Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-07
GooerAov 7yley's 4daress
= TO THE
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
ia ~>c>-
R1cHmoND, Bee. Sd, 1910.
The Honorable,

Gentlemen OF the f7ouse Of l3efegdtes.
have the honor OF addressing you
once more in the character Of the Re-
REPRESENTATIVES of.thc people OF Virginia
Ia which high and responsible station
safSte YOU X i
f Another year has passed away with.
out any matesiaI alterAti on in our con-
Germs with foreign nations until lately.
II is now proclaimed by the proper au-
shortly, that the Emperor of France
has repealed his fefaliating DEGREES
which have proved so Injurious to our
neutral rights, falling equally severe on
the innocent and fair trader az on
those who have degraded the charac.
Ter of Americans by purchasing Iicen.
Ices from Great Britain for the use of
the ocean, that great highway OF all
Inalions, which no power on earth has
a right to intertlict. But while we la
ment the hard fate of some. we cannot
Isympathize with those, who have fallen
victims justly to their own temrr;ty.
That measure, however, which inrlis.
criminatvly involves the innocent wi,h
the guilty, can never stand the scrut-
linizing eye ofjustice, that sublime vir
tue, which being in itself i'm mutable,
cannot vary its measures to suit cir
Gums tances, but must be tile rule by.
which every act OF man or nations is
tested. Whenever. this sacred stand
lard is eenerally departed from, power
lalone mast govern all things-A fatal
land depforable state of human affairs.
| On the part Of Great Britain 10 a.
Ipalogy isnow left for a noncompliance
with her ipro,nise to repeal her oflers
in Council ipassed as it is also Sara.
10y way ofretalisriou for the Berlin aud
Milan decrees) whensoeyer France
should repesl the latter. 1'heae ma
Ss5ns speak to The world az If M, pco.
ple could hear, see, feel, or unders and.
but themselves. AS if America had
mot been continually grooming under
| expressions OF every sort, and a never.
ceasing invasion of her national rights
lever since her act Of INDEPENDENCE.
And as if adjudicasions, improvements
and paper blockades had not been too
notorious 10 leave any doubt with rss.
lpcct to The FIRST aggressor. But we
have lost sight OF Our injuries in the
uaavai.ing attempts Of ucgnciation,
while thousands OF our suffering fellow
Icitizens are Imprisoned sAd Cut off from
their country and dearest connections
much have we fear, to answer for
on this account. /, is now to be seen
what we are TO expect for our com
merce, (and this must be little indeed,
il we judge from the answer given TO
oer minister at St. James's by Lord
Wellesley slnceitis only to be restored
TO what 1t was previous to the French
DEGREES, leaving il, | suppose, sill IN
der the influence of the new Block d.
ling system. All these abomiuabie en-
,croachments on our rights might have
) been adjusted long since, but for the
factious spirit so unfortunately prevail
Ing among many OF our countrymen -
q spirit which has led TO indiscriminate
deposition to every wise and energetic
! measure, and has goue great way 70.
) wards involving the UnI,ed States in
civil discofd. This unfortunately toe
cleareiy proved the banefui effects of Z
disuniou oil sentiinent--and too grea
love of money, the prevailing pass.of
OF the times, which would sacrifice tts
livery Independence of our country foi
a brice--for mean & degraded com
meIce--a commerce which never 10
cfeases tue wealth Of any ration with
: out bringing intoit dne proportion o.
the vices Of other counties. II pro
: duces also what is called ia polite cir.
cles, citizens OF the world. the worst ci
ltizcns IN the world--who having no az
tachinent TO any country, make them
selves wings to hy away with from i'm
pending danger. Commerce iscsrtaini
beneficial TO society IN a secondary dc
" gree, but never sh Suld 81 have the asren
dancJ over the agriculturai & m auafac
: turing interests. These are our pfi
mary objects. Commerce also beee,
t prediction for cry ti,iog foreigr
and istoo apt to en- sr contempt 70
thisgs Of our own. ~ permits an in
ter!ecenee Of foreigners with on
tgcvernment and It's msasares, whic
no coantry but ours ever VII suffer {