Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-01

Mr. kardoiph's speech, as any conclusive
evidence of the probable conduct OF the u
;. or, indeed, as possessing any weight be-
You'd the intrinsic value of the arguments
which it contains Mr. Randolph is the ora
tor of a party professedly in oppnsition to
the government His evidence respecting
the bent of public opinion in America, is
not much better than the assertion of an
English disputant, who espouses the same
side of the question and although his par
~ succeeded in throwing out the first vio-
lent measure which was proposed to Con-
gress, it has since failed completely in OPP
posing the more moderate, but determined
proofs of irritation against England, which,
being given by great majority of the Ic-
gislature, cannot surely be regarded as the
clamors of few adventures in seaport
towns whom Mr. Randolph and his commen-
tator are unwilling to call Americans.
"With respect to the opinions maintain
ed by Mr.. Randolph as an American states
man, we are for the most part disposed to
speak in favorable terms. He seems, in
deed, to give nearly the same advice to his
country, which has been offered TO England
by those distinguished political leaders,
whose counsels, if followed, would have sa-
we'd Europe from the dreadful calamities of
the present war To cultivate a friendly
intercourse with all their European custo-
mers, but, If forced to chuse in such cri
sis as this, TO prefer the alliance of England,
and to make considerable sacrifices rather
than go TO war at all, appears to be the
soundest policy for the Americans. But
we cannot help observing, that Mr.. Ran
dolph has gone great deal too far in de-
preciating the importance of the carrying
trade now in the hands of his countrymen.
Admitting that the American merchant
merely performs the part of what has been
termed a neutralizing AGENT that he pur-
chases on a long credit in the French or
Spanish Islands, and then sells in Europe
on a shorter credit, or merely carries the
colonial produce circuitously from the PLAN
tasions to the planter or his consignee--thus
effecting the transport of other mems goods
without any adequate capital of his own,-
does it follow that this is an Improbable line
of employment? Rather, is it not the very
traffic of all others the most gainful To spe-
culatiye merchants? A person of a very
small capital, is in this manner, enabled to
share in the profits of large capitalists. He
is repaid exactly as the consign ess of
orr own West India planters are
Then, as TO the persons SO engaged be-
ing advcnturers of no substance or respect
ability, we presume there must be consi-
derable mistake. How comes it that such
persons enjoy an unbounded credit with
the planters and their, agents i'm Europe
How have they contrived TO purchase, ac-
cord'ng To some statements, the whole
French ard Spanish MISUNDERSTANDING
to all accounts verylarge proportion of
Alter above twelve years of such lucrative
practices, are they still needy adventurers
By the American public accounts, it ap-
pears, that in the year ending Septernhar
81 20. g. L.
". >. exceeded sixty millions of dollars in
value. If they who began so large a traffic
were once mare agents trading for COM
mission, they ,uust now have become Cant
tallsts and as the whole remaining exports
OF the country fall short Of this by about
reneteen millions, we may easily conjecture
how great proportion of the mercantile
men are engaged IN it, and how many of the
commercial fortunes are derived from this
quarter. Abont.haif of this branch of COM
MERGE, belonging 20 the French and Span.
ish colonies, is what England wishes To Ion
oil, IN order To hurt her enemies, who nro
fit by it as well the Americans. Can She
be much surprised, if those who are to be
entirely ruined for the purposes of British
policy, should endeavor bv all means to
prevent such a blow from being given or.
that ether members of the community. who
are but little injured by il, should still make
common cause With their countrymen? 1t
rs, no doubt, the interest OF the Americans
not to quarrel with England, and it was
Still less their interest to rebel against her
thirty years ago. BY a rupture too, thew
would infallibiy lose the very object for
which they threaten hostitities, besides i'm
curing great many other losses. But if
such considerations had any weight in the
councils of state, war would be banished
from the world for declaration of war.
whatever be its motive, never fails to en-
sure IN the mean time d repetition of the
offence which provoked it, But by defeat
ing the cn~ny, which is always expected, a
stop may, in the end, be put to the evil.
Just SO may the Americans argue. They
may hope to establish for the future the
rights which they now claim, fand NAV ra-
ther choose to fight for them, at the risk of
losing more, than give them up without re-
sistance."