Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-11-29
Dlrgiaia Nrgus.
r c H NJ o N d:
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER %, 1903.

ded they ever felt an emotion of patriot
E, ism, who can look upon the present posture
OF afftirs. without the deepest impressi-
on> of pain.
In endeavoring TO preserve peace and in
! dependence, we have become the object of
insult, perhJly and oppression. Every thing
| which wisdom could suggest, which virtue
could recommend, and which frnness
could require, has been done. A more IL.
beral and impartial policy between the bell
! ligerents of Europe, could not have been
pursued, without an evident surrender of
our neural rights, and our national dignity.
These powers, regardless of national law
| and the faith of treaties, have endeavored,
not only TO decoy, but TO force us into an al
| lance, subservient to their views, and de
! structive to our independence. They have
| thought proper to stop all commerciai ave-
nues to each other, and in doing this, they
have virtually declared war upon neutral
intercourse. In this state of things, what
were we to do? To suffer our property, our
citizens and our vessels to be lost by cap.
ture or DESTROYED by force? No-lo form
| an alliance offensive and defensive with one
of the belligerents? No--To trade under
the arbitrary and oppressive ordersxof e,.-
| Their, and thus dastardly abandon our i'm
munities on the seas! No-What then
We reply that no other course could have
| been adopted than the embargo. This,
without disposing more shades in the pic
ture, is correct general resemblance of
our situation. If then, these were suffici-
ent causes for the adoption of the embargo,
md these causes remain with additional
force and severity, it surely would amount
to confession of absurd impolicy or natl
! onal timid'ty, not TO continue il.
/ Under these circumstances, we can but
| To
Of that virtue of our forefathers, which re-
ses;sted tribute in 70, to resist il in 1903.
In this enquiry. the feelings of the patriot
| glow with indignation, to find men who are
willing to bar er their inheritance and the
honor OF their country, for the mean, pre-
carious profits of base and inglorous trade
| with a treacherous and inveterate enemy.
| That there are such men, no doubt can anv
longer renain-That the celebrated Essex
! Junta is OF this character, is also true
| When such men as these are in Office, how
justly may we exclaim, o temhora, O
nores. Not content with exciting disaffec-
tion, and not content with inducing Great
Britain To believe it, they are now deter
mined T. act up to their promise, and are re
! solved 10 submit 10 their injustice, or secede
| from the union,
] We can but hope that the Eastern people
| will reflect and that they will not deserve
| the observation of Harrington, thai they
feel, ont do nor see /; that they are injured,
bur will not resent that ,hey have coun-
! try, but no patriotism. We trust that it is
entirely trick of fAithless representatives,
TO 6ufty the national council into their sys
tenn or measures, but we alSp russ that the
tpeople have confidence in,their government,
and that when tne situation of our country
! is properly & honestly considered, that that
\ al llv cnI ind, L
Pean wrongs The Will OF the m aiurity has
been hitherto admitted, as the pivot of our
prosperity, lf,however, they should deter
mine 70 oppose, in order to CRAFTY their
wishes, or rather an infamous cupidity,
why, let the punishment fail, as il inevita-
bly, Will, upon such fool hardy tories IL
must b. admitted by every person who is
| conversant with the origin and progress of
our sitaation, that these states have been
the principal source of our troubles, and the
ni ncipal Cause why they have not been re-
| moved. They say that they are more af
fected by commercial restrictions, than any
Iosher proportion Of the union, and every bo-
dy knows that they were not the measures
of choice with our government, but were
forced upon us by Europe TO preserve
every thing that is essential to our COM
MERGE
They were intended to secure commerce.
nj rights, and to advance commercial pros
perity, but it seems that rather than bear
this temporary suspension, they are will.
ling to throw themselves into the arms of
their enemies. They have already pre-
vented the wisdom of our country from hav-
ing its due operation, and have, in fact, in
vited our enemies TO pursue their schemes
OF spoliation and oppression. But to admit
for moment that they are so unwise and
disaffected as to persevere in this design,
for it is absolutely impossible thattheir sys-
TEN, in regard to Great Britain can sue
coed, WHAT WILL BETHE CONSEQUENCES
In order to give an air of truth 10 their cla.
mors, they affect to be in want of bread
and to say that they are not a-peopIe of a.
griculture, but entirely depend upon com
mercial intercourse. After a separation
in which they would resemble the Cappa.
docians of old, and would make the SECOND
instance IN the annals of the world, OF a
people refusing 10 be free, WHAT woULr
I THEY DO! Form an independent monarch,
and crown Timothy the first, King of tho
East, or would their political sympathy for
Great Britain, induce them TO return I,
their former colonial state or would the,
propose what IS Brefty nearly the same
thing, an alliance, offensive and defensive
This undoubtedly would be the only cours,
they could pursue, in order to venture OF