Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-30
DOMESTIC.
from the Baltimore Weekly Register.
THE ORDERS IN COUNCIL,

II would have afforded us much pleasure
to have laid before our readers some Of tbe
speeches in the British parliament ON the
several motions made in the two horses IN
address the prince regent to revoke the far
famed orders IN council; but the proceed
ings of Congress, still in session, and Other,
matters OF more immediate interest to tbe
American people, continue to fill the whole
portion OF the paper allotted to general poll
teal matter, as the views and taste of a
great variety OF readers must be observed.
Messrs. BrouSi Imam, Uhn6redd and a few
others, III the house of commons, and tbe
earl OF Lauderdate Chiefly in the house Of
Lords, supported their motions as aforesaid.
with great force and eloquence and at cons-
derable length, but without effect, as has al.
ready been noticed. In the discussion. hro
and con, the true nature of the orders in
council are clearly manifested; and it is Ger
family shewn the present ministry will not
abandon them.
We have never believed, whatever any
gentleman might say in Congress or out Of
Congress, that the real design of their or
ders was msconceived-the hollow pretence
OF retaliation, on which the friends of the Bri-
tish ministry have justified them, is now
stripped even of its cob-web Covering -
They stand naked and confessed, as c!esigz,-
ed for no other fiur1ioSe fhrl1 TO force u fr1de
to France, and the continent eeneraL,,
through tie British forts, according to the
tavoTite theories of the Shr6feLtts and Liuer-
fouls OF the day, as laid down by Mr.. Ste
hhens IN his famous pamphlet entitled " Vay.
~ disSufse." 1t is a choice saying with Eng
llshmen that the sea is theirs and in the
discussion above alluded to, the fact is freeJ.
acknowledged, that these orders are NOT
m IIrI k.,f (N.x.. a.
leading member of parliament) "a sYsrrM
OF SELF DEFENcE TO PREvENTTHEcom-
MERGE OF AMERICA FRoM COMING ~
TO COMPEIIIIOW WITH THE COM
MERGE OF ENGLAND" The DEGREES oe
France are only Incidentally mentioned IN
those speeches; or logged in for " setting
Foles 10 the argument, as the words "yonJ
hoHoHrS," or gentlemen of fhejuruT are.
used by special plcaders ut the bar.
lhe truths here openly avowed ought TO
cause some persons in the United States to
call upoa the rocks and mountains to cove,
them.
But these verbal explanations have AT all
times been practised upon by the British 90.
verninent. They .haye always s,npl5ed
France with what she wanted (Pern,ioj,N
bark excepted) whenever the emperor would
permit them. If Bonaparte were to Grant :,
license Tor the purpose, cannot doubt bur
that certain London merchants could ol,tai,,
leave to supply him even With arms and am
n7EHHioH, so jealous are they for a trall- mir
fhe enemy The last relaxation of his
continental system" is hailed as A matte
OF great exultation and joy--ihey ,,dly send
MN what ne pleases to admit, aud accept in
return almost any thing he pleases 70 give
them. THIS has been the practice for years.
and yet, some have said the orders in cour
ch were " refaiaforg," on the French dc.
crces
IhfyGre "refati1fory"-not upon France.
but upon tho Unhcd Suites, for presuming r.,
otter commercial " c2nhetifion" viii,
~ the sovereign of the sea-" For, after car