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

S-h TA1h s'h altSihPC 10 Outdiu Oy COT
rnpt means the election of member
ioto the House of Commons: the fact
was admitted by himself and he also
acknowledged that the principle, ifex-
nded, would prove fatal to the indie.
pendence of the Commons. The on.
ly apology offered by himself and his
friends, was that the attempt was not
succe ssfui notwithstanding the perni-
clous and alarming tendency Of the
crime, and the plain evidence of facts
demonstrating his guilt, he was acquit-
ted and he afterwards declared in the
House of Commons, that he would not
resign his Office while he had a majo-
rity on his side.
With regard to the orders in council, it
may be sad, chat the United ates were
Warranted IN expecting an entire revoca-
ton of the old orders, without the adop-
ten of others, asserting the same new and
unacknowiedged principle, and having
(shought to a less extent) the same iniuri-
Gus effect upon the lawful commerce of our
country. Ii must be confessed, that to ac-
quiesce under the new orders, will be to
acknowledge a privilege hitherto denied
tlldI IL VIII OIeUS'Ve I'D rance. anu IN
crease the difficulties of an amicable ac-
comnodation. The manner and circum.
stances attending the express engagement
Suffered mo by Mr.. Erskine, that the or
ders wen d be revoked by the 10th of June,
give 1t the force of a positive obligation,
making II as binding as treaty. 1t may
We hoped that the good faith and honour
vt Great Britain, will induce her to fulfil
this compact. " To violate the spirit OF
a treaty (says VatteD while we pretend to
respect the letter, is an artful and deiber-
ate fraud a complicated crime of false
hood and dishonesty" An act of this ma
ture 1t is to be presumed viii not be com.
mitted by the government of Great Britain
When Mr. Oakley was sent 20 America,
it was expected that we would rigidly per.
severe IN tine system we had adopted s.
his mission was decisive proof that the
system was not an &c inconvenient res,rc-
ton" upon the American people alone. Mr..
Canning began to perceive that 1t was in
convenient elsewhere. Before the new
orders we're issued, it was known that the
embargo system was relaxed: the reiaxati-
on was considered as the offspring OF folly, or
weakness, and the news was welcomed with
JOY It was perceived that such articles of
our produce as were most wanted, would
be Carried I'm abundance into Spanish, Por-
tusuese, and other ports friendly to Grea,
Britain that the price would be low, AZ
there would be little competition among
buyers that the expense of Carrying them.
to England would not be an evil, as Brit.
ish vessels would be employed, which by
creating new branch of trade, would in
crease the nursery for sesmen. One prin-
cipal point therefore which caused Mr..
Oakley's mission, was obtained without a.
ny concession it only remained for Great
Britain 70 recover the custom of the Uni
ted States for her manufactures havinv
fewer points to gain, it is to be apprehen-
ded, that at the time when the new orders
were issued, she mad determined not to grant
terms as favourable as before The embargo
act was extremely injurious to our interests
other measures might have been adopted
better suited to the genius of the country.
and less hurtful in their operation but
having endured all lis various evils tor
more than year, we should have perse-
vercd until the end in view had been &C
complished it would at least have main
tanned our reputation for frmness. When
the orders in council were under discussi-
on in Parliament, Mr. Whitbread observed
that " that nation which had made itself
lllustrious by contest vigorously maintains
ed in defence of her liberty and indepen-
uChSS3 Wodiu INV pCTSSNeTe IN the system
she had adopted in defence Of her neutral
rights" This character for frmness is
now, if not lost, at least impsired huctua-
ting measures IN fact are always injurious
and Notwithstanding the stu
alton to which wavering councils have re-
duced US, every sincere lover of his coun-
try must hope that treaty of amity and
commerce may yet be formed. A long
time must clapse before we can coerce
terms more favorable than can now be
granted. England will now have the Cd.
portunity of sending us a supply of her
manufactures of getting haxseed, cotton,
tar, turpentine, and other articles she NAV
want; so that new embargo and non in.
tercourse cannot produce much effect for
long period to come. Moreover IL can.
nor be too often urged that England is the
bulwark which protects all nations indie.
pendent of France against injury, if not a.
gainst absolute conquest The present ST..
tuation oil Europe has no parallel in mo.
dern time what has been called the ba.
lance of power in Europe is nov DESTROYED
II England falls, the determined cou.
rage Of Americans may proudly maintain
liberty and independence America may
and will remain free, but she would be a
poor nation her territory would be CON
SANITY annoyed her revenues wasted and
her bloOd spiit in tie defence. her nI,o