Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-08-02

TO Mr. John Il lndolph. TINS information was
correct, but MIR ]. has since receded from
his determination, which leaves MIR z. with
out an opponent.
The enemies OF the embargo, or rather the
anglo.fedcral opponents TO Observation-Disclosures
sun continue to revile this measure, whilst at
the same time they boast gifts utility, as being
incapable of execution and having little or no /.
effect upon the Wese Indies. They ehdcavor
to diffusc the Same spirit of political malevo-
lence into the mn,is OF uniniormcd persons bv
ascribing every evil whether moral physical or
political to the embargo, and jesuitcslly hide
behind the curtain the causes that lead to il,
and the DEGREES oi other nations which amount
to it. Those who complain or this measure as
sacrificing our commerce, must be actuated by
base pcriidious motives, as they must know that
1t would not be reinsta,ed by the removal Of
the embargo, and that every commercial effort
under the present state OF thing would recoil
with double injury upon ourselves. 1t is asto-
| nishing how measure so mpeTiously required
Tor the salvation of our vessels and our searncn,
so absolutely necessary to the support of our
| neutrality, andin every respect so evidentlypro-
per, Can be perverted and misconstrued by Bri
tish partizans so as to succeed in their design
| of misrepresentation. We find that the en-
barge is supported even in the councils of our
enemy rs an act of wisdom and necessity, and
yet strange to tell, we find It opposed at home
by men who profess not only TO be americans
IN name, but "in heart and sentiment" THIS
| opposition, in conjunction with British intrigue,
has already afforded hopes 90 the hollow hear
ted ministry OF Erg'and, that the flame of civil
discord would soon consume our union and in.
Dependence, and present to their admring eyes
| nothing less than grand pile of ruins
Those men whose conducl has given rise to
these demon-like speculations should be point
ed out, by the strongest expressions of popular
contempt. In order to give the plausibiity of
conscientious opposition, they are continually
tabricatng reports about the quantity of provi-
sions in the West Indies, and thence detuce
the unimportance ofthe emba CO. and the un-
| friendly temper of Mr.. Jefferson towards COM
merce 1t would seem that no matter how
| much skill and knowledge are employed in the
formation OF any system, it is perfectly useless,
unless there are corresponding powers to con-
| duct ITS operation, no matter how sublime 8
| theory may appear, nav, If it was marked ont
| by the genius of divinity, it would be equally
useless, unless there was virtue enough fol ITS
practice, and no matter how intuitiveiy correct
precept may be, Is nothing, where ,here is
| q predspositlon to oppose it. 1t appears rs if
'hesc sentiments were upon the mind of So on,
when be declared, that it was unnecessary TO
consider whether a law was wise or not, bat
! whether Tive state of society would permit it's
/
auon' and our hope is gratihcd when we exam
Inc the natureo this little dsafiected sect, who
exciain against the embargo, but whose muir
| murs are lost in the applauding voice ofthe peo-
pie 1t is true and its admission must excite the
warm blush of indignation upon every patriot
chces, that the embargo has been eyaded and vi
oated by the most shameful tricks and subterfi-
! ges The usual mode in which these snluggiefs
have succeeded has been under the law aulho-
rising vessels 10 clearout for The purpose of col
| iecting debts. 1t will be rccollected that this
! law expires upon the 2Sth of this month, which
VIII certainly give additional energy and force to
| the operation efthe embargo. We shall then be
netter enabled to ascertain its powers and bear
| ings upon the British West India Islands. But
" Is Certainty untrue when il is said, that the
state OF their prosperity is undiminished and
unafiectcd II IS fully refuted by the exorbitant
| price which provisions command and if we turn
our attention TO Tie events of 1904, when our
intercourse was suspended BY the Jamaica re =
solution, we shall true portrait of their ST.
| tuation under circumstances less severe, and
! VIC carnot fail TO he convinced of the fact
This resolution inhibited The importation of pro-
visions and lumber, and the expectation rum
aud molssses The feelings of the colony al
+! most rose to turbulence, and the T apDrehcnsi-
ons were too well founded, rs appears from the
| address of their assembly 10 the governor, not
10 have been impressed with the most gloomy
hhOcipatioNs ana the mO8t anxious sOlIcItude f,sr
is repeal. In this address they demonstrate
to the satisflcti N of every person, that the very
existence OF their colony depends upon their
intercourse with the u s. That articles which
hey IndisTensiby require cannot b. procured
| rom any other source. That their trade w. n
tlc u S supplied the planters of Jamaica with
Hour Indian meal and corn, rice, pork, beef
sat, FISH, somcsIive stock house timber and
slaves, that is TO say, with great portion of tn,
sood required for the planters, the negrocs
the merchants and even for his 1,,ajestys froo6,.
and that's sufficient quantity cannot be obtained
J elsewhere, they say, is an Rrdeaiabie bosition
The return which was presented TO the as
seinby of Jamaica, to shew the quantity of pro-
lvlsions furnished in the space Of ihree wears to
the kings troops ard the kings hips uDon that
station, add confirmation to the foregoing re-
m,rks. For the troops 1853 barrels Of -four,
amounting to 105,8a1 6. For the ships 46, 687
cwts OF biscuit, 1852 barre of pork, 1862
bushels OF peas, 152,045 lbs. OFFICE, and 90, $50
lbs. OF tobacco. Thus according to their own
statements aud confessions, their existente de-
pchds upon their intercourse with tho u. s. and
tiat so lar from the mother country furnishing
snncicnt supplies for Der colonies, she cannot
even supply the kings troops and the kings
ShPs upon that station. From whence then
can they derive this necessary support
Mr.. Cobbett, who has taken a very correct
and expansive view Of this subject, declares
that " TO talk ofsupplyinE the West Indies from
our North American colonies is an obsurdity,
70 be treated with silent contempt" Our pos