Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-18

|
IN o)il,Dl tla- The public councils are d,vid
ID Let 94r 51tiaAons nj zrch, and aaarch,
viii 1ide us head. The sound of our can.
non iirsctei against our foreign foes, will
drown the voice OF Sedision; aul the public
attention, direcsei to objects worthy of A.
| nerican spirit, will give n, ENCOURAGEMENT
e. the "ilv intrigles Of ambition. We nope
60 see n IRE su:h articles in the Intelligencer.
Ii is = decided. constitutional, we'll written
piece, AMI ought to beperused with great sa-
tisfaction -
FaoM THE NArIoNALIxrELLIo NcEa.
The present crisis in ,ur af,i-s exhibits 4
su 'ious phcnonenon. The habitual friends of
peace, those Who view peace a. among the
irst OF blessn IS, and who consider much OF
IN. liberty and happiness of nations rs Deepen
dent upon 1t, are for war; while those who
nave insisted on the expc;liency of an occasi-
onal 1t not frequent recurrence 20 war, are now
! the stout advocates of peace. As a greater
provocaton never did .xis, than CT Britain has
persevered in affordins for 4 number of past
years, with a5Sravating circumstances steadi-
w increasing, 1t Is impossible TO find rational
| solution for this opposition, except in motives
OF partiaity To BrI ain, OF hostility to the adj
ninistration of their government. Altho'
there are unqdestonably IN our bosom some
men VINO would willingly sacrifice the interests
OF their own country to those of toreilsa natl
on, we believe them TO be lew in number &
Insignificant in influence, To be altogether
| anworthy OF notice in a national point OF view
| Inc motives then of this opposition are to be
found in their hostility To the administration of
| their government. When We pass in review
the measures OF our government for the last
| twelve years, we find that they have, Seitkout
any exception, been oppose, whether t,ey re
gard our internal or foreign affairs. However
| deep tue interest, or precious the honor invol-
we'd in those measures, they have been vehem-
emily resisted. 1t is true, that the measure of
opposition has materially differed. In some
cases 1T has been very great, while in others it
has been relatively small; but in no instance
| mas 1T been altogether intrrmittcd. On this
view of the subject, our surprise is iessened at
the opposition now manifested to the measures
of government, which we are forcibly led to
consider as the unavoidable concomItant of q:
| free government. Wherever the government
| is free, we know from experience, there will
always exist an opposition party, made up of
men, some actulted by honest and .disinteres-
ted motives, and of others actuated by ambiti-
Gus, sordid, and proaigate principles, The
latter class will always be in opposition TO a
vlrtuous government, and they will be sure to
| seduce into their ranks some men OF the former
description, Thus, in England, we contem-
plate in constant existence an opposition party
| who bitterly inveigh against the very mea-
surcS, which they support as soon as they get
| into place. This is considered so much as
thing of course, that it produces generally lit
| tie effect upon the administration. The same
| appearance would be presented in the other
states of Europe, did the structure OF their qo
vcrnments tolerate the avowal of an opposition
to their measures. What reason have We TO
| expect an exemption from The common lot of
nations However superior our political insti-
| buttons are to those adopted by any other ma
| tion our experience has shewn that place and
emolument are sought for with as much eager
| ness among elsewhere; AMI, indeed, it
is probable, that in proportion to the liberty EN-
| joyed by nation will he the earne$sncss Or the
| struggle for power. And as it is by preiudi
cling the people against those in Office, chat
| those out of it expect to get in, we may caicu-
| late upon an uninterrupted opposition.
Tins opposition, with all it's effects, is not
only the price paid for liberty. but in great
measure its palladium. However uriseasona-
| BILE, therefore, it often is, and even delcterous,
especially when connected with our foreign
concerns, it is not in the abstract a cause OF
regret, but when clearly understood and pro-
| perly treated is productive of ultimate good
Ii gives birth to duties i'll the administration,
| and the majority of the people, to the dis
| charge of which it operates as an incentive in
the degree in which it is displayed These
duties are to review the measures conteynpla-
| ted or taken, to weigh dispassionately the ar
| guments urged against them, 10 retract or mo
dlfy them, if, on examination, they appear i'm
proper, but to maintain and enforce them, if,
| alter such ordeal, they are found 10 be cal
| led for by the good of tho community
After such IN examination and SHch q judy
| Dteht in favor Of the measures 6ro6osed or ta-
| zen, the duty to execute them is IMPERATIVE.
| Rum and eXecration would DE the merne,I lot
Of any government that did not, under such Cur
r. ina
| tened policy; for it would inevitably los. the
respect, confidence and support OF the people.
| All opposition to such measures, whether cx
| .ernal or internal, must be resOlutcly met War.
more especially, II called for, must be gone
mo wlth ayigor that viii give the nation but
| one arm. Whenever that step Is taken. he
hat is notfor us must be considered as agains {
us anil treated accordingly. When the will of
| the majority on this head is once fairly express
scd through their representatives, disaffection
must DE husIel The happiness of the people.
their liberties, their existence Perhaps and GER
tainly their honor, and that of republican in
stitutions, will all depend upon the Undivided
excrtions OF the whole nation against com
mon enemy. Peace may be sought through
Legitimate channels, but until so obtaineI, wiz
must be wa;sed with union and Tigor Ne hai.
ter ourselves that whenever that dire appeal
IS made, we shall manifest vigor and energy
that will teach future fDrbearance to violence
and rapine. Oar policy professionally is rare
ly TO SO TO war but When we do enter into
Tito wage it so efec.uay as to avert its re-
currence TO remote period. Those who now
advocate this right have been the habitual
friends of peace. They hold the reins of gov
ernment and, ifthey were capable of being
actuated by personal motives, would be among
the last to propose it, knowing, as they well
do, the effect which war often has upon the G.
yentual popularity Of men IN Office. By war;
they can therefore personally gain nothing,
while they may lose much In common with