Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-11-07


at arpsS2and door kcePer.-When Mr.. Her
ry cog q Kentucky was chosen Speaker;
the vefrs were as follow: for Mr.. Clay rs,
for Geo. ". Bib, Esq. Of Georgia S8-scat-
tering 6.-Patr.c& Magruder ESQ. was re-
elected Clerk by a large majority over Mr..
VIM. Lambert, who opposed him Thos
Dunn was Chosen sergeant at arms without
opposition, and Thomas Claxton door keep
er, and Richard Birch assistant door keeper.
Slirb 70.
Extract ola Letter from Harrington Cny.
dated November 1, 1911.
The Members of Congress are pressing
in, andfyeS may calculate on d quorum the
First, or f1le second day Of Aext week at far.
thest. Meantime public expectation is much
excited, and opinions much divided.
With respect to the measures proper tn
be pursued, it appears 70 me that the fLus of
national sentiment is for strong. retaliatory
laws, vigorously enforced still holding out
the Olive Branch to our enemies. Some
warm-bloOded men, | know, arc for 7var, o.
fien, direct, and with all the force of the ma
ton whist many seem Indifferent, and quite
caneseSs OF the course TO be pursued. For
Gpy own partsI confess ] am in favor of the
TfSfTicsi0e sysffsn not only because it is the
1ilcSl, Out DtCtNsc It lCallS Oh
rsety taoef nfernal prosperity. Ihave late
" met ~is's h7very profound speech of Pre-
sideiit Madison, Formerly delivered in Con-
grcss,) in which the relative commercial in
terests of Great Britain and America are a.
bly, developed It's very luminous and COM
prehensive, and has tended very much TO FIX
my opinion in favor Of commercial RESTRICT
ons against our enemies in preference to war
" But the best way to come at the truth is
to resort to political calculation. Let us
then see what would, even in successful
war, be the inevitable result to the nation
First; war would produce an immense
increa seffss the national debt, with a ,limin-
ished fevenue. Nearly thirty years of peace,
have,not enabled the government 20 wipe of
the dehHfthe feVolution. This fact ought
to tescffns Caution how we add to it, lest the
priceiof Car freedom prove in time the cause
Second T.af would take oft from man
ufactures and from agriculture great por-
ton OF effective population, and check the
progress of both the one and the other. This
would benefit the enemy by retardins the in
crease OF internal wealth, and prolong our
dependence on foreign countries.
Third var has a demoralizing influence
on society; and its effects generally are Oh
noxious to republicanism.
Is In short, war, to a republican people, en-
genders train OF evils as long as the tale Of
the comet
"on the other hand commercial RESTRICT
ons produce,
First the depression of our enemy, by
ciree,nscribing the market Cor his products
and Manufactures.
FSccqBd sthey facilitate the progress Of
on f.pfactpres, and extend the cuItiva,i-
on q CIR soil by throwing the monied capi-
tai Of tlie efAmtry into agricultural and ma
nufacturiDg channels. This adds to the wealth
OF the mass of our citizens and increases the
resources of the nation.
Third; present commercial restrictions
are the foundation Of future commercial pros
perity. Manufactures increase, n surplus o.
yer home consumption is finally produced
this surplus must be sold abroad, our goods
at last supersede those Of Great Brita.nin for
eign markets, and thus we rise TO CONNER
cial emjnence. When we have surplus of
goods for eXportation, HcH we ought TO fight
for the advantage Of trade, and all classes
Of our community, from interest, will SUP
port the war If VIC fight no7u, It will in re-
atty be a battle for permission TO trade prin-
cipaily in British and French goods and the
merchants are chiefly interested in that. and
viii not be 50 choerfuIly backed by the other
classes OF society.
lnlrpth, commercial restrictions would
be aieffaitful cause Of thousand bles
sings.
" Besides. why should We fut 10 sca p
Why not sfay on share, where we are strong
est '-ibe british viii not attack us on the
strong point; then, way should we, on the
strong point, attack them 2--If you attack
an army, do You not make the greatess Push
n the =
do YOU enter 1t the strongest part Of the de-
fence 2-Greag Britain s. tot so si..v asto send
an army hitler 90 be cut 70 pieces: and shall
! we be Sd siily as TO it out an inferior naval
force to be crashed at sea by her gigantic
navys
| You viii understand me as rcasopinrup
on the policy Of making 7yar Ifthe cointry
is threaded, all reasoning is out Of the ouestf
I on and the mass rlUet fv To arrns 7 Iii