Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-27

and provide not for the best bat for the
worst results of fortune. To obtain
peace, a'nasion should lie prepared for
war and to trust TO fortune, we should
have the power To command it. An
army in the field or ready to begin o.
perations, carry more real conviction
to the understanding OF statesmen,
than the reasonings of all the moral
lists thu. ever existed. 1t may be en-
PERTAINING TO read those publications
in which the rights of n;ltral nations
and the consequent inius:ics OK British
spoliations on our com nerce are de-
monstrated :: if such publications have
any good effect, it must be to furnish
honest men with replies, to British
faction in this country, to whose ex
istence an English statesman + in Par
lament has borne public testimony !:
But with ministers or their adherents.
arguments can have little efficacy, not
because they are ignorant Of the claims
OF national justice, bat because they
are already blinded by their cupidity
and avarice. 1t would be laughable to
hear divine haranguing congress of
ambassadors, who reciprocally speak
of nothing but of faith and justice, and
yet have been sent for the express pur-
pose of overreaching each other aud
who have their instructions in their
pockets, upon whose observance their
lives and fortunes mag be dependent.
The morality, therefore, OF states
man, is expedieucy, and knowing this,
we should make it eabedicait for Brit
ain to renounce her principles, and do
usjustice. Should this system be pur-
sued, G. Britain will be obliged either
TO comply with our demands or lose
her provinces in this country. Great
Britain knows their i'm portance to her
national welfare: aud knowing this,
she will also Judge of our capacity of
wrestling them from her as the strong
est argument of the justice Of our re.
QUESTIONS.
We do not wish our rulers to go to
war. God forbid But in order to
have peace, they must be prepared
for it. In nothing is the superiority
of republican government more strong
ly evinced, than in the question now
before US. In monarchy, where war
is declared at the pleasure Of the des-
pot, the inclination of the people is ne
yer consulted. Personally exempt
from the harIships of war, he is insen-
sibie tothe sufferings 0 others: Taught
to consider victories as the most glo-
rious, where the greatest numbers have
fallen, he returns thanks to Heaven for
the shedding of human blood.
In arepublic, each is sensible ofthe
calamities that are attendant on Just
and necessary war: its misfortunes are
brought home to his own feelings and
observation. Republics, therefore,
consider war as a last appeal to Hca.
ven, when every other mode Of adius-
ting differences has already failed
Peace is the natural state of mankind;
and in every government where they
are not corrupted bv the laws: their
lnclinations in this respect are confor
mable to their interest. War DESTROYS
population and agriculture, which ma.
tuTdiiy uCPChu upon CdCu OlHeTs from
the increase of the prodacts of agricul-
ture in one country, is derived that SUI !.
perAuous stock which is exchanged for
the produce which another makes use
of as an article of convenience or ne
cessary of life. Tnus, an universal
peace in the world, though it might OBJ !.
struct the monopolies of some profess
sions, would prove beneficial TO the
mass of mankind for, by increasing
the home stock of country, it would
enable them topurchase agreater guam
tity of the products Of another; thus,
commerce upon the principles of the
wants and desires Of human nature,
would tend to perpetuate harmony a.
moDgst them, by demonstrating that
each nation was but an unit of the
number which composed the great fa-
mily of mankind. But bad govern
ment has precluded all those advanta-
ges, and deluged the world with blood.
And when the sovereignty of free
people is endangered, she must risk