Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-28
saieb,nnna 1erire Current.
(conREcrED wEEKLYl
ipilsun G. nifbaias'e letrer.

1ioiIsnn g. nlfbaias's letter.
TO che Electors of the Congressional Dis
tr.cf, comfosed the Counfies Of .4,nherss,
.fl6cmarie and FluUanua.
YELLOW CITIZENS,
IL has fallen 10 my lot to represent you
in the Congress of the U. States, at a Pc.
Rod the most interesting and momentous
that our country has ever known, since its
existence as all independent nation 1
owe il 10 you and 10 myself, to stare fa h
fully the occurrences that have led to the
present crisis, and the measures that have
be en- takes to divert the storm, or TO pre-.
pare tC meet il not only thss you may
know the real situation uf our fairs, but
that you, may Judge of the fidelity with
Which l have discharged the tiust you re-
posed in me Devoted 10 my coC,iry,
bound to you by the strongest ties nj gra
t;tude and affcct,oE, and III all things h,iv-
ing o common interest with you, you may
doubt the propr,ety of some of the mea-
sures 1 have advocated /; but trust ant.
hope tn C IS not man in tae district,
who will doubs my en'ire and exclusive a,
sscament TO this my native county. /
nay mistak- the means, but my only OBJ
jects are the happiness, liberty and inde-
psudrnce of The American people. If |
could be insensi5le to my duty 10 you,
+. cbuld never l-se sigh, of the deep -
terest. that aud my numerous offspring
have in the welfare Of our common coun-
try.
The extraordinary occurrence that eau.
sed he President If tbs u States TO con.
vene Congress last October, need not b.
mentioned the impression ii made {.
indel,ble !: with one voice you demand.
honorable reparation or vengeance. In
order to understand fully our dispute with
Great Britain, it is necessary yOu should
know the relations between the two coun-
tries at, and antecedent to the attack made
upon an American ship of war, by ma
tional ship oil Great Britain. Atrocious as
Vas that ACT IN icsclf, it was the more so
kader existing circumstances From he
scar 1893 hen the war between Great
Britain and France commenced, Great
Britain had inflicted every INJURY u lon this
country that cnuId be suggested by her
hatred and jealousy of us, OF tn 1 her com
Mand Of the ocean enabled her to perpe-
trate. These were IN some measure !es-
sened by Jays ueaty, and ceased with
tine war that was terminated by he treaty
OF Amiens. The renewal of the hosliiities
between England and France, in he car
1902 brought upon our commerce ard ci-
tIzehs, the ou.rages and wrongs we had
borne III the preceding war. The object
OF Great Britain, in violating the rights
of neutrals, was not the injury of her c b.
ne,ny not the expectation Of compelling
her 10 make fair and honorable peace,
by withholding supplies, or by dePriVlDg
her OF the means of selling her surplus
produce, of manufactures, but 10 give the
advantage OF that commerce TO htr 0w
subjects, for the d.uble purpose Of enrich.
log hem and depressing US. TINS is
clearly proved by her eHor;s TO secure 10
them that very commerce from which sb
attempted 10 exclude US. Ihe love o
peace aud an unwilhngness 70 involve This
country in the vurex of European wars
and politics, inCuced the American 60
vernment and people to submit To- all the
injuries that had been inflicted upon the N
until the winner of 1906, wheI The b .ilist
oU;rsges we're so great aud enormous
that TO have borne Them longer, woulC
have been cowaIdly would have been a
derelictjon If nagoiaI charac e., duy d, {
interest, and would have made us contemp
tible in the eyes of the world. A tina
period, the table OF Congress was coveted
with memorials and remonslrance, from
every part OF the u, S. complaining OF The
inJdr es we daily receive from Great Brl.
tain, and calling upon our gOveinmen
IN The strongest terms, TO protec, our c.
items aud commence. Faithful Il The ru,
intel es;s Of the IA ion, seeing that in.
terest would be best promoted by the pre-.
sefya,ion OF peace, our government de-
layed the appeal to arms, which the
Insulting conduct ~ their officers, che i'm
pr-ssmenl of our seamen, the seizure aDo
condemnation of our YES els. the murder
Of Pierce within our jur diction, and The
proclaim alton blockade al wno.e nations
would have justified. Law then passed
Cong ess, To- take = six Or eighI
months after its date ID h biurg the in.
po tslion Of certain icies from G. es
B~iain; and togiye ater weigh 70 on
demand, special nDC'4ter was dispatch