Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-08-11

| moisture or 4 climate. Hence the boys X
low grounds of Ppland have proved greater
Obstacles TO the French armies during a
winter campaign than the Alpine SHOWS,
or nard winters on the DanuOe.
Besides, the overruniag { his country
Cannot be measure of any dilsicul;y; as
the mass of its population, $ ,een {. r
nerly cit Gems If the U. Safes aud have
! emigrated thither from the Eastern STAGES
OF tie Union; either OH account Of The "a
City OF obtaining lands in IN I coaoiry, or
because of its superior quality. rhese
persons must be STILL esSpccted TO retain
some attachment towaf is tner native coun.
try so that il they SHALL not imneiia,e-
ly declare in favour of an expedition !;
at least they will not oppose it. Fer the
reduction therefore of Upper Canada,
| couple OF Brigades mast he thought sutSci-
ene, to get possession OF the forts that com
mand the rivers and bays upon its lakes.
The conquest of Nova Sco,ia WI indeed
prove an undertaking of greater difficulty.
| But this itself demonstrates rs Importance
| to our enemy and relative vsluc 20 US When
we shall have wrested it from them.
Halifax is the great naval station of the
British Heet in the western hemisphere
and has emphatically been called the Gi.
| braitar OF America. It's possession there
| lore is become as important 90 us as that
celebrated fortress is to the Spanish natl :.
on.
| From the peculiar geographical position
at that port and from its very hign tides.
1t continues open through all the seasons of
the year; when our harbou7s situated in
more southern ATTITUDES are entirely locked
up by &c. Hence it serves as a place of
[ equ pment 60 the Britisi, feet; whence they
| are ever ready TO issue forth to the annoy.
ance Ut our domestic and foreign trade.
Great Britain boosted that our res re-
i've measures OF embargo AMI non.inter.
Course, had no pressure on her West Inoia
i 'siands; that they were supplied FRO n Ca
nada and Nova Scotia wth the ne cessary
| ARTICLES OF bread, unber and cattle. And
now IN case, Swedca declares war agams;
her, she Will have again, recourse to nose
! countries tor naval stores. 1t is therefor
cur business by wresiing thos. possessi
, ons from her, 10 make her feel the real
pressure ct our political power /; and take
away one source Of that insolence winch
Cont nues to De so strongly feat all over the
civilized world
Besides tue motives already alledged we
nave Others that shoald strongly ,n;iuence
US 70 attempt the conquest OF those settle.
'Sene6. Their possession would entirely
destroy the smuggling system which has
|
tent IN open violation OF cur laws; and
would remove a great source Of British in
huence IN this country.
The posse SIS on of Upper Canada, from
the water communication OF The lakes and
IRON Its proximity 10 the nu.ne rous rivers
which n;erseCt III various directions our
western territory, will alwsyS ensure to
ITS occupiers a convenient position Tor at
! tacklng oar frontiers on chat quarter; so
that the only cheap and sure prov on we
can make against the Apprehension If such
aggressons, IS TO get the co2nlry into orr
own possession.
But there are many who say that cur
territory is already too extensive and
that we would weaken ins;esd cf strength
emng CURSE yes by this acquisition. This
we deny. Is it tue way TO defend an exr
tensive territory, to suff.r a neighouuring
power with the most hostile intentions, TO
fortify himself both by length of lime and
increase of population, ON an Ut guarded
| frontier; so that if ar any time he shall
choose 10 annoy US in any OF our weak
| points, we shalt find that he is sufficiently
powerful do 1t With impunity2 Would it
| be wise i'll the United States, because of IT'S
| present unOccnpied territory, 10 suffer a fo-
reign power TO GET possession of.some of the
| vast tracts of our western wilderness !!
Such settlement for the next half ceniu-
ry would appear no ways formidable and
| yet 1t would entail on our posterlty a
counterpart of those wars, which have so
often ravaged Europe rom the vicinity of so
many small aud independents governments.
The way therefore to prevent the recur-
renee ofthe Ike evils ia this country is 10
break the dependence Of Canada upon a
foreign power whether this Is tn be done
by force of arms, or by confederation by
| admitting them in time 20 become part of
the transatlantic unIon.
know that tina idea Of conquest is shock
ing to republicans {: but the overrunning of
the British possessions in North America,
would be only TO break the Chains of OPP
Ipresson to make the people from the
condition of subjects, become Citizens: and
their country from being prov nee, be-
come state sovereign and independent.
The people of that country are prone to
revolution and willing 70 embrace the Cause
OF the y States Tor many reasons. There
IS natural antip athy sting between
FreEchmen and their defendants and the
people Of Great Britain. The persec1ti on
OF the Actdians ars well re membc red
and though by the Queoec act of 1791, a
semblance of reli gious x POLITICAL freedom
-. Il 81 IL