Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-05-02
&c H NJ O N ID.
WAat has hahhened may Aafnen again.

hSatt WIFI OUT IeruulOuS anu ftientleSS
enemy, Great Britain. The prospect is
certainly delightful to every real friend of
his country. Every person must hail with
Joy the Rainbow of peace which begins to
beam upon the gloomy and portentous state
in which we have been so long involved
And most particularly too, as it seems to be
the barbpger of an honest and durable adj /.
justment upon principles of friendship and
Justice. In this point of view the prospect
before us is calculated to inspire the m ost
pleasing sensations. But let us not suffer
our imagination to supply the existence Of
facts. Let us not chase the painted but
teray without examin ng the course we pur-
sue, step by step. Let US not be too much
Intoxicated with the expected transition
from state OF insult and injury co that of
justice and respect. Let us not be hurried
into an unsuspicious reliance upon honesty
and faith, which in a thousand instances
have before given way to the suggestions
of self-intcrest founded upon rapine and vi
olence. Let us not be TOO hasty to catcl,
the treacherous hand of friendship, least we
may be involved in injuries OF a more COM
pl:cated nature, and perhaps more beyond
the reach OF remedy.
The late propositions to our government
contain but few of the features which ought
to belong 10 a treaty from which we expect
the establishment Of our national and neu-
trial rights. Great Britain is wearied and
exhausted with the ravages of war, and
hence may wish for a state of rest to which
she has given the engaging and dignifed
appclation cf a state Of peace. Let not our
zeal for the interest OF the country be
considered as nothing more than wan,on
and unnecessary suspicion IN regard TO Br,-
tain, resulting from any principle of deter
mined hatred against her. So far from it,
We xytx Ia L., ~ Oh
OF our differences could take place. But at
the s.me time, we cannot forbear FROM ca.
pertaining some fears to the happy re-
suit which is anticipated with so much con-
flience from the present face of things.
There can be doubt but that necessity
is tne moving principle on the part of En-.
gland, and not any real disposition to con-
TESS her errors and to acknowledge our
rights. Under this belief, suspicious must
exist in regard to her motives and designs.
And WE repeat, that wha: has happened
may happen again; and particularly too,
when we recollect the history ofher conduct
in 1898, 4, and S. In June 1898, she pass.
ed an an'i-commercial order, which in the
November following was secretly continued
and extended
{" These orders authorised the seizure
ct all American and other neutral vessels
having on board the produce of the French
colonies or provisions, dry goods and other
supplies for the use of any French colony.
The Americans and other neutrals were
subjected to meal ulable injuries and innu.
Merable violations. This too, contrary
to all decency and precedent, was done in
secret manner for information ct its
existence was wickedIy suppressed even
at the British admiralty, til late in Deem
Der, and it was rot till the 25lh of De-.
cember following its date that our minis
term London (Mr Thomas Pinckney) OBJ
t"incd copy of it, AS Will be seen by hIs
official letter 10 the secretary of state in
the Presidents message to Congress of the
4th Of April, 1894. 1t mas clandesfine,
being kept from the view of all neutral
Ministers in London for seven weeks after
its date and even reserved among the Sc
cret papers the British Lords of the ad-
miraty. In the mean time passage of
four or five weeks carried it to the West
Indies and our unsuspecting vessels,
mariners, cargoes and money were odious-
1y entrapped in the fatal snare. IL was
plain they meant to secure the possession
of our sailors, vessels and mercantile Cap
ital. Even in the case OF "A Blockade the
law vt nations and even the treaties of
England with the powers owning major
ity OF DSutrai shipping require n pr0ciarna
nation and notice of the Blockade, and "A
knowledge of It by neutrals to justify the
SECURE. Rut Great Britain criminally trod
under foot those obligations of the law of
nations and Of her own treaties, and all de-
cercy aud justice 10 US, ciandesfineiy trans
miitcd To Der naval commanders the orders
or the 9th Of November, when no Blockade
existed. BY those orders neutral Amer
icanoI Dane bound with French Sugar, Cof-
fec, &c. from the u s. neural country,
to Denmark mural country, nav, even
to Spain or the Austrian Netherlands, Hen
roKHfTie8 Of tie fo7gcrs combined Svifh
EnE'ond ia me 7voi. aga,nst France, were
rendered setzabie, though rte cargo 7Uas
neuT0f hroherfp eLso, but unhsppily grew
IN French colony Is il possible that a.
ny secret order can be more ertraUagonf.
~ arrogant, more irregularly injurious to
an enemy, and more frsidiously yioative
Of neutrsl rights than the British system Of
orders Of June the 9Th, and November 9th
1898, as they stood in force through The
months OF November and Decemberl II /
was April 1894, before we knew that the
November order either existed or was
countermandrd. When we did obtain tho
knowledge Of IFS being countermanded, he