Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-28

IN under British licences and subject to
british taxation. When the embargo was
lad, 1t was believed there were loo, 0OO,-
200 dollars OF American property afioat
and In other countries but for the wisdom
LOT the measures of our government, we
might have been deprived of all this pro.
perry. If we had yielded to our just re-
sentiment andSgone to war, when the en-.
Jbargo was laid, all or the greater part
rot our property, that was abroad, would
nave oeeh lost to Us. If we had not
laid the embargo, great part of our last
years produce, with at least an equal va
iue OF the produce of other countries, now
the property of American citizens, to the
amount OF from seventy to eighty millions
more, would not only have been lost to US,
Dut would have gone to Zurich those, whose
perh y, injus ice and oppression we nave so
much reason to complain Of. Alltnis we have
no only saved to ourselves but witt held rom
the grasp or robbers and pirates. 1t is e
nou5h TO justify tie embargo 10 saw, that
not sh p OF ours can sail. which win not
oe subject to seizure and confscation by
one or other ofihs belligerents, unless shs
Is gong to the barren kingdom of Sweden.
Challenge any man to deny this fac,
There are Other facts which prove the
lpropriety of this measure. Ali the vessels
tnat lett this country after the first OF De-
Icember last, and be fore the EMBARGO w s.
iaid,tor the continent of Europe, have eli
ther been seized and Sequestered or forced
10 MAJ ket where the cargoes could not
be sold, or have been Obliged to return to
TINS country with their cargoes, NOT having
been permitted TO go TO their place OF
destination this has happened to several
vessels, and Congress WIS obliged to M Ike
4 n law TO Dermlt Snch RI he al
IN the United States. Under these cir
cumstances what ought Congress to have
done We had no choice but to lay an
embargo; TO go to war; arm. our vessels :;
Withdraw our ships and let Foreigners c T.
| ry on our commerce; or submit to trade
| "ithin the limits prescribed bv G. Britain
| AS tn W r, here are the most weighty
reasons why we should avoid IT, ! 1t IS /,
itself one of the greatest evils, and there
are at this moment considerations, that
make 1t peculiarly the interest of the u
nited States TO avoid it if possible. 1t is
evidently the object of both G.. Britalri and
rance, TO plunge us mo war wi, IN their adj
rsary. This mas been avowed N a man.
her that canno be mistaken. But Tor the
peculiar circumstances IN which we are
| placed but for the situation into which
he world Is thrown, by the Unsuitable
thirst TOR dominion in the two great powers
| II Europe; but for the risk of beng thrown
| INTO the arms of one of these contending
| nations, whose ms ,dIous caresses / shouid
| think more dangerous than the hostility OF
either or both; and but for the benefit thai
either of these nations would derive from,
oeing at War with the other :. my vote
! should have been given for declaratiun
or war. The CO operation of this country
with either OF these nations would enable
\ hat inn m s.H.
aid, Great Britain could sustain herself
forever. The commerce of both the In.
\ dies and North and South America, woud
furnish her with every thing she wants.
and d market for her manufactures but
3! this would be contributing to a despotism
on the ocean that would drive us from il.
1t we go to war with England, the loss of
our market, the withholding our supplies,
and the proper application of our force,
would bring destruction upon that nation.
this we have neither the inclination nor
interest to do. II cannot be the interest of
the United States, that all the force OF Eu
Irope should be at the disposal of one man.
In their contests i wish to preserve a neu-
ltraiiy, if we are permitted, and to keep
he United States free from all political
connections with every other country. If
war with either power is necessary for our
RNSNSt w VIII WdSC IOT
: 1t them, we will not &c to war, we will not
be coerced into it sooner than / would
make r upon the Mandate OF any 90
: vernment, or to- avoid injuries threatened
to be inflicted by that government, would
, wage eternal war against the government
and nation that should treat us with such
Insolence and ihdignity.
: Arming our merchant vessels would not
: effect our object for altho' we shall be "a
! BILE to force our way to the ports to winch
! they would be destined, when they 90,
: there, they would be subject to sequestra
ton If not condemnation. War, and with
; Great Britain, would be the inev table con.
: sequence OF this measure; it belongs tc
Congress to determine when there shall be
; war and with whom. ] will never trans.
: fer this power to the mel chants or their
: captains, nor will 1 ever agree to let the
: merchants arm their vessels but in time
of war.
The expedient of Withdrawing our shin,
: and allowing tore .gn vessels TO carry on OUT
= rad, IS inadmi>sibie in every point Of view
5 All the various interests within the Unite,
1 States are equally entitled to the protec.
ton OF the government it was for I'll,
] common defence and general welfare tina
Z our government was institu ed one of Il
4 special purposes was the the protection q
: commerce. the navigation OF the Untte,