lowers have through shame aban.
doned them, they will then perceive
that although it be possible to succeed
for moment by clamorous misrepre-
sensations, the duration of power is
not to be- calculated by the fervor of
party spirit.
1t is unnecessary to dwell upon the
means by which the federalists have
In the legislature Of that state obtain
ed thermajority Of votes ; or to 20 in.
to long detail to prove what the re-
Publicans might have done. Il is
sufficient for us to know that the for
mer have succeeded and the latter
have failed and to. tell us now that
our political friends could have tri-
umPhed had they made proper ar
Engagement, is to them, in a crisis like
the present, the birterest reproach.
Granting that the federal party lii
Massachusetts have succeeded bv a
Fair, impartial trial Of strength, whas
rave they to boast of? A maiorit,
Of thirty, perhaps, in one house, and
ofsix in the other, in an assembly O..
SO many hundreds, is no great cause.
OF exultation: when we come to cons1.
Ter the basis of thar majority, the
wonder is that it is 40 small.
The federal leaders themselves con
Tess, that the embargo is the ground
upon which they have commended. L.
has been my misrepresenting the ge
nulne features Of that measure. bI
spreading alarm and terror through
the commonwealth, that they haye
prevailed. They told the citizens that
the embargo was laid on in obedience
to Bonaparte's command, and that it
would Gdura forever. Whcn the fall
shy OF those tales shall be made ma
n'fest, when time shall have developed
the purity ofheart and wisdom of head
that dictated the measure, the transient
power ofimrostors will pass away, and
republican affections will gain vigor
never again 10 be enervated by the
Pestllence OF party spirit.
Without giving themselves time 10
cool, series Of resolutions have been
introduced IN the legislature by a
membef OF the Essex Junto, and laid
upon the table. The preamble 10 these
is compounded of certain admitted
facts and OF erroneous opinions.
That tire times are critical, and that
the embargo bears hard upon the peo-
pie, we all know; But that the evil o.
riginates IN our own government, or
that" the rulnous consequences which
must ensue from continuance of the
present system of measures cannot be
exceeded by the losses and dangers to
be apPrehended from any information
which has been officially communica-
ted to the public" is a gross and pal
paple violation OF the truth.
Can the American government con-
troll by open force the contending pow.
ers of Europe Bonaparte is lord of
the land, and Britain is mistress of the
ocean. Nearly a million Of men in
military array enforce Napoleons's or
ders from the Baltic Sea round the
shores of continental Europe to the
Gulph of Venice: Woe to that king
dom which disobeys his DEGREES. On
the broad seas as well as in the narrow,
the fleets Of Britain dictate the laws of
nations aud the rules of trade. These
two powers, deadly in their enmitv,
have cut up all neutral commerce.
One of them has proclaimed that no
neutral vessel, that has been even board
ed by an English ship of war shall be
spared. His threats have been carried
into execution: His Cruizers have car
tured, pillaged, and destroyed our YES
sells. On the other hand, Great Britain
hoe told a.. ttos ~ oLou IL. l. i