Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-18
[1s 1-2 Gents Singled

,ot LOUIS AlV Only the canal OF Lam
'gu-doc. This indeed is ,itlc n rpe
glory; and il is almost the only subis 81 on
which his rame is now m.c,icncd in
France but with opprobrum and de esta.
ton.
The government Of England expended
one hund,e d and thirty nine millions sier.
ling in the war undertaken 10 su5iugats
the American colonies. THIS sum, about
six hundred millions OF dollars, laid out
in The construction of canals at twcn,y
thousand dollars mile, would have made
thirty thousand miles of canal about The
same Length of way as all The present p st
roads in the United S.a'es and their Ter.
ri;ories; or Inc that would reach once
ard aq 'arter rond the globe Of his earth
IN the circle Of the equator. o. If the
same sum could be ds.r .buit d in series
Of progressive Improvements, a part in
canals and part in roads b' dyes and
schonl establishments beginning with two
millions a year. according 20 The p,opos;-
tio1 Ct he secretary Of the treasury, and
increasing 80 the surplus revenue w2r'd
increase 10 ten or lif.ee millions year,
lit would make garden "t the Uaitcd
S'a'-s. and peopis it with rae: Of men
wnrthy to enjoy Il j; ga7den extend ng c.
vec continent giving glo Exam.
pie 20 maukini Of he ops ion Of ,he
true principles of soc,e.yi the principles
recQg7is d in you goyern,nen'. Many
nersons nop n b in. might live 10 see
this Change ef.ctsd and most of u might
live to enjoy it n anticipation by seeIng
it begun.
The creates, real embarrassment we La
Dor under at present, arises from our -on-
merciai relations; the only point o; contact
between US and the unjuat governments
Of Europe. BY their various and violent
IaGsresslons they are constantly disturbing
oar rePosc, and causing us cons dcraalc cX-
penses. In this case what IS to he done
We cannot by Compact expect TO obtain
Justice, nor the liberty of the seas from
those governments it is no, in the nllure
OF their organization. Sdsil we think of
overpowering them IN their own way 4
navy stronger. than theirs brutal force a.
gains bru.a, force, Ike the ponderous pow
|ers Ut Europe among themselves |! This
at Present is impossible and # II were
possible, oi whoever IL shouii be possi0 ole,
1t woa d be extremely impolitic; it would
be dangerous, if nnt totally destructive, to
all our pl ms of Improvement, ard even to
'nc government itSclf.
Has then a berehcent providence. the
God Of order ann justice, poured out ano.
Their mode OF defence, by wnicn the re,uur.
ces of this nation may be reserved for
works ospeace and the advanceme L of hu-
man happinessl Has the genius Of science
and of art raised up new Archilsed TO
guide the fire of heaven against .he R-sts
that may annoy US! I cannot but hoD~ i,
has; not by the ardent mirror; but by
means altogether more certain, less d..
Ipendant IN external circumstances, caJ Bile
OF yirying and accom- noiatng iher mole
OF attack and defence to all the variety OF
positions and movements com non 10 saIjs of
war.
/ know not how far may d;fer in oDin:
ion from those among you who may have
turned their attention to the subject 10
which now allude or whether any person
present has really investigated il. Rur 1
| should NOT feel easy to lose the present &C.
lcasion (the only one that my retire.I life
renders it probable sh all ever have of I'd.
! dressing yod) to express my private opini..
on that the means of submarine attack.
invented and proposed by one Of cur cit.
liZens, carries in itself the eventual destruc
ton OF naval tyranny. l should hope and
believe, if it were taken up and fdopted by
our government, subjected to rigid and
regular course of experiments, open and
Ipublic, so that its powers might be asc@r.
(tained and its merits known to the world,
liz would save this nation from fd,ure for :
leigh wars, and deliver it from all apD,e
lhension of having its commercial pursuit.
and its peaceful improveme, is ever after
interrupted. 1t might rid the seas of all
the buccaneers both great and small that
now infest them; it might free mankind
from the scourge OF naval wars. nne of the
Igreatest calamities they now suffer, and to
which can see no other end.
These opinions may be thought h gar
Sous Bu, beg my fellow cilis ms to be /.
: lieve that have examined hc subject, or
, should not hazard them. Several of the
great arts that are now grown familiar in
, common life were once thought vislo;srv.
This fact should render w. caut Gus of max
Ing up our Judgement against an OBJECT
ike this, IN the higher order of mechaDi.
cal combinations, before we have we
< considered II. With IN 5 observation
n drop the subject or ratncr 1 resg, IL into
{ labler hands the hands of those who have
IS cue power, as we'll as inclination to pursua
!, the best good OF cur beloved country.
}. ] should not have introduced il in thi,
3 iplace we're not for its immediate con lex.
E ion with the means OF commencing "A (