Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-09-27
WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. 81.

piece has recently appeared in the
New York Evening Post, designed to have
special effect on the FederalIsts, but CAL
cuiated to make no slight impression on
men of all parties. 1t seems to be penned
by man, who standing aloof from the fu-
ry of faction, coolly percieves the folly of
the means which it uses to regain power.
He recommends it to the Federalists to ab :
stain from petitioning for the raising of the
Embargo, and among other reasons assigns
the foiowing
"If is understood thar if the adherents
OF me hreSent administration. find the ma
Jority gong against them, at fhe elections,
they zciH attemht early Near session TO de-
clare Tvdr against England. They will
then treat the war as measure for which
they are not responsible and as produced
against their wishes by the discontents of
the people under the embargo While
some believe this story, others will remain
persuaded that the embargo if persevered
IN, would have been remedy for all our
political evils. Thus the rage for expert
ments Will remain uncured-The leaven of
dScontent continue and evils of the moss
serious consequence ensue.
"From every view, therefore, which
can take of this subject, coucieve my fell
low-citizens will not think it properto pre-.
sent any petition upon the subject of the
embargo"
Now, what is called the "attempt ear
iy next session to declare war against En-
gland, rs nothing else, reader, than the
Identical raising of the embargo, so clamo-
rously called for by the federalists of Mas
Sachusetts. This must be obvious TO the
rneanest apprehension. The British or.
ders will then be in force, or they Will not.
1T they are not IN force, the embargo will
be raised as a matter of course, without ex-
posing our commerce to any injury from
England. Whatever our relations with
France may be, those with England will be
dmlcable, and there can be consequently
no attempt to declare war against her.
But if the British orders are still in force
at the commencement of the next session,
and the embargo be raised, every Ameri-
can snip bound to the continent will be
captured and condemned by England.
This will certainly be war with venge-
ahce. There will, it is true, be likewise
war with France but we shall receive
from England ten blews for one received
from France, as England has ten times the
force on the ocean. For every ship, there
fore, taken by France, England will take
ten. 1t is easy to calculate against which
nation we shall feel the deepest indignati-
on. 1t will inevitably be against that ma
ton that inf cts upon us the greatest iniu-
ries.
1t follows, as this sagacious writer, clear
ly perceives, that the raising of the embar-
go VIII be war with Britain. Well then
may he tremble for the responsibility of
those who urged the removal of the en-
barge, and caution the federaIists against
petitioning for it. If they do excite the
people to call upon the government to take
it on, and it is taken off in consequence of
such an expression of the public wishes,
they surely will be as answerable as the
government for the consequences. We
Will go step further, and say, thew will
be more answerabe, they will in fact be
the authors of whatever ensues, and if It be
war with Britain, they will be the au .
thors OF that war. Nothing can be clear
err, than that it is the duty of the govern.
ment to obey the public will, whenever it
rs unequivocally expressed, even though
their own individual opinions run counter
TO II. The President may, with perfect
integrity, and without the least derogation
from dignity or sacrifice of independence,
declare to Congress that he still considers
the embargo as proper, but notwithstanding
10 ICMONdl III consequence OF
the opposition of the public to it; and Con-
gress may, under the same circumstances,
they coincide in sentiment with
the President, take it o #.
Let those then who urge the removal of
the embargot Ike warning from heirllederal
friend, however deaf they may be to repub-
lican admonltions. Let them rest assured
that they Will be held responsible for con-.
sequences. Let them recollect that the
present administration have struggled,
thro' thousand difficulties, to maintain the
peace of the nation, as well rs its rights 4:
and let them, ere it is too late, anticipate
the indignation and ruin that will over
whelm those who shall destroy the one
without securing the other.-Naf. Lnt.
The following is extracted from letter
received in this place from a respectable
mercantile house in Liverpool. It's con-.
tents are highly important and strengthen
the hope that the injurious restrictions on
our trade will be rescipde6, and our com
merce be restored to its ordinary channels
"LiUerhool, Juiy %, 1908.
SIR,
Your government vessel the St. Mi
chael having arrived from France, a re-
port IS circulated that the French DEGREES
against your commerce are to be immedi-
ately rescinded, and as we consider our
pledged to remove the orders in