Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-04-26

fs
conJunction with the letter of Mr.. Mon
ROE III vindication of the rejected treaty.
winch appeared in the last Argus, we shall
on Friday present to our readers the very
important letter Of Mr. MADISON To Messrs
Monroe and Piakaey, dated MAY 90, 1907.
IN which he fully and ably stated the grounds
Tor rejecting The treaty signed by them, and
also gave them further instructions relative
TO future attempts at negotiation.
ms excellent composition, while it un-
anSwerabiy demonstrates the gkarinr as
wen as Tess Obvious defects of the reject
ca treaty, displays, moreover, in strong
hight, the candor and friendly considerati-
on, which the President and Secretary of
STATE Notwithstanding those defects) ma
infested towards our honest, tho nasuc-
ces3fuI, and, we may add, unskiLfR and
shyndictouS negociators.
we think the general impression of the
readers OF these documents must be, that
the epithsts we have used are properly
applicable TO the conduct of Messrs. Non
roe and Pinkney, in this transaction: that,
aitho' their integrity and patriotism is un-
questionable, their reputation for political
sagaclty and wisdom will be greatly dimi-
nished when it is known that they not on
~ slSned but themselves ahEroUed of an
instrument Gas erheiient, or necessary TO
De rat!fed) which would have sacrificed,
or put IN jeopardy, so many of the rights
and essential interests of this country
Mr. 0Ionroe is peculiarly unfortunate in
appearing before the public, as the sojita-
ry advocate Of the treaty, which, (sincc
they who administer the government, had
not accused him of any Improperly of con-
duct,) 1T was altogether unnecessary for
h'n tn defend. He surely need not have
coupled his own character with the disast-
rouS and sinking reputation of that instru-
Ment, VIII CHI nothing Can save from almost
un:veI'a ii detestation. The only effect of
this ili-starred connection, must be to OBJ.
scure the splendor of his virtues and,
such is the esteem we still feel for him,
that we sincerely lament the occurrence as
calculated to injure, if not forever to des-
fr0y IN he public estimation, one of the
most utriSht, if not most able statesmen
in America
The opposition of Mr.. IeHN RANDOLPH
to the bill "to autnorisc the President of
the U. ,. under certain conditions, to sus-
pend the oncration of the Act LAYING an
'lSM BARGO on all ships and vessels in the
ports aud harbors of ihe u 6. and the Sc
'veral Acts supplementary thereto, cor
responds with what might have been ex-
pected from ihs strange inconsistent poll
Cal Character which for several years past
he has exhibited. A list of few of his nu-
merous seif-con' rad ic,ions during that pc.
RCD, might rot be unacceptable to our rea-
deFs, and. when we have time and space TO
STARE, we may devote column to de-
tiing them particularly. At present, we
shall only observe that this gentleman, who
seems at present to be uniform in nothing
but ms persevering rancor againts the adj.
nnnistration, first declared that, whenever
there should be an appearance of approach
lag War, the JfrSt measure he agouid hrohoSe
q0oHfd DC an Embargo. When an Embar-
50 was proposed, though Mr. Randolhh
himself could not deny the danger of
war 70 he imminent, he vicalently opposed
AZ: and now, with equal violence, he op-
poses measure by which the same EN-
barge may be taken CT His curious rea-
son for the last opposition is, that it would
be p'ostratlng ali the Commerce and re-
sources OF the country at the feet of Elk.
ecutiye discretion Surely common sense
ought to have told him, the vide distinct
lon between the power Of laying an I'm
barge and thai OF taking IL oI; that a pow
ergivcn the President to restore the com.
merCe of the u. States to its old channel.
by suspending the operation of the Embar-
81 tor limited time, was in its own ma.
ture not capable of being exercised for
~ sc"iev0us purposes, though it certainly
might, IN the event of such peace or sus-
pension Of hostiiiies between the belli-
gerent powers Of Europe, or OF such chan
gcs IN their measures affecting neutral
commerce, as may render that Of the u. |
States sufficiently safe be highly salu-
tary and convenient.
Who laid the Embargo! Congress. Who |
can take It of? Congress only, unless con |
grcfs shall authorize the President to do il
According 20 Mr. RaHdo1h Congress ought
81 her 10 continue perpetually in session, |
until the acts laying the embargo can be |
safely repealed, or, if circumstances, af |
ter its adjournment, should render il pro- !
per 20 relieve the people from hose incon- |
FeHienccs which Mr. RGndolhh himself has !
81 0fteD and 80 psthetically lamentsd, they !
inHet continue subject TO them all, until the |
hex, regular session of that body, or until J
an extra session can be called for the pur- !
pos
Ttsi is truly very singular way Of di- |
the public burlhens and embar- |
rassmenis; but is al Of piece with Mr.. !
iQ7d7 fh's system Of opposing every mea- I
sure, not because II is wrong IN itself, but
because il isbFOught forward by the friends
Of the present administration The people,
It IS hoped, viii consider this, and est.
mate correctly the value Of the patrio-
ism and wisdom OF a politician, whose con.
duct is either governed al,cgcther by prin-