Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-02
.lr9tn'a MrellS.
FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1910.
To the Editor Of the Frgiaia Argus.

Sir,
1T has been very much of complaint
that 'Consress have douc nothing but, like
all peevish Complains, those who utter
them donot infornus wiat should Be done
1t is true, onewriterstates his plan, * that,
perhaps, is war another hes his project.
and in all probability thatiis preparation
for defence whilst third contends
for naked non.intercourse or non-importa.
tion. am, for my part, q neutrafsf. and
q do no. think it of so much Importance HON
we preserve our neutrality as that we do
preserve orr neutrality. And, although
Congress have, IN rev lion to foreign af-
fairs, literally done nothing, YET, as that
doiag OF nothing mas not compromised our
ne~ncIsy, It Is, perhaps, the wisest thing
tnas codld DC done. Tae Presidents poll.
cy was, think. rhs oessspolicy, to wit,
10 Keen Mc DOR olies for ,leg ociaa on. and
Co freaare fAs country FOR defence. Had
this plan b=ea steadily supported in Con-
gress, there waulI have been neither the
appear ance of delay nor of irresolution.
Bar. sir, every member seemed to have
his oz5n Afrfe notions of things, & SO, there
has been nothing performed. so that our
situation is not worse than twas. if it is
not better. ,.s
The danger ofrie gislating on foreign af-
fairs was, that we might be legislated into
a he66ie which might disgrace US or, into
a mar, which would cost us great deal of
blood aud money. When a. legislative bo-
dy moves, it does son.thins and tits for
tunate if that something is. not harmful.
protest to you, .that ! do not perceive
how we could be in 4 better situation than
we areAspsideriag,h5 Presset state of the
world /; 4 by luck, il GeFs. we are precisely
where the m''' Stlishisgsd wisdom could
have placed as.
Hot heads, vadent hearts, and noisy
tongues, all swell up public pride TO height
of spirit. which would be admirable in a
corps of grenadiers, just about to storm a
fortress ;--bat the. exigenc:es Of these
tines req lire sonstfns more than poiiti-
cale m9tay cougags. Cool, SOBER So
lid sense -sfeas eaatioa foresight, and dis
erection are necessary to 4 aeem US from a
situation in which oae falss step may ruin
our hopss forever.
Because the executive has not precipitat-
ed or insisted,u2sa what ara cailel strong
'neasares,lhs has BY sone unreascting per-
500. 'o@' bss ~ lir'h But these
judges dTPresideutial fitness know very
little of the constitution of hama nature if
;ney call uoinpassioled rasioall forbear..
ance, timidity. It requires more strength
of mind to resist impressions Of anger under
injuries than to fall into violen, passion
81 every occasion, anI threatea death and
destruction without, ia reality, being able
. do any thing. Tie President, 1 con.
eivs, has dois his duty aud although
congress have hosiiiOsiy done nothing
they have negatively done good !; for thew
have h2t plunged into a-systsm of wal
i or syAen ofsab nission Such imhrhence
as is maaiFs'seI by sons writer's, is
bad omen. 1t goss 70 prove tha, ills YER,
ioustfi Whether they w,1iA be conten;et
n any situation. An'ps ali the nation
fthe earth, we are II, hl2pisst, and til,
MoF;yet there ars those among US VIII,
want a,to bs6etisr than the 5esf, and NOR.