Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-14


the zkuavery of those who were en-
outraged by the Essex Junto to vio-
late the law as originally enacted..--
Whilst on the one hand they contend
against the constitutionality of the law,
they .emonstrate on the other against
the constitutional enforcement ofit.--
Pleased with nothing, they verify the
fable of the old man and his ass and
let the, government do right or not,
they are sure to End fault.
To say that ss congress cannos re-
peal the embargo against the consent
OF the president" is to say that when
ataw is made 1t must go its time out !;
, and the observation will apply as well
to one law as to another. The
therefore, proves nothing in the pre-
sent CASE ~ sE' &
The regulation of the coasting trade
and the permission of supplies to
those statess that want them, arise out
OF the same clause of the constitution
which declares that all commercial
restrictions shall be equal. Thus,
whilst the law is figidlys enforced in ali
parts, il is necessary that our citizens
should not be made to suffer greater
privations in one qaarter of the Union
than in another. Hence the presi.
dents's circular; hence the various
cnstom house iuiunctfons under the
embargo laws. What the Essex Inn
to call C exemptions and dispensa-
tons" arise out OF the presidents
sworn duty under that Constitution,
and are the very means of preventing
the embargo from pressing with gvea-
ter weight on one part of the com
munity than on another. What do
these men wish Would they have
the commonwealth of Massachusetts
Inhibited from necessary supply OF
flour
They tell us they are " ready to
sustain all privations." But do not
their own resolutions convict them of
falsehood. If they are /" ready to
sustain all privations," why do they
complain of the embargo, why do they
excite weak and ignorant men to resist
1t! Is the embargo no privation or
what do they mean?
There is such an homogeneous. mass
OF ideas hudtiled together in some Of
the paragraphs, that one is confused
IN read az them. "The true policy
of the u. States 1--WE are reminded)
points to the cultivation of peace and
amity with all nations" This, the
reader will remember. has always been
Mr. Jeiferson's policy. The Essex Jun
to then tell us they are willing TO make
every exertion requisite to support the
dignity, and enforce the reasonable
prctensions OF the nation" What are
we to understand by this observation ?
presume they mean TO say that the
dignity of the United States has not
been insulted, and that the professions
OF the nation are unreasonable In
the name OF Heaven, what kind Of stuff
are these men made of? Where was
the dignity Of the nation when Love
1nsutted the government at Charles
ton? Whitby at New York Hum
Phreys off the Capes Of Virginia and
Douglass at Norfolk ? The language
of the resolutions goes to support those
o~'S Va Jul dSN II Bays I'd inc DfIt-
ish officers, " Come again, my lads I;
kill a few more of our citizens, brave
our laws, defy our chief magistrate
and fear not we will countenance YOU.
not only at our feasts and in our toasts.
but in the legislature" Then, as to
our " professions :" if our ships and
merchandise are taxed or captured
or our mariners impressed, we have,
! suppose, according to the Essex Jsn.
TO, no professions to complain. Was
not this the very language of the to-
ries last war Obey the king, YOU
dogs (said they) and be quiet"
Keep in mind, good reader, tn at all this. on
the part of the Junto is intended as an apollo
gy for Britain. When they squint at France.
diferentkey is touched. "It being certain
(say they that no degree Of forbearance and
moderation will exempt neutral nations, AT
all tines, from insult and aggression, AMI
that the claims Of military ambition can be
satiated only by universal dominion rthis is
precisely tie cant of an Englshmaf1 il is
the duty OF government 20 prepare for events
which IT may be impossible 10 avert" Here
we have nothing about naval ambition. a
gainst which we have the greatest cause of
complaint, nor is there one word concern
iug il throughout the whole of the resoluti !.
ons: But military AMBITION, against which
we are impregnable, and universal domini.