Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-15
[four Dollars Per Annum-Paid in Adoance.l.

buence. II might be said that Great Bri \
tain YVES put out from the number Of thos,
10 whom those aels were to extend. while
France remained one of them. But it|
should be remembered, the non.inter
course and non-importation acts" were
Hut temporary measure. They were to-
expire OF the .sth of May. Through the
treaty, therefore, concluded by Mr.. En-
skine. we might be made to pay for the
repeal of II, by recalling our orders inf
council, while France would enjoy the ad i
vantages resulting from it for nothing att
all. II was therefore necessary that some
pledge should be given that those acas
would be renewed, and continue in force!
against France, otherwise, while we paid(
all the expence, our enemies might reapl
half the benefit. For America, by the trea.
~ concluded, was not bound to continue
those acts against France, and perhaps at
the present time her ports were as open
to the French as TO the English. Was III
to be supposed his majesly's ministers
could agree TO Withdraw those re alia,ory
measures which they have been compel
ed to adpt against France with respect
10 America, leaving her ports alike open
to both the bellRsrert powers When
our often repeated ofser of PREPARATION for
the attack on the Chesapeake was first
made, Mr.. Rose was only instructed to
procure the recall of the proclamation in.
,erdicting our ships from their watcrs.--1
Every power when aggrieved had right 20
revenge the injuries it might have received .
or TO expect an atoRement from The often
ding party, but it could not possess a right
to both. Ii an atonemeDt were expected
revenge was not TO be attempted, and if
revenge were attempted, an atonement
could not be expected. America thought
proper TO revenge herself. Our ships
were interdi led from her waters while
hose of France were allowed an asylum
in her harbors This resolution on the
part OF America made great difference
between the beiligrrcnt powers, as it gave
France a great advantage which Great
Britain was deiied When the in'erdc.
lion was extended to BIO h, had disposi.
ion 10 caval existed on our side, we might
have found even the cause for complaint,
Jas while they interdi&ed our enemies,
they excluded us also. But thi, the En-
giish government was far from doing
our offer of repara ion was then again re.
newed. That proclamation had never
been properly recalled. it he'd only been
emerged in the IS non intercourse and
non-imPortation aa," and thus put tie TWO
beliigerents, England and France, on
fooihng of equality, The nou-iutercou sc
and non- importation a6ts being as he be.
lore stated, but temporary mea sure, and
expiring on the 2oth of May, agreeing to
The H.
ssould have paid the price OF our orders
IN council for having about six weeks The
advantage ofFrance. IN being admitted 10
enter the harbors Of America exclusively :;
at the expiration of that time we might
have been excluded aud France permitted
to have the advantage overus in her urn.
Could II be thought ths government ought
10 have confirmed suchs treaty as this
Gould they have been justified had they
been content To have waited six week.
to learn the effect Surely It coHld not
be thought OF Had MIR. Erskine trans
mitted to ministers the treaty before he
concluded it, their disapps 90 4tion Of such
an arrangement would hsve beenimmsdi.
stely expressed, and there never would
have been question of such a nature be-
ioIS bue mouse
Mr. Erskine would have been intsrua.
ed to have set it right, as be vas sure no
disposition existed OF the part of govern.
ment TO take ii out of his hands. But the
treaty being concluded as il was, they had
only TO adopt itor not TO adopt it, and not
adopting ii, they were bound to prove, that
it had been concluded contrary to the in
struciions they had gwen. Thus si,uat-
ed, they were compelled to make The dis
closures which had been made, but 10 90
further, to communicate every circum-
stance at present might tend TO embarrass
and mar the negotiations still pending be-
tween the two countries, which he still
cherished a hope would be finally termin-
ated to the satisfaction Of both parties.
Mr.. Erskne was instructed to obtain
continuance OF the introduction of COM
mercc, not only with respect to France, but
TO every power dependent on her who
ever imagined that any one would have
been exlravagant enough to view Holland
as not under the influence &C France D.
Holland could only be considered as an ex-
enption, from two opposite admissions as
. H.