Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-18
Dirglata Araus.
R L H M o N d.
TUESDAY, April Is, 1909.


aud unprejudiced mind can examine ne con
duct of Great Britain in relation to the va.
rious powers OF Europe, without feelings O,
singular adherence. ----Shc has for long
time endeavored to dupe the world into =
belief, that the war In winch she has been
engaged was unavoidable, and moreover.
that but for her exertions, the sceptre of
Napoleon would wave over the face of the
earth without the sn iliest opposition. -
This has been the deceptive excuse which
she has constantly advanced. And indeed
We invariably hear 1t from the federalsts
and the adherents OF that country whenever
this subject is introduced. T. seems mD,s.
siole TO tear away this mantle of prejudice.
Every thing on her part is considered. no
matter how deeply It may be stained with
intrigue, violence and injustice, as perfect
ly right, while on the other hand, every
! thing on the part of France which is at ali
Calculated to resist the dominecriny eieya,
ton Of Britain, - inconsi6erately Condemn
cd as despotic and unjus1i6able. Under
these circumstances 1t IS Impossible that a
ny impartial estim te of the national cha
racters or those two coun .ries will be adj
mitted by all parties. -rne very word
france, is an argument of opposeless ener-
gy. And at this time it is So insen,ou.iy
decorated with the alarming figure of uni
r.
te, that 1t appears to possess a magic ai.d
reslstless power.
IL is imposs Bile to conceive any species of
, treachery, of wanton injury, or of the most
complicated tissue of crimes to DESTROY the
government OF France, mat would not DE
justified Dy tue advocates of Great Britais
der their ca6ahstic, undeined principle
Of SCI Preservation. THIS feature ia the
character OF Britain is too prominent and
! horrid 20 be unobserved Nv her most ieryent
admirers. Even In che much esteemed
reign OF Queen Elizabeth, this princip,e
was FORCED iato service TO justify the Cap
ture OF SKY ships laden VITA stores belong
ing 70 the Hanseatic confcderacy, under
the affected belief that they were ,nte .ded
to assist the Spanish Armada. Tae same
temper urged them 60 detain the money due
to Up na" ie,c nc might fail ihto che cot.
ters OF Bonaparte; the SINE IN their me.
mor2ble and assass.n.like attack UPON Co
penhagen; and the same in regard to our.
selves, IN trying TO command and direct our
commerce, as essential 10 her prosperity
and the impr essment of our seancn, as ne.
cessary 10 the preservation other nauy-
What vice in the catalogue OF depraY,.y
may they not justify, and indeed which they
nave done and justified under tins .sde
and astonishing doctrine, which II as lo D Jun
Diary to It's extent-no exception to lis op-
GRAFTON. Hence too, they seemed deter
mined on unextinguishable war. Every o.
venture and proposition which is IN ade for
peace Is evaded oy cnlcanery and cxray..
CANT dem Ands, made in = temper nsreiy to
prolons the Continuation of war Ii 1906
an attempt was made to restore peace TO
Europe, and indeed the demands of Great
Britain were so fairly. admitted, tnte snc
mad no possible scheme OF excuse, but ,hat
or consulting her Imperial ally the Enpc
! TOR OF Russia. Even this was done. but II
very soon appeared TO the world, thaS IN.
! stead OF inducing her ally to approve OF the
treaty, she employed every ar,iticc IN her
power TO prevent hin. After tais deyel.
| oPement OF her shameful and clandestine
conduct, her literary advocates were oblie
ed to retreat under the Confession, that If
peace was restored, she would be in coz
| slant tear OF the accession of aaval strength
| on the part OF France. The great VARIETY
OF pretexts winch she has advanced in her
Justification, founded in hypocrisy and CAL
| culated to deceive, must excite the indIg-
| Nation or every dispasSionate observer.
| In the early part OF the present reign.
| she was hostile 20 the Bourbon race. and IN
the language of the minister who conduct.
\ ed the war, " he looked upon that time as
| favorable TO the destruction of the h. ,uss of
Bourbon; and that they ought not to lee the
glorious opportunity slip, they might in
VAN look for another" Hence the OBJECT
of the war was TO destroy the Bourbon ia
mily. When the French republic arose.
they would not acknowledge il, but ON ,ae
other hand pursued the same measures of
hostility, and for the avowed purpose of re-
storing the Bourbon mouse TO the throne
Such is the extravagant inconsistency in
which this nation involves herself, to carry
on war, in the words Of one of her dis
tinguished wrlters,f " without cause.
| without an object and without an end ("
When We examine the situation of that
| country at this particular time, we find e
very observation identified and confirmed in
her present conduct. What is the reason
she will not accept the terms offered by the
Eriurth conventions Russia is no longer
her Imperial ally, therefore the former IN
pediment caanot possibly exist now. sat
forsooth, spain must be consulted and adj
nitted as party. ferdinand the VII, the
tenant OF prison, as the head of mon
archy which must be considered as virtu-
ally nothing more than tae fief of France.
Ehus It 10 evident that peace on any terms
IS not the object or desire of Great Britain.
we trust that no observation which falls
from our pen will induce any person To be