Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-05-06
TIL: JEFFERSON.
March 90, 1905.
Fran the Natioual MteHreacer.

suIes pursued by them, and 10 tie General c;,na
ton oil The country. Amidst Z. EMS awfnl.y mo-
mentous. involving the warfare of the whole of
Europe, ana threatening he peace of the Uni
ted SIate5, thai body assembled. 1. was pnivsr
sally expected that Affairs wcc-l soon reach =
cEi'is' and that we should be either involved in
war. or cur relations of ami;y be restored. Va
iious circumstances disappointed this cxpectai
on, and AZ was not until late ir the sessic Ina
the, special mission OF Mr. Rose was terminated
SINCE this even; there appears 20 have bsen gu
'itue diiiesence OF opinion with regard 10 The
Course OF MEASURES dictated by sound policy
The precautionary measure of an emlarr., ha
wing been wisely taken on the firsr appearance
OF imminent danger, ana cur property being by
" preserved from inevitable destruction The cnlv
q'e'ton that presented ITSELF was, in whar vay
we could the more elfectually maintain cur own
interests without compromising The national
character
But two alternatives offered themselves -.
continuance ct the embargo, or war Serious as
me evils attending The former aye admitted to be
those that could not fail 20 have ensued from Inc
a'ter have b>eh justly considered rs nlush great.
en-
Had we re5or;ed 10 war, against which nation
should he declaration have been made There
is no one so qnixo,ic as TO say that war should
nave been wsgsd against both England and
france, and their whoc tain of allies AMI de-
pen9encles embracing all the nations of Europe
II not against both these uaiions where Is ,he
oasuisi that could b. relied upon 20 decide which
ND enti,ltd iseif 10 The distinction of the hrs,
blow WHEN both had injurcd us SO deeDly.
"ouia u not have worn ths appearance of ,,ar-
uSiiiy, perhaps ct pusis nTniy, TO have exerted
our energies agaIna, one, at the very momen,
snat we threw ourselves in tie arms of the other
Besides. what could We have gained by such a
step fias France any ihing to offer US in com
.,T.r me -. -
fhy pc infiicIed upon our commerce b. tie Bri-
'sh navy. provided it wers exposed TO he perils
al tHS ocean, aud we were s.le declared enemies
I OK bsltain no man viii say she has And
what has England 10 o@sr for cur gong 70 war
sgains' .er rival EGthiag bu, colonial subnis.
SION and The pros rauon or cur commerce. 70, il
Is most manifest hat so long as the evil s:ar
thai now rules her government continues 10 pre-
siae, she VIII D. satisfied with nothing shcrt Of
our deg ada ion
L, is TINS Stale OF things, by which we are G.
qpai'y ptessed by ste TWO bel igerent nations.
Nrch completely dcprives us &c al free agency
ana p0inis win III unering finger TO the system
Which has been pu'sued. Had j, nor been for
The hottie conduct Of Britain, our honor might
nave deIranded coegeive measures towards
France and bur ~, tbat Of France the a;roc,ous
outage on the Chesapeake. and the no less I'M
pfincipied orders OF council might have demanded
waT a ainst The Leviathan of the deep; as in 81;
'her case, we might have promised ourselves
WIN me expectation in thar way Of Refreshing
cur wrongs But the almost equal Hostility Of
DO naicns has put this possibility altogether a
sid and we are no more under the necessary Of
entering the hsts against them, than an unsup
r''t-u 'na'V'oua' would be 10 oppose himself to
The tayoneis Of legion.
Hence the a!mo-, Unanimous accordance Of all
parties IN retaining, in the present posture of
ah2lfs, from chensr"c operations Inasruch.
however as IT'S Impossible 20 calculate upon The
conduct OF ioreiSn nations, and as I persistence
IN tne'r unjust neasures may leave no a ,ernstiye
ons %aT, congress have adopted a system of de-
renee; commensurate III their opinion 20 the ex-
pected danger This consists in building = CO.
side abe number of gun-boats in foy,icvina
cur Ports ana nav bors in f.isng six thousand
~ooi'ionai troops; IN placing cne hundred ihoa-
sand CT the militia IN readiness for immediate
service, and IN progressively srniing the whole
oody OF the people. For these several objects
about live millions Of dollars have been DDS opri
ated. az
1t is admitted. on all hands that these inca
sWeS WIN be vecy incompeten mt in case Of war,
but II has been deemed polite TO husband our re
sou ees for such an evynt, instead of exhauo,;nc
taen previously 10 the occurrence Of actual dan.
ger. This policy iscertainly strengthened by he
vast importance attached by boih of the beliqc-
rent rich treasury. II ought not, indeed
10 surprise Us, II tvents Should saew that England
hasiinhero abstainsd irons claga,ian Of war
IN the hope that tie spoiAuons committed by
nee on our trade and our own rneasures might
embara'5 oGr hnsEees in such dsg,es as to
oisab US Tom even ually al the critical moment
making that decisive eXeruon which would con-
vince her thas We too have the power most essen
iaiy - mi cher
1t Is not our purpose, at present, 10 en-
ter into aRy discussion of The nature OF
che effects Of the embargo, and the other
measures adopted by Congress, or Of The
ground taken by The Executive with 70.
reign nations These, with other topics, !
and particularly the election Of a future
President, will receive as full an examln-
a.ion as shall be consisten, with the pub.
lication Of the important debates of Con.
gress still nnfnished and other important
matters.
In the mean time, It has become the
duty Of every good citizen, Of every Ame-
r can, who Cherishes the patriotic feelings
that made US an independent people, 10 |
support the government Of his choice in
that course of measures which has ema
mated from the fullest kaowlsdge and the /
maiurest dehberatIo8. Whatever specn.
lauve differences OF opinion there may /
have been with regard to the imposition |
ol TIE embargo, the building ofgun.boats,