Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-03

tor peace, there was nothing to which size
could object in this arrangement. Yet she
thought proper TO disavow tito recall the
agent who made If, upon the pretended
ground of having exceeded instructions !;
ana to appoint successor whose character
was every way suited to the unfriendly de
siSns she harbored against us; remonstrance
and an Introduction of commercial intercourse
were the only measures To which America
required upon, an occasion which would have
Justified a resort to eXtremities.
France at length announced her determi-
nation to rescind her Ubiquitous DEGREES -
be American government again pressed
Great Britain, in compliance with her uni
form promises to follow the example set by
her rival, and hopes were entertained that
she would yield to her interest. what had
been refused to justice. Whilst the Ameri-
can government was indulging this expecta-
ton, and cherishing the prospect that peace
might yet be preserved I; the Prince Regent
by his proclamation of the 21st April, an
nouncedthe fixed purpose of his government,
to perseverc in the offensive course it had
SO long pursued, unless France should re-
scind entirely (not only as it regarded hmeri
ca, but ali nafionS) her Illegal decrees--a
subject in which we had no essential con-
Germ. About this time, satisfactory evidence
was obtained of project, planned by Great
Britain, OF endeavorjng to effect, by secret
agent, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of these States
through all the horrors of a civil war: a
scheme, to the intrinsic darkness ofwhich
were added deeper shades of guilt, from the
circumstances of its being carried on at the
very moment when through her accredited
agent here, she was indu!ging in the most
amicabe professions. The measure of her
outrages being thus filed, and that If our
patience exhausted, the unpleasant alterna-
tives. of an appeal to arms, or a base sur
| render of our righ-s, were presented to the
constituted authorities of the Tn ted States
With courage, becoming The Representa-
tives of a free people, they weighed the
preservation of cur rights, our honor, and
| our character, against the privations and
hazards of war, and accepted it as an euui-
valent.-Accordirg ly, on the 18th of jane,
| 1912, war was formally declared against
| Great Britain and her dependencies. This
determination produced crisis in our az
tairs OF the utmost Importance. For, to the
weighty considerations inseparably incident
| to state OF war with so powerful nation
there was 10 be added one of peculiar and
high interest, which by its irresistible ten
| dency, was calculated to excite the solici-
| tu,,s os every lover of his country Fhe
COT, titution IF the United States with whose
| successful progress is indisso,ubly connected
not only the happiness of America, but =
afflicted man, in every region of the earth
was for the first time, to be put upon tria
as to its capacity for war, and should it sur
i've the fiery ordeal, unhurt, it might un.
der providence, challenge immortality
When then. the Representatives OF the peo
ple of United America in Congress assem-
hloI f,tt, Il. 4
all, TO participate in whatever doom.may a
wait us,) had, driven by an unjust and i'm
perious nation, resolved to commit our c;,us;
to the God of bnttIes-when, TOO, the illus
trous chief, who now presides in our coun
ciis, and whose life has been devoted TO the
service ct his country, had given his sancti
on to this solemn appeal and when TIT
tate Of unborn millions was connected viii
ITS successful issue, it We reasonably [,
have been hoped, whatever diversity of o
plnion might have existed, or whateve
might have been the violence of contendins
parties) that every patriot would have sa
crihced upon the altar of his country, al
minor considerations, and that the Ameri
can people, animated by one sentiment
would Dy an union of councils and efforts
have prosecuted the war with vigor, TO eZ
tort from their common enemy AN honora
bic peace.
It's a source of painful regret, that thi
hope OF union, should even in a partial de
gree, have been disappointed or that Their,
shoEid have been any class of citizens so IA
i'iuenced By delusion, prejudice, or faction
as to aScribe the war to any other motives
than aGxiety to avenge the wounded honor
and preserve uuimpaired, the essentia
rights Of United America This regret
| tc ktyf ii, -
the people nf the United States. in an appea
recently made 10 them through their con
gressional elections, have by large majori
", manifested q determination TO supper
their government in the Course adopted &
To encounter without murmur, the neon
Teniencies Of war, waged for the protectio
OF whatever is dear to freemen. And it is
source Of pride and cOngratuation that thi
holy zeal in our country's cause, is manifest
ed no where more strongly than among tn
good people of this commonwealth. 1t
too sanguine to hope that, even, yet, thi
cordial support Of our government may be
| come universal that the spirit of our IA
hers, which, during he revolutionary con
test, united them as a band Of brothers, ma
. at length animate their sons; and that a
mcrica may be enabled to put forth he
7osoLe strength against her enemy. If an
! tang couid hasten IN event so desirable,
must be the moderation, and socitudc 20
peace, continually manifested by The hmc
ficau government new evidence Of whicl
has been recently published in It's correspon
derce with the government Of Great Britain
which took place since the declaration
war. At the moment Of that declaration
with masnanimity rarely equallcd. Il frank
| " disclosed 70 the enemy, the terms upo
which peace might be restored, viz Th
unconditional repeal of the Orders in Com
cii, (Which about the same time, had, with
ont the knowledge of the government Of tn
Uniicd sinfcs- hrnn Condition lI,. ..ir,l.r1l.