Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-19

The Federal Republican, the New York
Evening Post, and the immaculate Mr..
Cheetham, are chuckling at the conceit
that the government is at skies and Sc
vens," that the old haher farce (as the
New York Citizen terms it) is going on,
and that the adm nistration, in the present
posture of affairs is at a loss Spha: 10 do.
II would be no difficult task to shew that
these declarations, coming from the quar-
tiers they do, are mere ar ifices to cover the
weaknesses of the scoffers, who have now
no otner refuge from contempt than the
masquerade of calls uhon the president for
documents, which, when produced and
published will serve not for any purpose but
to 0verwhelm the quibblers and the ella =
morers with confusion, and with shame too
ii 1t were possible for them to blush. 1t is
! very certain, that the administration finds
not the least difficulty as to The course to be
taken; and if x delays that Course it is
parely from a desire to convince every
portion OF the community of the rectitude
OF us conduct and of the correctness of it's
views. Inc president and the majority of
the legislative body have no disposition to
pore down the minority by hastily taking
the question, as the present opposition did
when the tederallsts were in power. GA
| the other hand, 1t is manifest that the
jackson harry IN Congress are reduced to
the most miserable shRDfIHg in order to
| keep up appearances in that, however
they have been instructed by the new en-.
voy, who has given very many admirable
| specimens of the duo6iHre In his official
letters to Secretary Saith. What can
! Shew that the minority IN Congress is IN
! the utmost distress more stronsl y than the
motions for fresh letters brought forward
oy Messrs. Quincey and Gold, and adopted
by the maj 3rIty out of sheer charity for
the movers, whose foriorn plig hit is really
piuaole. When men Cannot meet a sub.
Ject fairly it is Gear that their cause is
bad, and 1t is very evident tina. MessrS.
QuAcey and God have not met the SUBJECT
iairly, tor they are seeking to hide their
friendship for eavoy Jackson IN little hooks
and crannies-in petty sneering resolutI-
ons ; and by so dong attempt TO smother
up the partalty of their hearts in words
and PAPER. Ii IS they, IN fact, who are at
"ssFeS and SeUenS," who are carrying on
The Farce of reSo,H making, and are
Co npicteiy at loss 7Ohas 20 do ia me IRE
| aert juHcfKre. On so serious and important
subject as our foreign relations, MesSrs.
Cold and Quincy place themselves IN tue
most ludIcrous attitudes their whole talent
appears TO Consist IN little tricks and stra.
tagens, IN puerlle plots 10 ensrap the pre-
o'NShN ptAllNb Win NtlC utOSh oCl lOuS al =.
fairs Of human life as boys do with par
trldges when ,he youngsters nave neither
| powder, nor shoi, nor gun, to SHOOT them
with, endeavorIng TO deCoy them TO their
nets upon false pretences Indeed the con-
duct of Quincy aud God, Is so Intrinsical-
! ly conteunpubie, so tinCtursd with sp.ri f
| pettiiogging, that, TO use phrase from
Stee!S, tney render even calamity ridicu-
/ US. Ana yet these men are the reputed
leaders OF a certain sect in Congress-, who
appear pledged To England let -ngiand do
what she WIh. We should be more dispo-
sed TO consider them as political OHf-rIlers
10 the opposition carriage=or it never
could enter into our heads that such ma
nagers and takers as MessrS Gold aud
{ Quincy were qualified for grave leaders
IN Congress; they may do well enongn for
county Court attOFnies, to carp and cAvil,
poster a jury with distinctions without
difference aud draw up bills of exceptions
for the purpose of representation but as
to any thing else, it is the sTangest thing
IN the werid by what mistake it has hap
pened that they have been reputed leaders
OF parry, or even of a factionEzuuless,
indeed, leading party or heading ca
bal consists IN monoSylaOie and pOlysyla-
Dles multiplied and uttered ad iHfnlEuB7.
IL would be mucn more reasonable, we
conceive, to look for the head of a party
Tor the heads of a faction (for all factions
are monsters with more than one head J
in circle OF men who were able to discuss
great questions OF state, whose speeches a.
bounded with knowledge, aud whose Lam
guage was not a mere ranting vehicle for
the conveyance Of silly trash, neither ana
llasoUs, nor instructive, nor amusing. We
could by no means suppose that ind vlduals
who silly collect IN private rooms, huddle
themselves and Whisper together, shake
noodles at each other, and then 90 into the
House of Representatives with vapid re-
solution, the result of their wonderfully
wise piddhnB, were qualified for leaders.
The administration is surely in no straigh,
or difficulty from the operations OF sHch
gentry, VINO only perform the part OF the
magple, chattering for the entertainment
Of the auditors m the galleries of Congress,
and for the porers over stupid speeches
which creep through the columns OF ou
newspapers IN ali the majesty OF lazy duh
ness. IL IS not sHch men that Can put On,
administration 20 5ices and geycns,
that can make it resort to appearances
or disjoint It 50 as 70 disqualiiy It from pro
ceediUg TO do what is right.
Aud COW that we are speaking Of thes
Ipapcr.fafccg, IL may be asked VINO compel