Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-28

sons-war for their homes and domestic al |
tara war saved oE till esrrv possible ef- |
fort at reconciliation has Deen put to bcggarp
and shame--a war g. Hhich not one distill,-
ton from the subtle, and Intl-repubhcAn es-
sences of ambition or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT has
contributed, but which viii fiow pare from
the rock of self dtfcnce--a war, without
which, on the right II is To ne waged for, our
sovereigntv is servihty, our cnmrerce 10
MIA! trade, our persons exposed to phlage,
our property 30 piracy, our boasted insti.u.
tions piles OF theoretical ruins, and peace tt
Self, that most desirable of ali political EN-.
Joyments, centhr ely and curse
From the tremendous conc ssions which
have agta'ed Eurnpe, snce The eruption If
the FRENCH revolution, the u. States of Ame-
RIGA wisely kept aloof in an ayowed impart
al, unexceptionahle neutrality not, as those
who envy lis alledge, fattening our soil with
the disasters of tn belligerents--for Eure-
pean wars and the British treaty restrict
ed instead of expanding the Immense COM
mercial res urces of the North American
contirent--but with characteristic enter
prize, integrity and advantage pursuing The
broad high ways of emolument, and &c
curing, in tranquility and forbearance,
whatever was not withheld OF wrested
from us, by the great ma,itime powers
While havoc, famine and tlhaO,dation were
desolating the Kingdoms - Europe, peace
plenty and prosperity, driven from their a.
bodies in that region, Fed ove, the troubled
Atlantic, and set up the ark of their cove
nant in the delightful wilderness of this
modern land of promise.
With the exception Of some commercial
| vexations in 1894 sud lTo7, the fortu es of
the only republic seemed to be enhanced as
1t were by an especial Providence, to give
irresistible splendor and attraction to their
contrast with the fallen fortunes of all those
monarchies from w,,ich the original settlers
OF this country sprTng. An advancement in
population and att nence, an Improvement i'm
science and the arts, in agriculture and COM
nlerce. an eXubcrance of the products of the
earth, and an accumulation OF the profits of
the sea, transcending all example, a2scaicu-
lation, all hope. distinguished the dcstinics
OF the American federation and with GER
tainly the lightest allotment of the evils in
separable from humanity that ever fell "a
any people, withoutforeign or domestic wars.
without taxation, without any more of the
pressure of government than was absolutely
necessary to keep the bands of society to-
gether, the perfection of poiity was accom-
plished, and the visions of philanthropists
realized, in the establishment, administra-
ton and astonishing success of our free, re-
publican institutions.
While thus situated, fellow citizens, thus
prospecting among ourselves, the conflict m
Europe persisted TO rage with unabated vi
olence; and, with short, delusive interutle
OF cessation in 1902. its fury for nineteen
yearshas never ntermitted. 1t was always
evident that commerce was originally one
main object Of the contest and that It is
now the only object appears to be conceded
on all sides.
England. The first maritime power in the
world, who opened the batteries of her at
tack with all the kingdoms of Europe for
her allies, being uniformly defeated in the
successive coalitiops she subsidized, finally
IN 1906, was left alone to maintain the mn
equal conflict against all her former auxili-
aries then or soon after subdued into the
ranks, and maintaining the quarrel. of her
predominant enemy. At this coniuncture.
fooled, oppressed and cast down, with de.
vourlng navy to employ, vast mass of
manufactures to dispose of, jealous and ap
prehenslve of our already well grown great
ness and commercial competition, the mi
nistry of @. Britain resorted to one of those
expedients of national desperation, which
like the dishonest contrvances of a deIin-
queut individual, however they may serve
the moment, and however they may iniure
others, always recoil with their worst re-ac-
ton on their authors. The ministry Of G..
Britain, behind the rampant of a navy deem
ed impregnable, set the execrable example
ct openly violating the law of nations, and
OF trampling upon the immunites ofneutral
ity, in order from its fragments to level.
with surer effect the blows She was aiming
at victorious France. The voice of Ameri
ca feilow-citizens, was instantaneously rails
ed against this infamous inroad on the COM
lty and usages of sovereign and neutral states.
NOT a town OF any consequence on our sea-
board, but applied to the federal government
tor redress, by solemn Protest at least, If
not more energetic opposition, against Bri-
tannic aggricvement. All parties, all classes
were united and the voice of the country
descended by exclamation upon it's rulers.
demanding retribution.
Our English antagonists were engaged
with foe no wise slow to initiate their in
justice. The conqueror of continental E,u
rope, IN the hour Ut overwhelming victory
Ia MS eXuiting camp--amidst the crash Of
prlncipalities ana the groans of loyal disso-
lution---the arbiter of dismanted thrones
az such time--in such demonstrating as
II were the fate of 0orlds with the point Of
the sabre on drum head in the field of
battle--thc conqueror of continental Eu
rope wrote his fat in answer TO the fat of
English defsnce--and in an instant by the
sorcery Of power, the east and west, the
north and south were locked up in their re-
spective precincts, and forbidden ON pain of
conhscation, CONGREGATION, annihilation, to
appear on the accustomed domains Of all
nations.
We were the happiest people on the earth,
teiow-ciuSens we we're repOsng in pro-
found peace. We we're governed bv ma
gistrates who loved raarc a,d - -