Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-01-01
RIG III NJ 0 N ID,

suing precisely the policy that CORES
ponds with the tenor Of their party I;
to wit Inconsistency. The National
Iu,elligencer informs us that Mr. Hor-
sey, of the Senate, has taken stand
against the act of occupying West
Florida upon three grounds, that is to
saw: 1. Of want of tile: 2. Of uu.
constitutionality: And, S. OF mex
pediency. On the first point, we think
the Delaware Senator is sufficiently an
s~ered hy an article inserted in last
Fridays Argus, which we copied from
Washington paper, where the title
TO Louisiana, as far cast as the Perdido,
is fairly traced and fully established.
AS to the unconstitutionality of the act,
we most wait till we see Mr. Horsey's
argument, before we can either assent
to or deny his doctrine but we shall
assuredly take a candid review of it as
soon as it appears in print. On the
third point, to wit: Esbediency that
is mere matter of opinion and the
p,nions Of no man will pass for more
than they are worth. 1t may also be
remarked, that, on all questions of ex-
pediency, arguments are only advan-
ced by way of brobhccy and we pre-.
sumo that, on this occasion, Mr. Hor.
scy has INDUCED in the same vein o
prediction as to what is to happen in
consequence of taking possession OF the
country. In this way man may
build up very frightFul mass Of pos
sible consequences. But, in rely TO
all such augury, we say, that there
ought 10 be but two thugs considered,
namely, the right, and the ability to
enforce the right. Now. if the right
is clear, Gas we held it to be) and the
ability TO enforce it actually exist in
tire nasion, the right certainly ought 10
he enforced without any regard to the
Consequences especially when the
quences are only possible.
1t is said, on this subject that Great
Britain having guaranteed the iutegri-
~ oil the panish domirions, will be
bound to wrest from us the portion of
West Florida that we occupy. Grant
thai the British have guaranteed such
integrity of dominion, it does not
reach our case for the territory we
occupy is American property, fairly
purchased and honestly paid for. The
guarantee, then, cannot interfere with
us, because it Is Spanish and not A.
meTicsn property the British have
guaranteed. How can the British pre-
sumo to interfere to wrest from the
United States their lawful property
But, after all that is said, why will
Il e federalists torture ingenuity on the
occasion? The United States take
possession Of territory to which ,hsy
have claim, not TO exclude reasonable
adjustment, but to keep it from the
crap of third party, until Spain and
the United States can come TO a fair
and honorable adjustment. The fe-
deraiists really seem in passion that
the British have not taken possession
OF the territory in exclusion Of the vss
ted rights of heir own country. Such
is their patriotism!
Certain federal prints glamour about
the meanness of occupying West Flo
rida now that Spain Is con,ending a.
sain>t an usurper. Pray, will they dc
the administration the jus tice to recol-
lect its having indicated our right to
Louisiana when Spain was in tranquil
it, at home and had France to back her!
Remember the affair of the Sabine,
VIXEN the SpaniFrds were compelled to
Teuace their steps.