Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-02

nee 1t 20 say, they are equally base and IN
imiCal. If, however, French Influence, that
idle story of infuriated disappointment, and
exasperated vanity, should still linger in
existence. it will be only necessary TO re-
fer to Il late speech of comm anding elo-
queuce, and opposeless energy. l mean the
speech of Mr.. Giles OF Virginia, of which
shall speak presently.
1t is impossible that any American in
heart and sentiment can feel any thing like
foreign influence, and yet suspicion might
iced itself upos those violent opponents to
the embargo, the repeal of which, without
any other substitute, necessarily involving
submission. Upon this subject, l wish it
were in my power TO transmit The most u
minous and well-digested speech ever re-
member to have heard. / have frequently
felt my bosom glow with the most lively e..
motions in listening to some of our first-rate
orators-but l must candidiy Confess thar
never witnessed before, such volume of
light thrown out upon any subject. The
public telling, upon oratory, nave all a..
long thought, was false and degenerate. A
bouquet OF flowers, whose colors were rich
and variegated, aud whose fragrance was
strong and delightful, has been commonly
esteemed as the standard of taste. These
considerations, however, were like dew
drops upon the lions name. Perhaps they
were kindly left for the tasty gentleman
from Delaware. He appears fond of the
monthly rose, but with all his iuxuriance of
sarcasm, he cannot afix thorn Yes, nv
dear sir, i never was more delighted in my
life, nor Was my mind ever more complete
ly satisfied with IT'S previous IMPRESSIONS.
Expectation, when hei ghtened to any pitch,
Is often disappointed, but l will venture, at
least, to hazard the trial upon this occasi.
on. TO me, the subject appelred 10 be of
that seJ-eUidene description, as to forbid
any attempt at proof aud illustration but
It has literally passed through the cruc bic
OF the iogician, and seems almost a, clear
and apparent as the proposition of Locke,
mat svhich as, rs. For this mastery ana
lysis, l nave Already told you, that We IRE
indebted to MIR. Giles of Virginia. The
Causes which gave rise To the embargo,
We're investigated, * found 20 be amply suf-
hcIent. Its objects were traced and expo
| sed, and although, from shameful and un-
forseen imPed ments, they have not been
/ accomplished yet, II there rs any truth in
political calculation, they wall be-. The 81
tuation OF our country was presented TO the
view, as beng cheerful, industrious and hap
| py, and that 1t would be our own fault ii it
did not continue. Upon This part OF the sub
jet, | could but remember the exclamation
of SqftsSt-
Ego ia comferio onrnia regina, civi,ates,
natlonea, uaque co firoSher4Bi inaeriuni
hd6nlsSe, dun 0fUd eos Oera coHstha "a
txerunt. viii torDeart to give any charac-
ter OF the speech. Let that speak for it..
self. The consequences, however, which
would have resulted, If this measure had
not been adopted, aud if it is not now con-
tlnued, were presented in such dign; II ID
order of reasoning and eloluence, as 10 fix
conviction upon tAe mind of every spectator.
| Here perhaps, may incur q mistake, and
will employ a moment's depression to cor
| rect #. | had nigga forgotten the inGentur-
ed looking Engishmen in the gallery, who
would whisper with an air OF affected wis
dom, and fHt on the countenaBce Of reproof,
but who, perhaps before they left their sol g.,
never heard any thing more of politics than
whilst con6ng head, or handing a Mate.
There are, my dear sir, too many o. these
creatures In our country, whose cary life
has been formed in mental servitude, and
who have imbibed impressions which,
fear never wall wear away. They have
been accustomed to follow the pomp of e.
quipage, and to esteem every ching by ITS
| outside appearance, and because they see
| VI INV VI ~ iANiO, luSb fancy very llLlle
| Of any importance. To such men as these,
the effigy of barber, with he trappings
| of lord, would be infinitely more interest
ing, than the animated logic of Giles.
can but pity such miserable human imitati-
ons, but very much suspect that the time.
will come, when we shall be obliged to act
like the Atheuians, who, after a general adj
mission of strangers, found it necessary to
remit them. But to return to our SUBJECT.
| We are triumphanrly told, that the em5ar-
go will not have the slightest effect upon
Great Britain. That avenues of commerce
are now opened, from whence she will de-
rive the most abundant qualifications to her
wants. But we know very well that she
has taken great pains to encourage viola,i.
ons of this measure, under assurances that
nothing should be improperly molested, and
that she has invariably gwen the highest
| possible prices. Does his correspoaed with
| NV Cannng's affected sarcastic indiffer-
ence? No--lt is contrary to the natural and
moral state OF things. But to admit the full
! truth of the statement, for tits scarcely pos
sIble, that any admission can injure cause
SO strongly fortified with reason ind Justice.
| The III G. ence To be drawn from this state
ment, is nothing more nor less than that G.
\ Britain is beyond our reach, is out of ON.
! Fower--that the means Of her prosperity are
still secure, and ihather navy is still the mis-
tfess of the deep This investigation ought
not to be directed so much by calculation OF
! her power, as a calculation Of her temper