Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-02-13
[ia 1-a Cents Si,gie.l

| Ancy iound their rulers were ac,ing Under
mistaken vision; that9shey had departed
from the necessary practical objects of the
government, and gone in quest Of visionary
theories, which existed only in their own
deluded @ipaasiuations, which could be OF ne
practical use to the people, s. which cot
tne'n vast sums OF money, &c. &c they
therefore took the government out of fsde.
raj hands, and putt into the Aa nds of tbeit
Iopponents--the republican party The vi
s'onary theory OF energy Was therefore tbs
fatal error OF the federal party and that
error deprived it Of the power OF the nah.
on. The government being thus placed in
'the hands of the republicans, whist heat.
led with the zeal of opposition to the fede-
iral doctrines, and flushed with their recent
triumph, it was natural for them, with s,,,.
best int ny ons. To ran into the opposite ey.
IRENE; to go 100 far in ths relaxat;ons ~
the powers of the governne and to in
du'ge themselves in the del,gi,iul v,sioes
q extending the range of indiyidual li5er.
J ~. They wers therefore in danger OF re.
taxing the powers OF the government SO
tar, as to deprive it Of tn; means OF its
own preservation and ex oution for d..
meseic objects-and to impair or dest eoy
rs efficacy in resisting foreign a egresaions.
The theory therefore of the republic ans, az
opposed to that of the federailsts was the
relaxation OF government al restraints or
the extension OF individual liberty. 1t was
NATURAL that in he vibration of the pcIiti :.
cal pendulum. it should go from one ex &,
treme to ano,her--and taat this has oeen
too much the case with the republican adj.
ministration he regretted to say he feared.
would be demonstrated by very sup.rfi
cial review of the events of the last two
er three years. He SAID it had BEEN MS
fortune TO oppose both of these ex.
tremes--ihat he thought the true policy
or the U. ). would be found i'm the IRedl.
um between these Two extremes that he
had steadfastly placed his footing upon that
srJunG-and that he should not be driven
from 1t, until he was convinced ne had as.
sumed an uuwise position. He said he
was equally averse from mourning expence,
or devising expeoients, merely TO procure
ideal energy for the government and from
an ullue relaxation of its powers, stisnu.
lated by visionary philantar opy, in a
VAIN pursuit OF the extension of Individual
liberty beyond the susceptibility of hum.n
mature, or in ciher words, irreconclisbie
/ with the iDpertecuops of The human Ga
racter. He always had been, and 5 ~ was
willing, to call into action the whole Con
stitutional powers of the government. for
the purpose of eHectiDg all its practicable,
legitimate and expedient objects, whether
! OF foreign or domestic character And
sufficient tor all It's objects, If wise.y and
efiiciently applied. He said, ,f any EXAM.
pie were wanted to illustrate the truth and
correctness of these observations, ,t wana
be found In the case under considerat,nn.
an the objections to a naval Embellishments
at this time less by three frigates, than
was deemed reasonable in 1SQ0-lYOl-
and IN the intImated inconsistency IN the
concuct OF those VINO then approved that
establishment, and VINO now approve of
one OF less extent. Perhaps the truth ;ss
! tnat gentlemen have gone SO far IN the
pleasing and landable effort, to improve the.
| happiness of man, bv extendsag ta,. scons.
OF individual liberty, that they suppose those
wno stand still are receding from tnem "a
an opposite directiont whiis they are not
sensible OF their own motions --He sz,d
under the view or this part of the sub ect.
ne would vote for the bnl--ard IL cireutn
stances should in his judgment hersaiec
render 1t expedient. he would vote tor a
still further extension Of naval ecu punents.
ne SAID there was no danger in nls Iudg-
hshty OF having navy in tnis country be-
yoHd very limited extent-brcaose the.
agricultural and mechanical interests were
greatly superior to- the coElmerc al land
,ney would always afford complete Sc
cur'ty against 100 great extension OF ia
Wy.
Mr. G.. said, the second consideration
which induced the committee n report
the bill, was to employ the frigates as in.
struments Of protection and defence. and
ieven Ot annoyance in the event OF war.
Gentlemen have asked whether the wnole
OF the trigates are competent to resist tho
British feet, or even a small squadron OF
IIt 10 which it IS answered. no. tfey are
not. But it By no means follows, that be.
cause they are incompetent TO aIcaieVe thaL
[ splendid exploit, that therefore they can.
not be OF any use at all. He conceived
they might DC materially usciei 10 defends
ing a town in case OF naval attack.
They would form an esscnt;ai psrt OF a
combined force TOR that object. Foruaca.
tons Oh land have been erected atan IN.
mense eXpence--gun boats have been nfo-
vided for the defence OF the seaport towng.
&c. and frigates are in many resp.cts es.
Sentiai tot0elr coDbiHed operation. Ihsy
are besides importRnt 10 f0rnsilrg ofilce >
and men Tor the gun boats. HS- sc rod
IT has always been understood, fhat tns.r
operations must be incomplete without tn,.
operations OF vessels OF Wa. lie ths, efofe
considered II InCoTrecS to slnsie ous ga.
particular part vt the naval force ar,. to
ask what u can atchieye single and 4sret
IL wOu.G be more just aud proper o. l5ss .
der " a part of a combined sVstctn u sor,.f.