Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-07-27
Enclosure referred to in No. 1o.)
Washington, 18th Feb. 1909.


As the ruling party perceive that
it would not be in their power to car.
ry the Eastern states along with them
In war with Great Britain, on the
grounds OF any .subsisting differences
between the two Countries, they hope
that the frequent captures of the YES.
sells belonging taHhe Eastern states,
whichsne likely to take place in con-
sequence Of his majesty's, orders in
council continuing in ofsTxtion, may
excite irritation la the ufinds of the
people of those states, and Iesa them
to take a part insthe next Congress
in any measures which might be poin.
ted against Great Bxitain.
l continue to be firmly persuade
that Mr. Madison, who, shas now been
proDouncedto be the next President,
would most willingly seize the first
opportunity of recommending TO the
next Congress to assert the neutral
rights against France, should his ma.
Jesty deem it to be just or expedient
to cause his orders in council to be
Withdrawn In consequence of deter
minasion being svinred by the United
States noe to submit to the aggrsssions
OF France. And I conceive that it
is not at all improbable that he might
authorize Mr.. Pinkney to make com
munication to you to that effect, as he
has frequently in conversation said to
me, that no hesitation would be felt
in this country of entering upon hos
tilities with France, if she did not re-
ca her DEGREES, but he always added,
that it was impossible the II. States
could take such a step while his ma.
jesty's orders were in force, because
their Justification could only be at.
tempted upon the grounds that the u.
States had acquiesced in the DEGREES
! of France, which he uniformly con.
tends has never been the case.
1t is evident to me that he will be
supported In this sentiment by his own
party in Congress, and in the county
| generally SO far as to prevent his feel
ing himself compelled TO single out
France as an enemy, while his males
TVS orders in council continued in
force but I am perfectly confident
that itwould be impossible that they
could bring on a war with England, I'M
/, less 1t should be occasioned, as have
before mentioned by an irritation pro.
duced in the minds of the people of
the Eastern states, by the losses which
might be sustained by them in their
ships and commerce by captures under
his majetty's orders.
The weight and influence of the
Eastern states has been sufficient to
force the ruling party TO abandon their
favorite system Of Embargo, and that
too without the "painful alternative"
of President Jefferson of war being
sub tituted bur doubt extremely
how far they could compel the Con-
gress and President into war with
France, unless the United States could
be called upon to assert its neutral
rights by the temporary removal OF
his majessy's orders in council to give
them that opportunity.
1t appears by the result of the state
of the votes for President and Vice.
President which was declared in the
Senate yesterday, that Mr.. Madison
had 1872 votes out of us, and that all
the votes, except three in the Southerr
and Western states, were in his favor
besides Pennsylvania and that two
thirds of the votes of the state of New
York were given to him. He had al
SO all the votes of Vermont, but thai
was in consequence of the votes being
given by the legislature of that state
which happened to be democratic
besides having nine out of twelve vote.
of the State of Maryland.
This vast majority would enable
the President elect and his party tc
resist the solicitation of the four Eas
tern states, should they urge the mex
Congress to single out France as ar
enemy, because the same power which
has proved incompetent to enforc,
an illegal, oppressive and ruinous law
would still be sufficient to withstanc
requisition to wage war, which
however just, would not be likely
TO be attended with any profit or adj
vantage.