Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-16
GREAT BRITAIN.

conduct OF Great Britain until her views
are more fullv developed TO the world
But to he candid, we must confess that we
are no admirers Of TINT cold, timid, and
fastidious course, and therefore we shall
not hesitate moment, to lay before our rea-
ders the impressions which exist upon our
mind. AID according to them the pospece
which lately flattered as with the restorati-
on ofcommerce, the recognition four rights
together with an adjustment Of our diff
ferences uDon a permanent basis, has pass
ed away like the transient light Of the
slow-worm, and left us ifpossible, i'm deep.
er obscurity. From the propositions which
were offered by the resident minister here
in tone of such honesty and sincerity,
there were few persons indeed who did no,
look forward to the 10th of June with the
anxious anticipation, that IL would he the
end of our commercial troubles, at least
with England. What can be more expli.
cit than the language Of MIR Erskine, when
he says that "his majesty would be willing
to withdraw his orders in council of Janu-
airy and November 1907, so far as respects
the United States, in persuasion that the
President would issue proclamation for
the renewal of the intercourse with Great
Britain 81 In another letter he states that
In consequence of the acceptance of these
proposals, "He is authorised TO declare
that his majesty's orders Of. January and
November 1907, mill have been Withdrawn
as reshec's the United Sfates on the 1O'h
day of June merit" These proposals are
clear and transparent. There is no sub
tlefy or ambiguity upon which 70 hang
doubt. Aud Mr. Madison with }rGnE,,ess
and fromhntufe performed his duty in
receWlRg them /; he embraced them as the
happy precursors of amity and peace, hut
-, IL, -. III
Ike the fable Of Ixion and the Cloud. The
hypocrisy and treachery of Great Britain
is almost too evident to require remark
But il is ssid by many of her advocates in
this country that she would not have acted
in this manner if she had known of the
Progress which has been made by her mi
lister n the way of adjustment, and il is
said ~ others that she has not viola.
ted her propositions, bee ause she has with
drawn her orders as they resf,ect the u
nitcd States, and thatkhe never did intend
I, withdraw them as they respect France.
These remarks are either founded in
folly or the most stubborn determination TO
advocate the cause OF Great Rritain, no
matter how much it may be distinguished
by treachery and injustice. Great Britain
was either sincere IN the propositions she
communicated to her minister, or she was
respected the explicit and unconditional
assurances which they desired their mi
mister 20 make to us Il was their duty ac-
cGrdlny o the law of nations, and most
emphaticallv so, from existing circumstan-
ccs. They had every possible reason to in
duce thenn to believe that their PROPOSE
tions would he accepted, not only because
they had been before offered hyus, but Ike
wise because they themselves pretended to
consider the non-intercourse as a favorable
change in regard 20 them, * hence Mr. Frs
kline s;a ed IN his ceres pcndence that "on
these gourds Expectations he is instructed
to com rrunictte 10 the American govern
ment h;e maiesty's Je,eru,ioa-ion Of sending
10 the. u S. IN envoy extraordinary invested
with full powers to conclude treaty on all
tire 20 MS of the relations between the two
csuntries." Here then they 50 confidently
calculated upon the acceptance OF their
PROPOSAL, that they were determined to
send an envoy extraordinary, &c of course
they could have entertained no doubt about
the progress thus far in the way of adjust
ment.--If insncere they merely intended
IN ielude us, while they might entrap our
commerce. Else why at the very mo-
ment almost when these prop0s lis were
uader cons'1erat'on did they issue these
new ordcrs9 There is Substantially little
or no difference between the new and old
orders. Taey may not app lreutiy he so
extensive +; but in fact they blockade every
port Of much Importance 20 our co1merce.
But what did they soiemnly pledge them
selves to do in the facc 0f the world
That the orders OF January aud November
1907 should be revoked! According TO
these orders we could rot 20 TO any port
from which tue BT.tIsh Aag was excIua ID.
Have they performed their engagement
and revoked tbem! No. ike proteas they
have oaly CHANGED their appearance. We
are still excluded from France, her colo
Aies, Sc from Holland and from HAY. SO
that If France should alter or vevoke her
edicts,it would be perfectly unavai ing
SO much for British faith and honor.
This however was ALMOST precisely her
conduct la 's3 and 90, and when the pre-
sident refused at that time to ratifiy the
treaty unless the provision orders were re-
Voked, the British mniste, per6dousiy
suggested the expedient OF taking them oil
for time, and then 20 renew them again
, when public suspicion had slbsideI. We
have frequently before given to our rea-
ders the history ct British conduct about
this tirhe, and in an essay in the beginning
of last month under the head of what has
hahheHed may h1ffen again, we feared
this very event. That the conduct of 1903
- q ,yo,,Id na otnntiar 10 g JO A