Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-28
-Four Dollars Per Annum-Paid in Advance.1

The resolution before you, sir, is no,
the one of my choice, nor the one b.,
which could wish that my responsibility
could be. tested. II is the offspring OF
cancellation and of great concession on
nay part. i feel, sir, in common with
my fellow citizens, great repugnance
to war. / think the dreadful resort, should
only be made in q case OF self-defsnce,
protest against war merely for the purpo.
ses OF conquest, or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT : bu,
IN my opinion, war is amply justified by
she existing CRISIS.
In my judgment, If the public sentiment
could be brought to support them, wisdom
would dictate the combined measures of en-
barge, non-intercourse and war. have no
doubt but that their combined influence
would be the most efiicacious in meeting *
|subdning the crisis; but, sir, very few gen.
|tlemen, I believe, have brought their minds
lup to this State of energy and perhaps,
IN the present state of the public mind, dis
ire : ed and drawn by the various decisions,
as l. is, from the realsourcc OF our injuries,
1.-THE experiment might be deemed rash
lone even if it could DE obtained. have
however, sir. sn much confidence inthe good
Sense and patriotism of the people, and in
the efficacy of these measures, that will
briefly state their probable effects for the
of the people and am the
more disposed to do so, because I believe
the time is not past, but is fasSapproaching
when the whole energy of the nation must
lbe called forth to save what we have lef;
lof our honor, independence aud dearest
interests. These would be the obvious eff
fecis of the combined influence Of the mea-
sures suggested. Embargo would deprive
our real enemy Of many of our productions,
which believe 10 be indispensable to his
prosperity in many respects. Non-iMer-
course would deprive him of our market for
his surplus manufactures, an operation no,
less Injurious to him than the other, whilst
war could be made TO retort upon him some
Of the evils OF his own injustice. would
present nothing Of value to him on the ocean,
to whet his cupidity, and stimulate him to
a perseverance in the war. would front
him on the ocean with empty destructive
ships, brave and hardy defenders of them,
and rusty iron guns. If he achieved a con-
quest, it should be a conquest of.hard knocks,
whilst there should be nothing of valne TO
crafty his cupidity, or compensate his own
losses.
would at the same time seize up
on his colonial possessions upon this
continent. Ifthe whole energy efthe
nation could De brought to act vigo-
rousiy in this way, l will venture to
predict, that within six months Great
Britain would be brought to value our
friendship as much as she would to
dcprecate om enmity. Bur, sir, whilst
l would apply the scourge with one
hand, with allstke severity which the
active energy Of the whole nation
could inAict, / would with sincerity &
good faith, hold out the olive branch
with the other my demands should be
moderate, and within the limits of JUS
tice. And believe me, Mr. President,
Great Britain would soon learn how to
make choice. Whilst, sir, you would
expose nothing OF value TO her, she
would necessarily present to your spo-
iations a rich commerce. commerce
which the very object of her orders
were intended to enlarge, and which
she considers as almost Indispensable
to her national existence. Permit me
at the same time to express an opinion
that the whole British navy would be
very far from aGording competent
protection, to this wide spread com
meree. With respect to preiudices a.
gainst the embargo, would remark,
that considering the zeal, ability and
|arti6ces, which have been employed to
excite them, particularly in one section
Of the union, it is matter of surprize
that the peoule have submitted to the
|Drivations, which have been delusivelv
ascfibed to that measure, with no grea-
ter disconteuts than have been mani
tested by them and the experiment
has rather confirmed, than lessened my
opinion OF the patriotism Of the peo-
pie ; but still perhaps so many preiudi
ces have been excited, as TO justify
some relaxation in that respect. In
that case, however, letters of marque
and reprisal, and the invasion of Ca
NADIA ought, in my Judgment, TO have
been substituted war would then have
been resorted tUin less efficient form,
md the people upon the experiment,
have no doubt, would regret the sd
cri6ce bot the house of representa-