Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-06

wncn communications OF this sort should not
be made public, not because the people
ought MT to see them, but the different TO-.
reign powers 10 whom they relate. The
measures which such communications might
recommend and require, would be defeated,
| most probably, by their publicity and,
/ perhaps, Ii might he indspcnsibly necessa-
| ry, 10 take some precautionary steps. Who
knows but what this may be the case A
minister at foreign court, in order 60 give
tu!l and minute view of our relations, and
the state OF the country, may sometimes
make remarks, which, IL Published, would
destroy all hope of accommodation, and
might, perhaps, in these eventjiI times,
bring himself in jeopardy.
=R
AT time like the present, so full OF dan
ger, embarrassment and novelty, we had
tondly hoped that prejudice would Y We way
to candor, and i'll tempered opposition to
fair and liberal discussion. That the feel
ings of exasperated vanity, and thht even
the still more dreadful, effects of mortified
ambition would all be dismissed and forgot
teo at the tar of public good. We could
not expect nor indeed are we so extrava-
CANT as to wish that opposition should en-
tireiy cease. But when we observe that it
is conducted by a temper of open hostility
and with charges of the most illiberal cha.
racter, we can bu. express our most unseign-
ed surprise To argue is one thing To
abuse is another--The first is the evidence
of independence, and tts last of determined
sentiment. The question is not now what
party shall prevail, but whether our coun.
try shall surrender and submit. /, is i'm
material To what party an individual is at.
tached--To the Jeifersnnan or the Federal
the Madisoniap or the Monroe, provided
hsax ~.
try in the hour of danger.
That this hour is uppn us every BODY a.
grees, and most imperiously demands our u
nanimity and our confidence in the govern
ment. Every person almost is acquainted
with the Impressions which have been made
upon the cabinet OF CT. Britain by the cla-
mors Of some of our disaffected brethren
, and the riotous spirit OF the East. Every
symptom ot dstrust aud every effort to in.
Jnre tlr administration is TO them addition.
! al evidence of our want of virtue and firm
ness, and that we shall ultimately he for
ced from our own disorders to abandon the
Tort of our independence aud to.capitulate
upon any terms they may please to pre-
scribe. Unanimity then in support of a
! national measure of defence under c;rcum-
stances like these is due from every Anne
rican. The Presidential election is near
! calculations upon a different and more pa
lie and accommodating system o. conduct
are as false as they are insulting. Aud
they Will likewise soon be convinced that
that frfste negotiunl of oar late minister's
was not more offensive to the executive
than it has been to the people
They will instantly infer from the cleo
ton tina, as people we are firm and deci
ded, and as neutral nation we are deter
mined tn maintain those rights which be
long 70 US. 1t is only necessary TO ensure
the truth of these calculations to express
| our warmest appreciation and our undimi-
nished confidence in the administration. So
long however as they are cheered with Sc
ndt2rial circulars aHd that mercantile Gu
pidi,y which vapoars about secession RAJ
Tier than no trade, we may bc assured that
they will play oar own game uDon us and
punish themselves in order to produce a
higher punishment epm US.
We disdain Intolerance, but we cannot
forbeartn express our surprise that any ma
tive born citizen should endeavor to give
the character OF DIisDsanage1aenk and hKsii-
! ianiDiifY TO our government. That there
are persons of this description our public
papers doily establish and that these pa
pers are carefully dispatched beyond the
water there can be no doubt. In contem-
plating the state of parties we can but adj.
NIT with readiness that there are honest adj
vocaies on all sides, and that among the fe.
deralistS there are SOME republicans of the
genuine stamp of '76-There are Others
however who suffer their passion or disap.
poiptment TO mislead them, but from nei-
Their of this description of men do we anti
cipate that hostility TO the administration
which will impede 4 SUGGEST : adjustment
OF our embarrassments. We most ardently
wish that the violence of opposition when
eBgenders hatred and obstinate determine.
ton was ex:inguished. We had hoped and
believed that the Monroe partizans would
De the very last to cherish this dangerous
fame, that they would even under the pangs
Of disappointment adhere TO the text which
they have so often Preached as one OF the
most beautiful in the political decalogUe-
mat the zOiH Of the majority should goO-
era.
BUT LOOK AT THIS