Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-10-13

ikcations, through almost every fibre of the
community. IL enooiied iuso a pialanx
Old tories, English agents, aristocrats or
monarcbists in principle, merchants in1ebt
ed in England or those in the receipt of fa
vors from her. This body of men, liyiag
tor the most part in our towns, rich, intei.
lgcnt, active AMI restless, for 4 tim. gave
tone to their politics and manners from
which, indeed, they have no yet complete
iy recovered. This tone was ex ended in-
TO the country aud reached even the go
vernment itself
England had been the first 70 violate our
maritime rights. Sle mad no sooner form
ed treaty of peace, pledging herself TO
respect our rights as IN independent nation,
which she had acknowledged us TO pc. tn IN
she commenced career of injustice to
wards ms, retaining the possession of our
forts and territory, instigating the sayag.s
to the most merciless warfare, and preyins
upon our defenceless trade on the ocean
iliis scene of iniquity continued until the
celebrated treaty negotiated by Jay. At
the very moment wien that treaty was on
the eve OF ratihcatin aud after its 81 gna.
ture by pienipotenEilries of the two CO.
vernments, she issuel her provision or.
ders, which without notice swept the oce.
an OF at least moiety of orr merchant ves-
sells. During all this time, what was the
conduct of France towards Us !-She mad
then powerful marine 40 lting on the o..
cean and contenling with England for its
empire. Did she seize our vessels with
notice, much less without notice Mo
Having stipulated with us for the lioeral
principle, that free ships should make free
goods, she long continued to adhere to tins
tern, although deeply pre)udiced by its
u rar So .t.,t 49,.
ments will establish these positions, and
prove that, during the earlier periods OF
Gen. Washington's ADMINISTRATION. while
the conduct OF England towards u was the
topic OF indignant cnmpl unt, that of France
was, IN the main, the object of approb I'll /.
on. Excuses and even outrages were con-
| mtted by her cruisers, Duc they were
soon acknowledged ald rsparation made
for them.
About the close of Gen. Washington's
administration the scene changed, and
France, guided by erroneous cou liels, lis
tened to the Incorporate dictates of re.
venge. She perceived. or faucied that she
perceived, the poisliti of BRUSH intiueace
ditfusiny itself over the wnoie surface of
our country WITH thus lnhience she iden-
| titled a moral hatred TO hersyIf. The ex-
ample of Engl ,nd, which sac eid b-heli
Will BIC now ncTSCIf 1LClt GWl
under the hollow pretext Of r.taiatio.i,
committed an excessive D lag. Of our ves-
sells. The attitude, wnicn the l nerican
nation took on that occasioi, WAS hOnora.
BILE ; the sediments it Inspired we're wor.
thy Of an Independent uasioa. Erlnce h I'd
injured Us, and resistance Dcct n. holy
, duty. But mark the tone and conduct OF
that Class OF peopie, who now, as til ~
have long been, are strenuolsiy 6y cpsn
or insid,ous means prono.ias host.iues
with France. Look A. tie pd)lIc prints OF
those days, peruse the speeches OF grave
senators aid a,opinc representatives, A.
tend tn the language OF tns secretary Ct
state intoxic lted with power and elevat..
on, listen 70 the inte operate r.ii. OF
pfesiGen. Ad ANS himself, and say VIII sther
the honest fervOr of the times was n)C ex
acerbated and envenoned by the IN ,st DIS
graceful hatred of France, and say wac
Their this hatred did nor spring fro par
tiaiity to Eigland, and aatipathy to tue
system of equal rS,hts, whose security was
the object, although unfort1nateiy il was
not the result of the French revolution.
would, says Senator Tracy, So arm every
man, woman, and child in America, IL
gainst every man, woman, aud CHILD, in
France"
Pickering, (blush Americans, for the ma
tioaai degradation) in state paper, ailu-
ding 10 the French, exclaims ttne Tiger
| croaches, before he springs on his prey"
& PresidenJ Adams himself, notWithst IN /.
ing his ncorruptibie honesty, condescends To
use language in the highest degree unwor-
thy OF h.s exalted station BY these means,
the national sentiment was literally con.
verted into a whrlwind, and menaced. in
its raging intolerance, to sweep before il
every barr er of iiber.y.--Alien aud sediti-
on laws we're framed, the cOckade OF terroc
was mounted, nc Is were embodied, VIM
dictive Decentralization pervad-d every cor
ner of the country AID silenced free
don of speech, and the reign of terror, as
IL Yves not more EN- phatically than truly
! styled, was in full triumph. British tories
aud American aristocrats exulted in the
conviction that they had gained their dar-
ling object But they were mistaken. Il
was reserved FOR the vrlue of Presiden,
Adams, alarmed At the suares laid for it,
and probably appalled, at the prectpice tn
which ne had unwarily drawn tue liberties
OF his country, 60 re-oCcupy indie pendent
ground, aid ~ the very teeth OF his conf
Dental covnssliors, to he Il the rupture with
France. II these f4cts are not sufficient u
prove the eztistence OF the party we have