Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-16

al party lin these states, to avow myself as a
regular authorised agent .; the British go
vernment, even to those individuals who
would feel equally bound with myself to pre-
serve with the utmost inscrutabiIity SO i'm
portant secret from the public eye.
have sufficient means of information TO
enable nc to judge of the proper period for
Offering the cooperation of Great Britain.
and opening a correspondence between the
governor general of British America and
those individuals who, from the part they
take Ill the opposition to the national govern
ment, or the influence they may possess in
any new order OF things, that may grow out
OK the present differences, should be quail
fed 20 act on behalf of the northern states.-
An apprehension of any such state of things
as is presapposed by these remarks, begins
to subside since it has appeared, by the con-
duct OF the genial government, that * IS ser;-
ousiy alarmed 1T the menacing attitude os
tie northern states. But although it is be-
Eeved that there is 10 probability OF All inn
mediate war, yet no doubts are entertained,
that Nh. Madison will fall upon some new
eXpedients to bring about hostilities. What
these may be, can only be deduced from what
appears 20 be practicable. a non-intcr-
course with England and France will proba-
bly, superccdc the embargo which by open
ing with the rest of Europe a partial legiti-
mate commerce, and affOri.ng strong temp
tations to that which is Illegal, will expose
the vessels 60 capture, detention, and en-
6arrassment; will justify the present policy !;
and produce such degree Of irritation aud
resentment as will enable the government
ot'this country to throw the \, hole blame and
responsibility of war from its own sh ,ulders
upon those OF the British ministry. Ii IN this
case the party attached to France should cal
cnlatc with correctness and the commerce
OF New England would greatly suGer,-,he
merchants, being injured and discouraged
would not only acQJiesce in the restrictive.
systems, but even submit 20 war. On the O.
ther hand, should the small traffic permit
ted by a ncn-intercourse law DC lucrative and
uninterrupted, the people would be c,amo-
rous FOR Iaore, and soon compel tn govern
ment to restore the friendly relations Between
the two countries.
While oier my opinion upon this subject
Cannot express but n strong hope that if a
ny terms shodld be proposed by either go
vernment, 20 which the other might think
proper to .-ccedc, that a principal motive to
the adjustment ct differences should be un-
derstood to arise from the amicabie DISPOSE
ton OF the eastern states, particularly OF the
state OF Massachusetts. This, as it would
increase the popularity Of the friends of G..
brlalh, Could not fall TO promote her inter
ests. If 1t could not be done formal Y and of
fciaily, nor in a correspondence between
ministers. still perhaps the administration in
the Parliament of Great Britain might take
that ground and the suggestion would find
its way into the papers botil in England and
America
1t cannot be too frequently repeated, that
this country can only be governed and di-
rected by the influence of opinion as there
is nothing permanent in its political institu-
tons, nor are the populace under any Cir
cums:ances tobe relied on, when measures
become ihconvenient and burdensome |
will soon write again, and am, &c.