Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-06-29

Welearn from Washington, that Congress
are rapidly perfecting the laws necessary
TO give vigorous effect To the,'ar. ersuns
necessarily arrive there from vari ,us part
of the Union, seeking commissions OF letters
of marque and reprisal. Intelligence is dai.
" received by the Heads of the Execute, {
Offices manifesting the appreciation by the
people OF the war Every thing goes on with
an alacrity that marks an invioia5le resoiu-
ton to maintain the contest with enc rgy.
Different shades of opinion are fast fading
away: Navy and army officers are pressing
for orders to go on active duty. Our marine
officers, especially, long for an encounter
with the enemy The point of rank i'll seve-
raj cases has been waved /; and all consider
ations of selfish nature appear to be alb
sorbed in burning ardor for the country's
service. We understand that Mr.. Foster
has demanded his passports, and that he is
TO leave the City of Washington Immediate
ly. The British consuls are, OF course, iii
vested of their functions and it is presumed
that Congress will soon enact some law re-
speeding the subjects Of the king of Great
Britain residing in the United States.
ii friendly suggestion. The unbounded
liberty of speech and of the press allowed by
the American Constitution, has betrayed To-
reiguers, and alien Englishmen in particular,
into habits of railing against the constituted
authorities of the country, which nothing but
a state of peace, and hardly that, can tole-
rate. We suggest it, then, to persons of this
description, as 7par nosv eIiSts, to correct
these habits; and to seek their own prudence.
tits always difficult to get rid of a bad ha-
bit; but it will be wise in them to make the
effort.
We are told that MIR. Madison has scarce
rly been out of the presidential house since the
commencement of the present session of Con-
gress; and that he has been engaged during
the whole time, occasionally by night as well
as by day, in maturing plans for the public
benefit. This laudable example of assiduity
ought TO be followed, according to opportu-
nifty and situation, by every citizen in the
Union. The war is not war of ambition; it
is for rights dear to every man that values
his country. Madison has no fixture of in
heritance of the government in his family.
He might have quietly rolled through his
eight years of service at his ease, in peace,
if he had preferred his own convenience to
the honor of the nation. But he has been
distinguished from his youth, as the bold as
sertor of-American rights; and has thou
cure the future prosperity of his fellow-citi-
zens Two things insure him the confidence
of the people They believe him to be no
neSt, and they know him to be cafa6ke.
Mr.. Wagner, the Editor Of the Baltimore
Federal Republican, "a violent party news
paper) as soon as he had learnt that war
was ACTUALLY declared to exist between the
United States and Great Britain, published
in his gazette a specification of the rules
that he alledged should govern his editorial
conduct during the prevalence of the war.
This publication, besides many other very
offensive installations, cnntained,a sentiment
of this kind, to wit, that the war in question
was undertaken at the instigation of Bona
parte, and that the act of war was a sacri-
| fee of the best interests of the United States
| at the shrine, of French ambition. Mr..
Wagner added, that he should continue so
| to represent it. These ideas, associating
| themselves in the minds of the populace of
Baltimore with the general tenor of Mr..
Wagner's editorial writings. which, being
mostly scurrilous, commonly false, and al
ways provoking. excited desire in the pco-
| pie topunish him. Consultations were held,
and determination was formed, to seize
his person, and either to duck him or to tar
! and Father him. Suspectng this design
and alarmed for his safety, he eluded their
search. The populace, impatient to graft
! fy their resentment, grew weary of fruitless-
| ly pursuing the man, and resolved to demo
lish his printing-office Accordingly, on the
night of the 22d inst. about eight O'Clock, the
people violently took possession of the build
ing in which the Federal Republican wa:
| printed, Situated at corner of Gay and
Second -streets,) and, it being house OF
wood, soon tore it to pieces. The printing
terials were thrown into an adjacent Dock
One OF the party engaged in the affair, fel
from the building, and was killed.
We derive this account from verbal com
munications of the fact. Other accounts
/ will appear; and if they embrace any par
tlcuiars taat may explain the proceeding
they will be found in the Argus. l he friend.
OF Mr.. Wagner, personal and political. viii
| pant the transaction, we have no doubt, il
colors of the most glaring atrocity; willis
his enemies may attempt opalliate the VIC
lence oftae popular passions. Our province
is To stale the truth.
~ Since the above was in type, We
have received from Baltimore the following
| accounts
BALTIMORE June "a.
THE STATE OF THE CITY.
! /" Under an inDressioo that the citizen