Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-11
FOR THE ARGUS.
FUTURE POLICY o, THE U. STATES,
Hays end Means Of finally adjusting our
Difference witt G.. Britain.


who is in the habit Of attending to The en-
tire progress of any business, is usually ena-
bled to make wise reflections on the fitness
or inadequacy of the means employed for
the attainment of it's object. But what a
walls It, to point cut defects in the measures
employed, and the advantages of those
which have been rejected, when the result
is already declared, and the consequences
are become irremediablc
IL is foolish, therefore, to spend time in
telling over what better measures might
have 5eea adopted on the commencement
OF the late neg ciat;on. It's integrity is
already oleted; and all these considerable
ons W Ill AFFORD no means ofbelping US out Of
our present d ficulties; of putting our coun-
try in better state OF defence or Of for
cling cur adversary to do Us justice.
Whether cur chief executive magistrate,
therefore, has acted with sufficient circum-
specnon in the late negotiation, is thing
that We shall pot stop to enquire and
were We even ready for such discussion,
from the want of the publication of the
whole of Mr.. Erskine's instructions, we
bave not as yet sufficient data to enable US
to determine. But when we reflect that
Mr.. Madison, as a public character, in
times Of the most trying difficulty, has e.
vipced the greatest extent Of political abi.I-
mes'ic worth we have the strongest pro-
liability which any reasoning deduced from
the analogy of human character will admit
of; thathe has during the late negotiation
behaved with his usual circumspe ction of
conduct, and the most rigid integrity of in
tention. But whether he has or has not, is
quite foreign to our present purpose.
Since the dsavowal of Mr.. Erskine's au =
thor'ty In the late negotiation, it has been
repeatedly asked-What must we do /!
What course must we pursue and what
measures should we adopt These are all
important enquiries and to these we think
there has been as yet, no answer returned.
We are well aware of the hi card we run
by oifering~any op Mon and by proposing
any measure in the great and trying cir
cumstances OF national danger We know
that there are some who, laying claim to
superior talents, and wrapping themse elves
up in all the solemnity of contemptuous ST /.
lente, are ready to censure any proposi..
tion that does not Cow from that ilumincd
intellect tor which they claim such defer
entail homage and that there are othe RS
who are in the habit Of criticising any
plan, the combination of whose pats they
are incapable of understanding and whose
r. suits they are unable to foresee. Though
each may prudenIy consult by he obser-
vance OF su.len 81 euce pretensions to wis
dom that lie does not possess; yet in such
occasions, as 1t Is important to the people n
form some decision he who from amidst
the fragments Of various plans throws on,
an iGes, which may become either a prin
cipal or an accessory im the adoption Of af-
ter-measarts for the political fety, has of.
fered his mite 10 the united wisdom of his
country and as far as in him lay, has con.
fTI5uted 10 it's welfare
These considerations are become impor
tant 10 every man in the present situation
OF car Country. And though the doors o.
negotiation arc still kept open, yet from ths
obstiuacy with which the British govern.
ment persists in maintaining her unjust pre-.
tensions; and from the perseverance, witt
winch Cur cabinet Continues to demand re
parauon tor wrongs sustained, and the re.
nOnciation OF their principles, as a guaran.
tee assinst future commissions; there an.
pears very lgttle prospect of bringing oui
differences TO close by the Continuance o
further negotiation yetas G.. Britain pur
poses sending another minister, whether e
ADJUST those differences or for other motives
with which we profess not to be acquaint.
ed II becomes US, whilst we receive him and
Atill grasp at every hope of psci6cation e
take every rational measure for oar nati
onsi defence: that should we happen to h,
disappointed in our pacific expectations we
may not by leaving our country unprotect.
ed, be finally subjected to the worst possible