Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-30

ALEXANDRIA, April 20.
THE TIMES.

What are the times and the prospect before
US! II appears from summary of the secret
proceedings reported for Jackson's Political
Register Continued in our paper of to-day)
that Mr.. Seybert declared that he voted for the
regular army of 900 mcn, because lie sup
posed the executive meant war; but that he
has nou information in which he confdes, that
offensive operations are not intended-SIr. S.
knows the force of words, and must be sensi-
bic of the effect such declaration Will have,
and Justly too, If it be correct, upon the a.
merican people if the hon. member from Penn.
will make good his assertion, or furnish war;
rantable evidence for his sappositions, we
should for our own part have no difficulty in
Withdrawing from the ministerial party and
give an entire attention 20 our local concerns,
regardless of men or their professions. More
than once have insinuations been thrown out
tina. the administration do not mean war--we
believe, and their conduct proves the fact, that
they have no sentiments but what they dare
u will officially avow when called upon, & we
10 assert, without the fear of contradiction, that
the President has done all that was proper or
ncedtul he has thrown no obstacle in the way,
and tins perhaps, is one good reason, why so
little has been done. The Secretary of State
has bestowed uncommon application and in
dustry in arranging and furnishing, at an ear
~ period of she session, all the information ne
cessary, or asked for, by the committee of for
eign relations, on the great subject of war, the
state of the roads to Canada, the disposition &
number of their forces, &c. &c. The Secretary
of the Navy, and to the honor of mis- character,
be it spoken, has, we are credibly informed,
done every thing which related to his depart
ment, in manner, much more satisfactory,
than could have been expected from the gen
eral state of embarrassment in which he found
it; and much to his individual credit, he has
ordered two ofour public vessels, commanded
by Rodgers and Porter, to cruize on the coast,
and keep the entrance to the harbors of New
York and Philadelphia open, whose duty it will
be TO inform all intruders, thar they 7nust Keep
their proper distance, or they spiH be mace to
do So Thus, we sec. that the acts of the GO
Yernment, and its principal agents have been
OF the most decided character, while the Con-
gress of the u. States, We would say, if it were
IN order, have spent considerable portion of
between FIVE and six months in actiVe debate,
which has produced but very little effect. The
people have become Disguised and careless,
others, pressed by series of unfayorable &C.
currences, have become desperate and almost
infurate, so as to excite sympathy, that Gre
atcs a deep rooted prejudice to all restrictive
systems, in themselves unpopular and odious,
and can never be defended with success, or eff
fectu&lly carried into execution, except in
times ofobvious public danger, when the mind,
fraught with heat and zeal, will bear private
Ons, as honorable, IN preference to pccllnary
considerations, which are disgraceful; but as
this is situation which cannot long be cndur-
ed by commercial people, it will be the part
of wisdom MOTTO call ont for useless purposes
the energies Of active citizens, who, in such
case will he made subject for ridicue. The
minority, we agree with Mr.. Williams (whose
conduct is not only magnanimous but noble }
have kept n most respectful silence on the
floor of Congress apon all subjects touching
our foreign relations, but Mr. w. is much
mistaken If nc supposes this has been produced
from regard to the acts or character Of the
majority Experience has taught the spposi-
ton that declamatory speeches made in the
House OF Representatives, and published per-
haps, months after the subject has been final
~ decided on, have had but little effect on the
public mind, already formed by previous inn
pressions; they have therefore changed their
mode OF proceeding instead Of praying To-
Hercules, they have put their shoulders TO the
wheel, BY resort to instantaneous publications,
supported by personal exertions, conducted
with secrecy and zeal, as was the case with
tleir " Statement Of Facts" IN relation to the
FxecRtivs and JohH Henry, which were distri-
buted over the whole union, particularly in
Massachusetts, without its having been known
in Washington, where a copy could not be OBJ
tanned except by those concerned, altho' it
contained "faas" which were intended for
general purposes, and had the signatures of ID.
She6el, q. 2NiHcy, and fumes E1tou as vouch-
ers FOR the authenticity Of ceytaiH documents
contained in It but which were placed IN so
imposing m9nner as 10 have the appearance