Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-06-15


to wit; barrier against European ag-
gression. But the federalists, aad Mr.
Randolph with them, rendered nuga-
tory the means which the Creator Of
the Universe put at our disposal for
protection; the federalists and Mr..
Randolph continually excited a rebel
lious temper in the minds of ;gncrans
men, ciamored off the embargo, and,
ioosenihg the canvass of our ships,
gave our property to the corsairs of
the ocean and the brigands of the land.
France could not cross the Atlantic,
come into our ports, and there seize
our vessels; so the federalists and.
their NV leader sent our properly to
the ports Of continental Europe, where
the French emperor could seize them.
This was not what Mr.. Randolph and
the federalists wished; but it was what
the administration and the republic an
party in general foresaw, and what
they struggled to prevent.
Almost every body must racollect
those famous speeches Of the federal
members Of Congress, which exhibit
ed SO much 1Oiseacre wisdom on the
subject of commerce. There were
Timothy Pickering, & Mr.. Hillaouse,
and Phillip b. Key, and Mr.. Quincy,
and even Jabez Upham, who enume-
rated ports without number where they
said the Americans could trade: there
were St. Sebastians, Lsghorn, Trieste,
the ports ofDenmark, & twenty other
places. These, however are the very
marts where our property has been con-
fiscated. Could it (the question is re-
Peated) have been con6scated it had
been detained in our ports? Would it
not have been detained in our ports if
the embargo had no been repealed?
Federalists! these questions ought to
strike you dumb
Having fairly justified the republi-
can party, we shall conclude this arti-
Gle by remarking, that it is useless TO
maintain an alteration about zuho has
done as the greatest injury, or 7pho be-
gan frst2 Since, if wrong from one
nation viii! at all excuse wrongs from
another ; if, because one power has liz
suited US another is privileged to insult
us too, then the more we are wronged
and abused, the les are we authorised
TO seek redress; the less ought We to
be stimulated to require abstraction.
The true way is to consider our affairs
with Engl nd as they relate to England,
and not as tkey relate to France;
and to consider our French relations
as they regard France, and no, as they
regard Great Britain. Whenever we
mix the two nations therei is nothing
but confusion and squabblins. AS to
time IN points of honor or prints ofin-
terest, an insult or piracy is an In
suit or piracy let it happen when il
viii. /; nor does one outrage oblits rate or
extenuate another.
Some OF our republican brethren at
the eastward are promoting division
in the republican ranks at the very
moment they e: . aim against it. The
Baltimore Wing, let its personal par
tialities be what they may, is very
efficient advocate and organ of the re-
publican party in Maryland, and its
editor man OF genius and mistaken
fortitude. Wagner, one of the editors
of the Federal Republican, entertains
such an habituai dread OF Mr.. Irvine'sd
pen and courage, that his fears very
frequently bring on the most melan-
choly affection of the regions of the Ii
yer and the spleen, called by physici-
ans the hypochondres. The editor of
the Wing shews as much good sense
as he does nagnauimity in passing by
with slight notice certain philippics,
whose authors exhibit more passion
than prudence F; more peevishne SIS than
ability; and who are manifes,ly une-
quail to controversy with Mr.. Irvine.
A writer {" An Observer'') in the
Philadelphia United States Gazette
Of the 31st ult. admits what federal
prints have not heretofore been dispos-
ed TO admit, namely, that Z" our flag
has on some occasions been made use
of (by the English) for improper pur-
poses" The u. S. Gazette is reput.
ed to be under the political controul Of
British agents, through the medium Of
what are called dumb subscriptions.