Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-14

the administration of the pubic aifairs-Ss
what .hasbecn the fruit of their iabors? Let
the following facts answer
Our Agriculture is discouraged,
| The Fisheries abandoned, and
Navigation forbidden
| Our Commerce at home restrained, if not
annihilated,
Our Commerce abroad cut off, and
| Our Navy sold, dismantled, or degraded
to the service of cutters and gun boats.
! The revenue extiuguished,
| The cource of Justice interrupted,
J The military power exalted above the
civil, and by setting up a standard of politi-
cal faith, unknown to the constitution, the
nation is weakened, by internal anirnosities
and division, at the moment, when it is un.
necessarily and improyidently exposed to
war with Great Britain, France and Spain.
So great change, accomplished IN SO
short time, is unexampied even in the his
tory of weak and unfaithful Administrations,
and can have proceeded only from the want
OF that capacity, impartiality aprudence,
without which no government can long pre-
serve the prosperity or the confidence of
the country.
The dawn of the present administration
promised an impartial and patriotic course
and the citizens anticipated continuance
of the public and private enjoyments,
which distinguished our land but these ex-
lpectations were soon disappointed, by the
avowal OF system of political persecution
and prescription, which has interrupted
the harmony of good neighbourhood, and
gone far to destroy the happiness of social
intercourse.
The conclusion of the late war in Eu-
rope Afforded a favorable opportunity to en-
ter into negotiations for the purpose of es-
tabllshiug such maritime provisions, as IN
the event of future war, would secure the
navigation and trade of the United States,
against a repetition Of injuries, they had
SO lately suffered. This opportunity was
wholly neglected, and the commercial and
maritime treaty with Great Britain, the
first naval power in the world, was suf.
tered to expire without a single attempt,
mat we have ever heard of, to obtain it's
renewal
The war in Europe recommended in
1905, and thereby our commerce was again
exposed to interruptions upon the ocean,
These served as matter of Intellectual re-
monstrance, until 1906, when France passed
the decree of Berlin, thereby violating the
provisions of her treaty with the u States,
Infringing the law of ations, and prostrat-
ing the commercial rights of all neutral
states.
The decree is substantially and almost
literally the same, as that passed BY the
French Directory, in 1898, aud which pre-
sident Adams in his speech to Congress, in
Dec. following, pronounced c,be 's an un.
equiyocal act of war, which interest as well
as honor called upon the nation firmly to
resist" 1900.
Congress accordingly proceeded to pass
laws apnuliing tine treaties with France,
prohibiting all commercial intercourse with
the French dominons, and providing for the
equipment of a naval force, for the defence
of our just rights.
The country cannot have forgotten the
protection afforded TO trade by these mea-
sures, so honorable to the nation measures
by which our flag was .respectedsin every
sea, and the skill and courage of our Off :.
GERS aud seamen displayed, in battle, with
the ships of France.
1t was IN consequence of these decisive
acts, that an early communication was made
to our government, of the desire of France,
TO return TO the relations of peace and to
the authority of public law, and the Con-
vention which was soon after concluded by
our government, with the person VINO now
sways the ceptre of France, accomplished
| these important objects.
| Had our rulers after the PRONUNCIATION of
! the decree of Berlin, followed the example
of their predecessors, the English orders
would not have been issued, nor should we
now have to deplore the distress that afflicts
the country.
II, then, these evils might have been a..
voded, by initiating the example of 1898,
may they not yet be removed, by retracing
the erroneous steps which have been taken,
and by adopting now those measures which
then proved efficaciousl
| To this end, let Congress repeal the En-
barge, annul the Convention with France,
forbid all commercial intercourse with the
French dominIons, arm our public and prl-
vate ships, and UNFURL THE REPUB-
LICAN BANNER AGAINST THE I'M
PERIAL STANDARD.
This done, the English Orders would
cease to operate, we should hear no more
of the unparalleled folly of oontending, at
the same time, with all the great powers Of
Europe-our trade to every region of the
globe, except France and her dependencies,
would again recover and hourish--our =.
griculture would feel the influence of the
emancipation of trade, and hand in hand,
with general prosperity, the revenue of the
nation would once more exceed. its expen-
diture.
Therefore Resolved that II 10 ;oexnedi