Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-25
ARGUS OFFICE, Tuesday, AID. Is.


lucid interval. The sanguinary madness
winch has so long directed her ministry an .
pears TO nave given way TO sentiment of
justice, and a temper of conciliation. The
ihteli'gence received the other dav seemed
10 communicate glow OF satisfaction upon
almost every countcnance. The surprise
was truly great, for there were very few
indeed who believed that the dispatches
Drought by MIR. Oakeley, contained propo.
sitlons OF the Illuminating and pacific cha
racter winch they actually bear. Humiliat.
ing perhaps they ought not TO be styled, nor
would they be SO, if we thought that the
conduct of Great Britain cesulted from a
real conviction of her injustice, sincere
desire for the restoration of commerce, and
an unteigned acknowledgment of our neu-
trai rights. This we never can think as
long as we are capable of looking back at
the ceasel-sc x unavailing exertionS on the
part OF America to procure "A Just atone
"ent Tor past injuries well as some pledge
against future. Negociat on for Thu. pur.
pose mas always turned out to be perfectly
iliusory. The mos. mild and conciliatory
propositions have been treated with chica.
merry and afterwards rejected with contempt.
III august last our government evinced
'ne mostnnequivocal spirit of friendship in
onering 10 repeat the embargo If they would
reksed' to do. What then has produced
TINS no less sudden than astonishing Change!
Is 1t the pure impulse of justice Is it her
adversely in Europe Is it her calculation
10 involve us iii a war with an enemy 10
whom She Will not suffer the enjoyment of
peace Or IS she no longer able to sup
port her maritime despotism She has GER
tainiy retired from her proud and lofty 10.
sition to bow down to the American reDnb.
lie, and 1t is perfectly immaterial to us what
motive induced her. But at the same time
we Cannot tsrbear to notice the elaborate
soph'stry which appears in the correspon.
uence Oh Mr. Erskine, by which he artfu-
~ Cohtrives 10 nix the charge of concession
upon us IN order to repel it from his grac-
GUS majesty. Is not this the evident design
oi tue remark contained in both of his let.
ters' that the laUorite change i'm the rela-
tons OF his majesty with the United States,
whtch mas be1n Produced by the act (usu-
any termed the intercourse act) pass.
gu VI the last session of Congress, was also
anticipated oy his majesty, and has encou-
ragged further hope that reconsiderati.
on OF the existing differences might lead to
'heir satisfactory adjustment" How has
TINS |auorffe change been produced by the
non -intercourse as to beget the favorite
propositions which are now submitted 10
the country! And above all, how could his
majesty nave antic pated this event when
even .ne American people themselves thot'
Vi nothing like IT! But the love of the Bril-
nsh part2ans must be greatly changed in
ueou III regard TO the non-intsrcourse. The
",,'elso VI lneir own country as well as their
advocates In this, have always contendrd
'hat the non intercourse was an act of more
direct hostility towards them toAs tba em
parSo- How then can they look upon the
measure OF the lasc Congress as being so
stronSiy indicative OF 4 /apoTa6Ie chanee
as 20 oring them forward thus suddenly
WIN propositions which they before had
hatIy rejected, when at the same time we
oHered TO repeal our embargo and restore
our commerce to its wonted activitv1 No
IL is impossible for Mr.. Erskine ia nressrve
tne naughty crest of his monarch from hem
uihS before the United States. 1t is beyond
inc power OF his ingenuity. A frank and
many concession would have su ted better
WIN ms character and the nature of the
SUBJECT, than one from necessity which he
afterwards tries to redeem Inv suhtlet1 and
equlvocaHon. But what are the evils from
which Great Britain is relieved bv the re.
peal OF the embargo, and what is the IA
oO'aote chanSe which results To her from
inc adoption or the non-intercoursc law
AS we are aware that the fedora NAV
oe inCiihed TO murmur at these ohseryati
ohs upon the letters of the British minis
Ter, we Will give them their own authority
20 satisfy them. Let it not be fors-o,ten
that the great inducement which led hi,
majesty TO these propositions, was the I'm.
v0Tlfe ehdnss which took place towards him
ny substituting the non-intercourse in lien
oi .he embargo. We have already obser
yea that the friends of Great Britain consi-
aSreu this measure as an act of more d,rect
hostility towards her than the emhargo
What said the celebrated Mr.. Bavard M
on the motion OF Mr.. Giles? 0And whaf
sir, are we to gain by non.intercourse
IL can never benefit the nation, it is moth.
ing more than part OF that miserable mus.
qseto system which is to sting and irrifafe
EhStand mo aeis IF hosfiHty" "Pla I'm.
slano ana France upon the same footing by
repeating the non-importation act" Tne
oher to England related only to the em5ar.
go, when this experimental measure. 60 f.r
from being Injurious to her was adding 70
her wealth and strength. "The nroeIa
walton and the non importation act are
more Offensive and hostile TO Great BRIAN
man the embargo" Such is the liveIo de
nunoiatIon which the members of this nartv
'hro" out against the non-intercourse. and
moreover IuSinuaf = hat L. =.