Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-03
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
CouNc1L cnAunnR, Nov seth. 1912.

To ire Senate and House Of Delegates
IT would have been to me, fellow citizens,
a source Of great pleasure, could | have
Communicated to you, that since your last
session the two great contendng powers of
Europe, sensible of their injustice towards
us, had at last abandoned their offensive
measures. and made honorable PREPARATION
for the insults and injuries they had so long,
and so wantouly inflicted upon the United
States.
1T is painful, on the contrary, to be oblig-
ed 70 state. that the conduct of these powers
has hccn essentially otherwise.
Whilst France was wanton,y committing
the most lawless and nprncipled outrages.
she was nevertheless making strong profess
sions of friendship. This induced "A hope on
the part of the General Government that
by remonstrance, and negotiation, it might
be possible to avoid, resort to the last eX-
tremity against that power.-Great Britain
on the other hand, as little restrained by
considerations of justice, and awaiting her
self OF her naval superiority, continued not
only her acts of violence by which our com
merce was harrassed on every ocean, but
added injuries peculiar to herself, and bold
ly proclaimed her unalterable determination
to preserve in her inquitous course.
Although it would be as painful as hnmil-
iatng to recapitulate, in detail, the wrongs
which this DO err for series of years has
done US, yet rapid review of the most inn
portant incidents, during that time, may not
be without its use, as it will present a vol
ume of evidence, demonstrating to the world
the ardor with which America has cherish
ed Icace, her pauent and long suffering un-
derinjustice and oppression, and the imperi-
GUS necessity which finally compelled her to
assume hostile attitude.
At the commencement Of the war so af-
fecting to humanity and which has so long
DIES lated Europe, America, iust recovered
from The conclusive throes of her own re.
volution, and at peace with the world, was
reposing under the benign influence OF go
vernment founded upon the rights, and hav-
ing for its object the happiness f man, adj
ministered by the genius of Washington
whose illustrious virtues BY the unanimous
consent of the nation, had obtained for him
the most honorable of all titles. that of farther
of his country. Under such auspiciou:
circumstance, she was marching with rapid
strides 70 tine fulfilment ef her high desti-
mics This prosperous career, could be ar
rested only by the interruption Of her peace
j. preservation therefore, as consonant t,
iierinclinatiOns as 70 her interest, became
the object of unceasing soiicitude. And thai
nothing might be attributed to her, which
should Justify the bel'igerent powers. in dis
turl)ing ne peaceful attitude she had deter
mined 20 prese- ve, she invariably maintains
ed towards each an impartial neutrality
she discharged with the most scrupulous f.
d, ity every Obligation imposed by justice
performed with cheerfnlness every act o
kindness, dictated by friendship, and took II,
father interest in the troubled scenes of Eu
rope than to weep over the folly and wick
edness which kept alive war, every where
marked with unusual Carnage and desola
ton.
Wirh such dispositions and such conduct
she might well have hoped that her right
would have been respected and her Peac
uuIisturbed. How far this just expectatc-
has been realized, let the long and blood
roll # acts of injustice and violence perpe
trated b, Great Britain, answer.
She had scarcely become party to tn
war, when with the avowed and wicket
purpose Of starving thirty millions of peope
She directed her cruizers in contempt g
the laws of nations to seize, and bring int
her ports every American vessel, bound t
France with provisions, and not content vitI
This offensive measure herself, she sOiicite
her aides to co operate with her, & actual
bound them by treaties to follow her exam
pie She ncXt iutcrdictcd our direct trad
between the c, lunies Of her euemy and tn
Trs.i,er country-then she would not PERM
that trade By the circuifous route--an ag
erosion which independent q its inrrinsi
cnrrmjty) was characterized by fcyJfdy, i
as much as, by the solemn decisions of he
own courts, that trade had been pronounce
legitimate. Our citizens, conHding in thi
pledee. covered the ocean with their vessels
When, to the Indignant Amusement of A
mericans BY an e.rfosf facfo regulation, b. II
ish cruzers were letlCose upon their proper
1yto the ruin Of the owners. Her new and VI
warrantable system of blockade, interdcte
cur intercourse wi n whole countries Ssh
caused her vessels Of war to hover aroun
our coasts-infest orr harbors, insult Gu
sovereignty, and murder onr citizens--Sh
caused thousands of cur native born seamc
L. be impressed or the high seas, and tor
from their homes, tneir families and the
country --huatlty, by her orders in counc
rhc insolently assumed The power Of regui;
ting cur commerce, thereby reducing W,
submission, m Gus part, had followed, to
state of colonial vassadgc.
America~.sr,,s hose outraf cs, continue
!. : ! ! !
sure for g
tcut
20 rciN
present