Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-23
Dlr9lnla Nraua.
r 1 c H NJ o N D:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1908.

THE intelligence of BonGharfe's decree
that, hereafter, there shall be no Neutrals,
and that all vessels sailing towards Great
Britain shall be liable to capture and con-
domination, is not yet officially announced
in this country. but appears pretty well au-
thenticated. II would seem therefore, that
the government of the United States. is al.
ready brought to the necessity of making the
choice, of which we spoke in late Argus !;
that is to say, of either going to war with
France or England, or of relinquishing all
trade with both while the present terri BILE
contest continues.
If the news be true, it follows of course
that we cannot remain inpeace with Great
Britain, and carry on any commerce with
thst country, or IT'S dependencies, without
being considered as enemies of France, and
OF the numerous and powerful confederacy
under the control of the latter.
The question, therefore, concerning the
proper course ofpoicy to be adopted bv the
United States at this time, becomes every
day more Important, and demands the most
serious consideration of all the friends of
America. We look forward with anxiety
to the result OF our national deliberations,
and hope it will be favorable to that cause
on the success of which all the best hopes Of
human nature depending for their exis-
NN"NSS III III prosperity VI tHe ottty lfrt SO-
vernment on earth) SO essentially depend
An Association, proposed to the Members
! OF the General Assembly of Virginia,
written by DIR. Walter Jones, q Member
of the Senate, an inhabitant of Northnm-
berland county, Virginia, which we'll de
serves the attention of our citizens at this
time.
In the late war with Great Britain, So
vereignty, freedom and national prosperity
were at stake; and nothing but the fairest
prospects of obtaining these objects, could
have animated US to sustain so arduous
contest. How deeply therefore must they
be affected who contemplate our present
situation, after three years peace; who Sc
riously compare the weight OF our public
debt, with the disorder of our finances and
the depression ofour public credit, the ac-
Icumulated load of private debt with the adj
ministration of justice, and the prevalent
manners of the times. A comparison thus
made, will exhibit to our view such present
or impending evils, as ought to awaken the
approximations of all good citizens, and in
cite their endeavors to correct or avert
them-Our endeavors tothis end will be ia
cihtated by investigating the causes of those
evils, which we think may be comprised in
the following concise observations. The
principal relations in which we formerly
stood towards Great Britain, respected our
government, our commerce and our man
ners; of these our government was least
profitable it added splendor to her crown,
but brought with it the risque and charge
of our defence; the substantial, unqualified
advantages she derived, were from the di-
rection of our commerce and our manners
to her own exclusive aggrandisement She
regulated the one, and fashioned the other,
with the most vigilant attention, to the Sc
condary and dependent character of colo
nists When we assumed independent So
vereignty, we in our turn, incurred the
risque and charge of protecting il. The
first could be only durable and valuable, in
proportion as VIC possessed the means of
supporting the latter-the acquisition of the
means required as complete change in the
direction of our commerce and our manners,
as of our government. 1t then became our
duty, destitute as we were of self-derived
power and wealth, to discard our unmanly
fondness for the tinsel of European luxury
to eraw forth and cherish every source of
active commerce and manufacture to in
crease the productions of our soil by spirit
ed exertions of industry, ard by a CORE
spondent frugaiIty, to provide the means of
discharging, honorably, our past obligations
10 foreigners, and of furtherng the internal
resources of wealth and power, that might
in future supersede the necessity of foreign
aid. But so far have our pursuits deviated
from these great objects, that we are as lit
tie prepared for defence as If we had esca-
ped no recent dangers, and were perfectly
secured from future hostilites we discern
no general improvements in agriculture
no regular establishments to perfect those
manufactures and that extent Of commerce
OF which we are capable, but on the contra
ry, we see listess indifference to our weak
ness and our debts a keen aviditv and pre-
objection for British trade and British pro-
ducts upon the old colonial system lin short,
we fear, we present to the discerning world,
the wretched spectacle of people, free in
their government. but colonistsin their com.
merce; of people, emancipated by their
spirit, but subdued by their manners
WE DO THEREFoRE, under the fullestIim-
preston Of these momentous considerations,
solemnly pledge ourselves each to the other,
in our capacities merely of private citizens,
by our examples 10 inculcate, and by eur
influence to extend, the principles and prac-
tees contained in the following resolutions,
which we severally confirm by our sigma
lures.
Rescued, That the only method in the
power Of the people honestly and e;Tec,ua-
~ to relieve themselves from the oppression
of public and Of private debt, is by spirited