Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-08

I
bat hope il will be considered that
the people of ever generation are best ac-
quaInted with tle transactions OF their own
tunes, and, feeling most sensibly their own
injuries, are hest gu .tied to enumera,e
them; IN the same manner As the patriots
OF l176, being deeply impressed with their
own grievances stated them with more ac-
cnracy and energy than could have been
done by any person 10, living then.
1 shall, therefore, without farther apollo
gy, take the iibery CT reading the sketch
nave prepared.
List OF INJURIES INFLICTED BY THE
British NATION ON THE UNITED
STATES SINCE THEIR lNDEPEN-
DENcE.
rst--TAey failedto restore our proper
~, which they carried away IN violation ct
the treaty OF 1888.
in like manner, DIZZY long retained our
western posts, and made use Of them as in
stfumcn's 90 excite the dian sayaees 10
commit devastatons and murders On cur
frontiers.
They issued orders in 1898, which SUBJ
jseted our ,rade TO merciless veAsfions, and
led 10 the sgracefui treaty OF 1874.
they invented the new system OF imagin
AIRY blockadeS; and, under that pretence,
Captured mnit:tade or American vessels.
lhey have inerpo,a,ed into the law of
nauons tie false and Unjust principle, that
a trade between a IL utral is lion nd the
colonies of a bell gerent, which the later
probib sed in tme ct peace, could not law
iuiiy be carried on by such neutral i'm time
OF war. notwithstanding tine permission of
thr be!iieerent; which priaciple has been
used as tie Pretence of innu,neraoIe con.
formations of Amer can vessels and car
goes.
They have cruelty and tyrannically i'm
pressed cur sea-Hen, ami compelled them
TO fight their battles
They bleckaded the port and harbor of
New York, wantoniy am law essiy murder
led one OF our Citizens, md. insiIifeh our go
Veirnent.
They have, IN COW ardy and atrocious
manner attacked cur national frlgate the
Chesapeake, murdered four OF our seamen.
and wounded many otf ,ers.
They, insoenrly, (t, er this unparalleled
outrage continued wii hin orr waIs RS, in de
nance of The presidents proclamation /;
bockaded, and even threatened TO burn the
borough OF Norfolk.
Tney sent anehvoy extraordinary TO this
country, only for ,he l.urpose Of insulting
cur go ernment still far her, by msking an
mrty parade of regret for the v.o ence
committed or the Chesapeake. and Nv de-.
mand no repeaiot he presidents piocla..
maNon as indispensable, before any offer of
stonement for that viiiencc wouidbe made.
Lasily, and almost at the same mo-
.nsDt when that tuVoy was dispatched, they
issued ;he detestable orders in council of
November 18th, 1907, by which they assume
the power of regulating, aud unliTn led v
. .z-rH "a.
orders winch bave left u no Alternative bu,
90 relhqmsh trade altogether, or todeclate
war against III N +; orders, submission to
which, would Involve inc Complete abaD
donment of our independence.
Having thus bri ny enumerated the
wrongs which the United States have re-
ceIved from & Britain, happy should be,
# she was the ouly nation Of whom We had
Just cause 10 complain: hut the government
OF France has followed he's example, and q,
BY similar system OF arbitrary and fctiti-
GUS blockades, tyrannicai restrictions and
unjust cOrhscatCns, has, TO the utmost OF
'cr power, contributed her ass stance TO the
de truction Of nerican commerce.
In this state Of affairs, the wisdom of our
government, (resolvcd to support that in
dependence wlIch we are now convened To
celebrale,) has had recourse TO an cfnbsrgo,
as the bes' measure that could be dopted.
FOR the purpose OF saving the property Of
om merchants from spo!iaiioB, OF prevent
ing the farther iwpressment and slavery OF
our scanen, and Of compelling both thu pow.
e1ful nations, by whom we are injured and
| Oppressed to do rs justice from a sense oil
their osOH 7Vanks.
The effects Of that embargo we all now
feel. Eat ] trust that those who are here
lassemblcd, are determined to bear It's ~
ccnyen.encies with patriotic hrinness ana
forttude,
If it shonld teach as 70 rely altogether up
ON our own resoutCes--tc encourage domes-
nc manrfac.urcs--to glory in appearing at-
9cays, as we 10 10 day, clad in homespur
clothes, ard thus 10 be requv independent
OF foreign nations; the permanent blessings
of the embargo VII greatly over balance its
/ temporary inconveniencies. t. war mus,
follow, (Which may very probably be The
case,) firmly elieve that that spirit which
dictated this declaration is now alive, and
IN full vgor. Not the smallest doubt can
be eniertaired, that he patriots Of 8Os will
lprescn. an invincible phalanx against the
enemies OF their country, and resolve, like
those OF NO. 20 conquer or die.