Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-09-27

of an enemy. WHAT would you say, land
we beg YOU to imagine SOME favorite child
in this situation.) if government did not a..
dopt some measure 10 keep them at home.
How many thousands are there in this sit
uation who bemoan the fate of their impress
sed relatives, VINO are breathing the long
and heavy sign of despair, against the sides
of those floating bastiles. Let us entreat
you to view the subject in this light. There
are some who can only be convinced in this
way, vino are too much prejadiced, to be
governed by the calculations of reason.
But let us forget all feeling of sympathy,
and examine the subject through the medi..
um Of policy. We have been told by our
revolutionary forefathers and the greatest
statesmen of our country, that the true pc.
Icy of America should be to avoid entan
Cling alliances, and to carcss the charms of
peace and the independence of neutrality.
The state of Europe is such that if we ven-
ture out of our precincts we are taken and
abused, by the contending bellige~ents. IF
we trade with one, we cannot trade with
the other, and if we were To carry on this
one.ided commerce, we should he consider
ed by the other, as taking part in the con-
test, and thus eur independence would ne.
ccssarily bend to entangling alliances.
There cannot be the least doubt, bat that
If we were TO accept the naughty terms of
Great Britain and to permit her to measure
GU; to us the BILE ssings OF our God, we should
be consideie ed to all intents and purposes,
and Justly too, as at war with France.
The name reasoning will apply, and the
same consequences result, if we were to
trade thus partially with France.
The law of nations no longer impose any
restraint, and the maritime powers "prowl
over the seas to seek whom they can de-
YOUR" The principle winch was admitted
and which prevailed throughout the world
from 1858 to 1878, that free ships make free
goods, and which was acknowledged in so
many treaSies, that it became almost pro-
verb, has given way to the modern maxim
that might give right" In tins situation,
what were veto do? We are told in Gases
of difficulty, to appeal to experience and to
invoke the guardian spirit of Washington.
We have done so. We find that in the wear
1874 our country was precisely in the same
situation that 1T is now, and that Congress
passed an act conferring upon the Presi-
dent the power of laying an embargo at
any time during their recess There was
nothing said then about the unconstitutisn-
atty of this measure. An embargo was
laid, and there was nothing said then about
its hardship and inc ihcacy, but ON the other
hand, there were addresses ftom those We
ry people who are now so refractory, to
pray orits continuance. This was all per-
fecty right in '94, and was like pouring
oil upon the patriotic fame of the Preident,
1t became more brilliant and pure. The
people at that time sung hosanna's to his
praise, and admired the embargo as an act
of unexampicd wisdom.
Thus it would seem in the course Of a
few years, that patriotism like the un-
steady flame, hangs quivering on point, %
and thus 1t Is we account for our present
calamities. You seem willing to adorn the
cap of John Randolph with plume, be .
Cause he brought in bill to diminish the
ambunt of salaries. We take this from
your own abstract statement, without any
recurrence to'thc biilitself Was this mea-
sure Intended to drive the poor but honest
republicans from Congress, because they
could not afford TO support themselves, or
was it intended as an eiectioneering trick ?
IT we may be permitted to compare small
things wilk great, we well recollect the
discussion which arose in the House of De-
legates of this state, about the increase of
wages. We well recoilect that the great
object assigned was, TO invite men of talents
as wcll-as men ofproperty, and that it was
no reason whatsoever, that because a man
was poor, that he should be excluded from
the legislative hall, when his talents might
perhaps fling the Nahob into the shade.
We trust gentlemen, that the time has not
yet arrived when mans virtue and un-
derstauding are to be appreciated by the
quantity OF property he possesses. Are YOU
in favor of an oigarchy Of this sort That
men of aIiluence are alone entitled to the
representative seat. If so, republcanism
has lost its soul, and has become mere
shadow-an idle dream Of dis'smpered
nind--You seem to insnuate that Mr. Mon
roe would have concluded a treaty il Mr. =.
Pinkney had not 5een sent as an extra mi.
MISTER. From what premises do you draw
this inference You must indeed have been
shanefully nattentive TO the diplomatic
correspondence published in the course of
last winter. Or, Won must. suppose that Mr..
Monroe would have abandoned the basis of
his Instructions, in order to comply with
the over bearing temper Of the British mi
mister. What does Mr.. Monroe say when
he sends the treaty 20 this country, but tn At
he was aware that ii would not he ratified,
for reasons communicated to him upon the
subject of impressment, and by whom BY
MIR. Fox, the man VINO is supposed by ma.
ny as being SO friendly to the United States,
that he would have complied with any re-
quest of the American minister. Upon this
subject We have already treated at large,
but If any doubts should arise upon your
mind, VIC refer to some letters lately pub