Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-08-03
A NEW DUKE OF sULLY.


columns of the National Inteliigencer-
Tor some time past, under the sigma.
ture of "Sully," has assumed name
which IS sarcasm upon his opinions.
The name of Rosny is connected with
every thing that is wise and valiant
with fortitude amidst disaster; with
active courage when surrounded with
calamity; and with political sagacity,
which counteracts, by means of prac-
teal operations and nos by theoretical
speculasions, the willy intrigues Of
cunning and malignant adversary.
Be- this modern representative of the
favorite minister of Henry the fourth
evinces nothing more than an alacrity
inreconciling us TO dishonor, in sooth-
ing US to submission, and lustifying,
byrepreseu,ing az inevitable, the out
RACES of the European governments.
q 1t can be demonstrated," (saith this
modera duke) Z" that the attempt, on
&C our part, TO defend or extend our
''trade by force OF arms on the ocean,
in our infancy, must have proved a,
6ortioe." The demonstration, like
the proposition, is, of course, clearly
made out But how is il made OUT !?
BY arguing, that, because Gen. Wash
ington did not see proper to wage a
naval war, when, in fact, there was no
necessity for naval war on the par,
of this country, there ought TO be no
naval war when it is necessary. Ad.
NIT, however, what this new {" Sully"
says, TO be true, that " at and about
IS the period of Gen. Washington's
" administration. we received Injuries
/" from England and France, which
would have iustiheda resort to force -
is it not total condemnation of Wash
ington fer neglect Of duty to say,
g. Had we created even small we'll
equipped feet, by joining either with
that of France against England, or
g that of England against France, or
COUNTING with that of the northern
powers against both, we might have
IS stood some chance of rendering it so
6 efficient, as to insure tolerable re-
" spsct to our commercial rights. 1t
is not impossible but that 1ve might
have aperted, if not altogether pre-
"vented, the entire monopoly by Bril-
tain Of the dominion of the ocean ?''
And what is it but a contradiction in
Snlly' himself? For, it will not be
denied that we were " in our infancy"
under Washington and if cit can he
" demonstrated" Gas g Sully" says it
cam {" that the attempt on our part,
6 to defend our trade by means Of
6 force of arms on the ocean, in our
+" infancy, must have proved abor;ive,"
is it not very gross absurdity in the
same writer to say, in the same breath,
that if we had united with England a.
gainst France, or with France against
England, or with the northern powers
against both, {. it is not impossible but
that we might have averted, if not
s. altogether prevented, the entire mon
opoly by Britain Of the dominion of
Z" the ocean?' An attempt that " must
sspro0e G6ortive" can surely " dvert"
nothing. Yet such is the logic of a
writer who has written FIVE tedious
numbers for the National Intelligent
cert That an Individual should be
found weak enough TO compose them,
is rot, indeed, so very amazing bur
thai they should gain currency through
the mediumof that print, is really sur
prising.
This same 6 Sully" says &c Had it
been our boAcy, then On Washing
"ton's day was the time to usher in
tour naval character" What does
this man talk of policy! Is it not our
policy to protect our commerce Is
il not our Policy to vindicate our hon
orr o no, (quoth the duke) alt
"seems to have been long since deci-
" ded that we shall not go to war for
"the sole purpose of indicating our
" violated honor !D-"but CONTINUES
a. he) that war shall be resorted to
only according 10 the prudential cal
"cuiations Of INTEREST" And yet, in
the same column, this most logical
"Solly" Informs US that "the immense
"a.oount of property the French en-
"peror has unjus,Iy, UNANIMOUSLY seiz-
sed aud condemned" cannot be re-
gained BY force but that there may
sth- a possib,litv of oeftjnp If hack bv