Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-01
Dtralnla Nrnne.
r &c II M 0 N ID
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1903.

inserted in the last Argus, seems to be qua
llhed IN such manner as not to reduce the
United States Gas had been supposedly to
the disagreeable necessity of going to war
either with ENGLAND or France. Howey-
er arbitrary and opposite to the rights of
neutral nations it is in its immediate opera.
ton; however unjust it certainly is for him
TO endeavor TO Cypress them, because they
SuBer' Themselves to be plundered by his
enemies yet, as the principles, which he,
lat least ostensibly) contends for, as his III
innate object, are the same with those, the
acknowledgment of which we demand from
Great Britain; as the hostility of the French
10 our commerce with the British, (Which
commerce is now suspended by our own vo-
,untary act,) is to continue only until the
latter shall accede to our own terms, II ap-
pears that the Emperor's decree, altbo' Of
fensive to our dignity and pride as a nation.
is not necessarily a cause of WAR with Ell
Their party, but may in fact be of service to
rs IN compelling the British government to
do us Justice.
Whenever that government shall consent
to the freedom Of the seas, founded on the
grand maxims of universal right, that free
ships shall make free goods, and that the
nag OF nation shall protect all who sail
underit from arbitrary seizure and impress
ment, that moment the decree of the
French Emperor will cease to operate in
Juriousy to neutral commerce. 1t is true
that his other DEGREES, prohibiting the in
PRODUCTION of all articles of British manu-
tacture into any of his domnions, will re-
main in force: but, as the acknowledged
sovereign of those dominions, he has the
same right to make regulations of that sort
as our Congress had TO lay the present en-
barge.
1t all the nations of the continent of Eu-
rope, beng under his control, think prop
er to enter into non-importation agree
ment, and not to trade with Great Britain
or her colonies, either mediately or imme-
diateiy, 1t must be admitted that other ma
tons have no right to complain of such a
resolution, altho' their carrying trade may
be destroyed by it; since the right which
every friUdte herson possesses of buyinp
goods at the shop he likes best, or of not
buying them at all, is equally the right of
every nation
1t is evident that the only means now
lett tor Great Britain to shun the misfor.
tune or being perpetuaIly interdic,ed from
all correspondence with her most profitable
customers, must be for her to yield the err
roneous and tyrannical doctrines she has
endeavored "to interpolate into the law of
nations'
FROM certain circumstances lately trans.
pred, 1t seems probable that her envoy
Mr. Rose has consented ESQ far as he had
powers,) to some arrangement satisfactory
70 cur government. 1t is reported from
undoubted authority that the negotiation is
suspended, and that two messengers have
been dispatched to England, either FOR the
purpose OF obtaining farther instructions
to Mr.. Rose, or OF carrying over treaty
already signed by him, for the considera-
ton of his employers
1t POSSIBLE, if the formeris the avowed
object ot sending these messengers, thatit
may only be diplomatic trick to gain
t'me' but, considering the desperate cir
cum stances of moor old England, and her
absolute need of the trade to America, to
save her merchants from bankruptcy. and
her manufacturers from Starvation. we = m
not refrain from hoping that Mr.. Rose ia
IN earnest, in any pacific overtures or con.
cesSions that he may have made. Two
things, however, are certain that a pause
has taken place IN the progress of the ne
goc'ation; and that the messengers have
been sent one of whom is Mr.. Nourse.
late Register of the Treasury of the Uni
ted States.
We confess that we do not know the rea-
son tor employing one OF our own citizens
en- this occasion, unless the object NAV be
mat ne should make some proposals on be.
half OF our government. But time will
more fuNy explain the business
In the interim we would advise those who
strangely accuse Messrs Tfferson and
Madison OF being intcut on war with Great
Britain under the influence of France. to
pause, If possible, in their abusive career.
and to wait with patience until thew know
what measures have realty been adopted.
Otherwiae, they may, as usual, be SO uu-
fortunate as to have their slanderous sus.
rfc1oHs reiuted (almost rs soon as vented.O
by the omnipotence of truth and conclusive
energy Of faets.
We are requested TO say that Col. Samuel
Fo1d, of Amelia, declines acting as one OF
the committee to promote the Monroe tick
ct IN that county. He says, "Col. Monroe
stands high in my estimation, vet ! have a
preference for Mr.. Madison"
The following proceedings of the MILL.
TAlRY COURT OF ENQUIRY in the
case of General WilSinson,have been com
mun'cated for Insertion in the National In.
teligencer.
The court being formed on the 18th inst.
at the particular request of General viii
kinson, for the purpose Of perpetuatine tes-
umony. He presented himself and address