Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-18
Dlrg.aia Nraas.
RI c HIM . N d.
FRIDAY, AUGUST IS, 1909.
FOR THE ARGUS.


Reflections or the disavowak Of IRE stt-
hHtatfons agreed nhoa By tae British
Minister; and of their Permanent o6k-
CATION on the British Goverapierh
MOL.
THE first news of the disavowal of the
accredited acts of its public minister on the
part of the British governa,ens, excited an
unlversaibursto Immigration throughout this
country. To good men it afforded another
instance of the faithlessness OF those prin-
cipies of conduct for which IN modern davs
that cabinet has been distinguished on
the known advocates of that government,
from the avowed profigacy, and the TO-
tai disregard of public faith which il ma
widest CONSERVATION.
The opeh participation therefore of some
of these in the general Indignation, and the
guarded silence ofo;hers, made many un-
wary persons suppose thae the recent DC.
currence would forever stop the mouths Of
a British faction in this country and IL.
mite honest but deluled men in the defence
of the common welfare. Hence no religi-
Gus controvers alist ever calculated with
more sanguine hopes on the conversion of
his stricken auditor, than did those persons
on the efficacy of the recent occurrence TO
produce the political regeneration OF the
deluded followers of tha p ,rty.
But they were deceived IN the conduct
of those cunning politicians. These knew
we'll that when public execration was at
the highest, it would be unsafe to oppose
the current bat that If it were only once
suffered to subside, that then they might
be able to throw up barriers to arrest its
further progress.
Hence their arst political manoeuvre, UNI
der the cloak of moderation, was to incul~
cate suspicion and distrust of the truth OF
the relation {: and next, should its authen-
ITCHY be established, TO wait for those sha-
dows of justification which occurrences
might offer. And their friends in Britain
did not suffer them TO remain long without
an apology.
The British Premier gave the public a
garbled account of MIR. Erskine's instructi-
ons BY this ne hoped, at once to attain
two important objects. That it would op-
crate with the American people rs JUS
tikcation for his disavowal of the late ne go
citation and that it would furnish his parti-
Fans among US with fresh pretexts 10 en-
barrass the measures OF our government.
The assertion, therefore, that Mr.. Ers-
kline had violated his instructions, was gree
Oily adopted. gave breathing time to
the spirits OF the party; and those persons
who little before, dare not 30 much as ut
ter whispers in Its iastificaton were loud
at one time in publishing animadversions
on Mr. Erskine's gu,ll or folly In the late
negotiation. AT another, in declaiming "a
gainst the stupidity mr. artiice of our cabi =
net, which either had fooled, or been fooled
by Mr.. Erskln.'s diplomatic cunning /:
Such are the yagaries of falsehood when
the strait road of truth is once abandoned |!
The nusty volcanoes of the laws of nations
we're next rausacked by those TRASHY mini
ons /; not in support of truth, but to find
arguments in palliation for injustice and
this too by men who heretofore in their apn-
logiea for British outrage Acknowledged no
scale OF national morality out the right of
the strongest; no principle of public law
but the interest of the country.
But these frauds are badly yelled the r
contents shall be lid bare aud taeir au -.
thors dragged forth 10 receive that judg.
ment from the publ which IN y merit.
We will proceed To- retrace the ground
the partizans of q. Is. have gone over before.
ist. We shall examine the evidence of
those instructions: 81 The principles of
public law: Sd. And the conduct OF our
government. And we shall do this though we
are convinced tnal tnoSc PERSONS DO not
themselves believe in the truth of those
principles which they advocate as dognss
of political orthodoxy: nor do we think
| that the strongest probabilities of human
reasoning, or even the evidence OF demon
stration, would have any affect on rheir
| conviction. Such men are already prepar I'd
either by their prejudices or their interest,
to discredit every thing that cbmes in cou-
petition with the views of their party Yet
! rs the ignorant or unwary may perhaps be
entrapped by their artful sophisiries il
will not herhaps be a useless attempt "a
draw aside, that ven which covers those
abominations which are oaly known To the
few who are already initiated in those
political denominations, called the serets oil
cabinets.
hr7the opening of the negotiation in A.
pril last, three points were proposed for
discussion; the attack on the Chesapeake
the orders in council (; aud treaty OF com
merCe.
For the first, the British minister in the
name OF his government, under the alledged
! pretext that the non-intercourse law had
produced state of equality between the
belligerent powers in relation To this coun,
! try proceeded to offer satisfaction. The
seameB taken from on board our national
1 l..