Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-10

l ygraSated igjur!es and insults, which
nave bern heaped upon US by the warning
covers of Europe. The aggregate ofour
wrongs have been great indeed. The
cosntervpiling measures OF our National
lGcvernment produced by the aggressions
are generally known. The recent com.
munica,,on Of public documents and the
able and repeated dispositions on these
topics, as Published 10 the world, explain
principles and fa6ls beyond the utility OF
further calculation
Although our commercial intercourse and
national defence is, from pecessisy and the
soundest policy, confined to the u. States,
il is not nnSecoming Any member of the u
lnion, to add US cn prring energies to nati-
onal measures, or with fairness and mode
ration, to question th-ir business and policy,
while they are pending and ripening for A.
Idoption. Put with governments as with in.
Idividuals, there are stages when questions
which can no longer bcusefully open to con-.
ltroversy and opposition; Stages when an end
must be put to debate and decision thence
resulting he respected by its prompt and
faithful execution, or government loses its
Iexistence AMI the people are ruined. Are
we not in this stage of the great questions
IF foreign aggressions, embargo, non inter
course, national defence and other means Of
ssfoty feemsd necessary, by those entrus-
ted with the final disposal of these, objects?
a balanced government. and its authorities,
capable orly of execr ing the deliberate vo
liitions of real majority OF the citizcns,
lconstituted and directed by known and fix
| ed principles, established by and proceed
| ing from. LII mselvrs, IS so safe, so reasona-
| bic, and SO beyond very thing else, essen
tial to their own liberty and happiness. tin at
its hazArri or interruption cannot be con-
itenplatcd but with distt ss. To such n go
vernment foreign nations with the unprin-
cipled and desperate, my be hostile, hut
our virtuous citizens. sensible of it's bless
| irgs, will yield 10 aav sacrifice for IT'S sup
port. Al no time has les administration
however W sc and a3ppy been satisfactory
| 20 all irs citizens. Tits was not expected
| It's impartiality, justice, forbearance and
tpacific policy have been no security against
violence, injustice aud depreciation ON our
rights of person, property and sovereignty
| inv the belIigerents. acts of insult, rapin.-
| and plumber, have been multiplied upon us
and pressed us othe very wall. Does fur.
Their retreat, and nuch further soroearance
consist with the spirit and genius of Ane
IrsCan5: Vet we trust the continuance of
peace. with It's insstirsble blessings, is not
Ialtogethcr hopeless. Tue aggressing natl
ms may yet be made to listen to the die.
tates Of their own interest aud spare us the
Threaded calamities OF war. II not, there
! is a point in national sensibility, az IL. the
feelings of man, where patience and sub
mission end. Beyond this is degradation,
| destruction aid death.-This point is when
| suffering fcrbearsnce involves surrender
of Ronor, property add the power of self go
1vernmeRt. How near we have approached
TO this period or how far we are appros.i !.
mating, is not for Us to determine. Such
considerations ought with confidence, as
I they may with safety, remain where the
con5titut,on has placed them.-Cougress
with united people, may still avert the
Threatened evil. PaciSc wisdom NAV VET
be better than weapons of war---And Should
X become necessary to cast the die we may
l5elassured our representatives,. participating
in all the trials, bur hens and suffer i'm
posed on Others will not incautiously pre-
tcipitste the throw. Whence then the cause
of jealousy, dstrast, alteration and bitter
aspersion of some of or citizens ?--Whenoe
then the ever to be regretted indiscretions.
suddenness and individual rashness, that
have denounced cur national government
and wounded our own Under a general
lpressure, however necessary, excitement,
are easily produced The effects of natl
w
fail more severely on some descriptions oil
citizens and portion of the community than
others. This Is unavoidable. Ship owners
and the New England states may have been
the greatest sufferers. But necessary in.
Equality. in the effect of measures, furnish.
es no objection to their justice or sheir DO.
II licy. All agree something was necessary
to be done Had other measures been adop.
tied, they probably would but have produc
ed another description of evils, not havinf
diminished the aggregate. 1t was not q
lhave been expected that the United State.
could be exempted from disasters, wher
lcauses were in operation, which have in.
volved half the world in the greatest. We
In some measure know the effects of pas
arrangements, but can never know wha
would have been the results of different ones
If our privations have preserved portion
of our property, our peace and the oppor
Itunity of yet selecting between alliances
lpeace and war, are we certain that the price
has been too great 1t has been the inevi
table and arduous task of our rulers to col
lect the diversified sentiments of their con
stituents, on facts, and to assimilate ans
concentrate them, as far as possible, to az
according system, predicsted on the pre-
lvaiiing opinion. BY what other principle
10y what better rule can society act : Il thu