Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-13
DecemberiIs.
NEW YoRk, Feb. 3
Prom he Lonsen Courier ofpee s.

The speech of the American president,
which we received too late yesterday afternoon
to insert more than sketch in part of our i'm
preston, IS such a one as we expected. Not a
document can issue from the mind and cabinet
OF Mr. Madison, that does not bear the stamp
and seal Ut indiscriminate attachment to Franc
and invariable dislike of G.. Britain. These
feelings pervade and influence the whole policy
OF his government, and while they lead him to
pailiate all the agressions Of one power, induce
him TO cxasgerate and infamc all the acts Of
the other. What bat such feelings could have
made him attempt to dfaw such a distinction
between different periods and parts Of the con-
duct OF France towards America }. He tells us
frat, that there have been successive contirma.
tions oftlie extinction of the French DEGREES,
and that these induced him to hope. we should
repeal Our orders in COUNCIL. Most willingly,
We reply, but show us that such successive con-
formations donot consist merely in promises and
state papers, butsse furnished by solid and o.
pen deeds that cannot he mistaken-%c sec
you. america, wanting to make us the dupe
both ct YOU Z France, and desiring us to give
you substantial benefit in return for mere
paper assurance that France has repealed her
Decrces. Every day furnishes us with peculiar
demonstration that these DEGREES are still the
policy of Eonapartc's empire, and vet YOU COM
plain OF us because we will not be such ideots
as TO Shandon that system which he and your
cornlFing with him forced us to establish Does
not every vessel that reaches your ports, bring
you fresh confirmation of the vexations and rob
berry to which you arc vet exposed in the French
ports True, says MIR. Madison, Bonaparte
has made an ungratcful return for our Justice
and fairness. He wll-n repair the other
wrongs done to us, nor restore the immense a.
mount or property ne has seized and condemn
ed.--But these acts were committed under e.
diets which do )" not affect our neutral relations
and therefore do not enter into questions be.
tween the U. S. ard other beliieerents. Good
God docs Mr.. Madison mean seriously to make
use OF such paltry argument-does he think
we have been educated in one his Colleges.
shas we cannot detect the poverty and impo-
tence of it America is ancutralpower. bel.
hgerent seizes and condemns her properly, un
der no matter what er.cts, and vet the Prcsi-
dent says that that does not at all affect her neu
trai relations. She is treated in hostile man.
ncr, and yet her neutral character and rights are
not at all injured - But these violations are
committed, not under the Berlin and Milan e
diets, but under others Allowing, for the sake
CT argument, that there is some force in this
argument, yet Mr. Madison must permit us TO
remind him, that one of tine conditions. which
he communicated to Us, of the alledged repeal
OF the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, was that the
commerce ofthe " S. would be restored to the
footing on which il was before they were i'm
posed, and that hercefcrth America might car
ry on her trade with France without hindrance
or molesiation. Prove that i,'is so--prove that
the conditions which were to accompany the
promised repeal have been fulfilled, and our or.
ders are repealed of course. But, ifyou cannot.
we shall still conceive, as one of your own Sc
cietar!es said, that those DEGREES are vet sub
st2ltiaiy II existence, and that however the
Berlin and Milan Edicts may have varied their
form Or changed their name, they still coutin.
ue TO influence the policy of the French govern
ment"
1t is true, however, that Mr.. Madison, in
alludlng to the rigorous and unexpected res
trlctons 10 which the trade to France is sub
lected, ins'nuates the necessity ofcorrespand-
ing RESTRICTIONS on importations from France
but now different alwaysis his language in
speaking OF the conduct of France from tha.
which he uses in discussing the conduct of
England. He knows that our conduct has
been the necessary result of the measures of
France; yet he keeps this distinction studi-
ously out otsght. One would have thought
the imposition practised upon America, as
surlng her that She might trade freely and
iearlessiy, and then seizing her property, and
running her merchants, would have reused
the Indignation, and swelled the tone of her
Chief Maglstrate-that he would have felt
for his country; that he would have felt for
himself But no he has reason To be dis
satisfied. and ut some future indefinite peri
cd that dissatisfaction may be showed in some
restrictions upon imports from France %
Inc affair OF the President and Little Belt is
brought prominently upon the canvas, and the
whoic piano is attributed to Capt. Bingham
Notwithstanding the Court Martial. We sb,ll
never abandon our opinion that the attack was
began by the American friratc--that She WIS
sent out with orders to commit hostjlitics Twhv
are her orders so studiously kept back II and
that it IS against all probability and common
sense that l6 gun sloop should volunteer an
attack upon heavy ~ gun frigate. Certainly
IT we were called upon for an opinion. We would
not now make this affair the subject of nccooia.
ton oy diplomatic characteristic we would
send stout frigate as our ambassador ~ a.
tack and capture the first American fri,-at,. chr,
tell IN with.-'Fis thus the British rfuy$ punish
es any aggressionupon it.
lis thus We Painters write OF names 1t Goa.
The rest Of the PFes,denes speech consists in
Urging the necessity OF Pntting the country in
corIeS Pohalng armour and attitude, of nlcrea-
sHnB Tue "oFks al defence, and the military
means Of the State. The vast navy Of The mi
ted States has received the important addition
Of irigate TO Euard the coast. Now the very
circumstance OF tho coasts and harbours OF q
Power which has so Contemplate naval force
being uumolested by US, is proof that we have
used our naval superiority with cxenpl,,rv ,,o.
deration and forbearsnce.
has been remarked that the present s7eceb
resembles, IN many paris, the Speech Of tasf
year. and that the politics Of America are re-
marksbiy stationary. Every man must bear
witness to the truth Of this remark. America
huctuates between her inclina.ions and he, AN.
pTehensions. She seems always 70 s,and tren,.
bling ana hesna'ing on the slippery verge Of a
war and IN be incessantly tossed about II the
mercy o. every event, acondition which. Of all
Otbers, most directly tends 70 palsy the st,tr, =