Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-09-02
From the Democratic Press.
THE EVIDENCE OF FACTS AGAINST
FRENCH INFLUE


1t was SAID when Mr. Jefferson came into of
nee, that he was so violent against England, and
IN favor of France, that we should be involved
In war with Great Britain ia the course of a
year, and engaged in an ali nee with France
Yet here are we free from all treaties of al Of
tensIve or defensive nature, with France or her
allies and not engaged in a war with England,
though she continues to commit those very
oatrages ON our ships, cargocs and seamen,
wiuch occaSioned Washington to send an Envoy
for redress in 1894 to L ,nClon
Though Mr.. Madison has been very conf
dental friend, and Secretary under Mr. Jeffer
| son during the whole time, in which Mr.. lief.
ierson has thus RETAINED from alliance with
France. and from war with England, vet A cla-
morous plea, that Jefferson and h1aiisoa and
eHe nLyoTftI of congress, are uner French nfiu-
ence, are caused to make the Welkin ring
throughout the union. England beng un,leni
ably the earliest aggressor on our PROPERTY, our
persons and our territory, it is abs ird or crimi.
| nal t. charge legislature and executive poy-
! ernme1t with French influence, which, aitbo'
we are colony and so much injured by the
British ki'g, refrains from war with c. Britain
| Some late papers from Boston, published in the
| American CITIZEN, under the signature of' So
ftaeI Aaa5ns," (whose name, principles and
memory are eXecrated by the enemies of Jef
ierson and Madison,) set up pretence that
J Madison was an enemy to his country, and
I blind partizan of France at the close of the re-
volutionary war. 1t is certain fact, that SaDles
Madison, after establishing the highest revolu-
tionary state character of any man in America
of his youth, was chosen at to- top of the list of
! Virginia Delegates to the OLD Congress in the
year 1779-that he continued in the most con-
spicuous and disnterested course of public life
! till President Washington had filed all the of
fees of the new general government in 1882
| 1790--that he was in the most unreseryed in
timacy with Washington during all that time
| that hddisonS character was highly armired.
esteemed, beloved and approved by Washiacton
during that long series of years-that Wash
ing on endeavored often, anxiously and zeal
ously to induce Mr.. Madison to accept som,
highly confidential, honorable and profitable ex
| ecutive Office, as public reward for the VAR
| GUS merits of his life and character knowing
that Mr. Madison was not rich-and that Pre-
| sident Washington openly and strongly regret
ted that Mr.. Madison steadily declined every
| thing but the improbable situation of a repre-
| sentative of the people in the larger house of
Congress. 1t was certain, that General Wash
ington considered it necessary to the fair and
correct support Of his own character for dis
cernment and Justice, to manifest this sense of
and attachment TO the revolutionary services
and disintercsted patriotism of Mr. Madison.
1t is plain then, that General Washington,
who knew all our public men and public affairs
and transactions, could not have had the slight
. /
son was that blind devotedor criminal partzan
Of France, which is pretended byth crafty de .
ceiver, who affects TO with respect the
I name of " Samuel Adams"
AS to the present state of things, it appears
that Mr.. Madison firmly resists the copUeysion of
our neutral Sc amen (under the siavish operate
on Of foreign belligerent impressment) into
illeeitimate warriors on the side Of England u
gainst the powers Of the Euro 4ean continent.
For this he is wickedy misrePresented as un-
der French influence.
When BeauDarchais' claim was lately revi-
we'd and in his hands, though France was very
urgent upon it, Mr.. Madison did not report in
its f,vor.
If France has demanded, (as some alledge. }
that we shut our ports against England, or
In It we declare war against that country, Mr..
Madison and his friends in and out Of Congress
have not complied with either demand. Where
is then the French influence
IfFrance has desired any distinction in the
Embargo laws, or any particular relief from
them, Mr. M olson and his friends have not
conceded either. Where we ask then, is the
French influence
If France and England have both asked for
permission or statutory powers TO arrest their