Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-08

If you deny that we have ample cause
for war against England, you deny that
twice make a; aud my letter would be at
an end. But l have more respect for Your
understanding, and suppose that you give
up this point. But you say; "we have been
juggled into this war by French influence :
In no obedience to Bonaparte; for the be-
nefit of ambitious France, for her all graft
ing cupidity for power, the sons of Column
bia, shed their precious blood, spend their
hard earned money" Prove this, gentlemen i;
lay open the foul plot to the world, & will
be one of the first to execrate it to the Ma
jesty of just and high minded people. But
you know, assertion without proof, brings in
the asserter guilty of falsehood. Yet, even, if
you could prove this. still the war against
England sjust, is necessary, is declared.
and must be vigorously prosecuted Must
we suffer ourselves te be (" denationalized"
by England, because the rcpeiling of her in
suits may be the interest of Francee
suppose. you further will observe that
France did likewise sorely offend our honor
and our rights, and you will ask: why not
declare war against her alsos"-l an
swer.
LIST. THE majority has decreed otherwise.
Cd. Because France has partly redressed
our grievances, and promise recompensati-
on for unjust spoliations.
Sd. The French naval power being near
ly annihlated, we have no point of contact
with her. We might as well declare war
against the man in the moon, as against Ma
poleon.
am as deeply impressed as you can pos
sibly be, with the indignities of our Republic
has received of the present French governs
ment; am far from thinking thar " Napo
-, 4 81.
send an ambassador like Armstrong was,
to speak the language of truth and Demo-
crazy TO the battered ear Of the insulting ty-
rant, or would withdraw all kind of diplo
matte connection with power, that so o.
penly dehes the rights of man. but to declare
war against France, in her present situation,
when it is impossible for US to harm herun-
less by the national degradation of joining
our ancient, unrelenting foe, England, would
be an empty rhodomonrate in one view, and
the deepest degree Of 4 onal depraviiy and
degradation in the other.
Now, ask you, gentlemen: let even all
your alledged charges against the present
administration be true, has your honor, the
just attachment To your native land, the re
spect for the work of your own hands, the
constitution, have all the attributes of honest
citizenship any other course left, in the pre-
sent situation or the urion, but for you to as
Sist with all your might, with all your nto>
ney, in the defeUce fyour native counrry In
assisting your sister states in the hour of dis
tress those very sta,es, who flew to your
aid, when you were in thraldoms To pro
secute war with vigor, which il no. thus
prosecuted, must sink you again, from the
proud eminence of national independence,
down to East Indian colonies, which the ty-
rannical and bankrupt ministry of England
certainly wiiltase care to prevent from re-
voting again
fear, gentlemen, that all have written
TO you may have no manner of effect upon
you.-But when consider. that the greatest
effects have sometimes been produced by
triling causes that poor Dingenes in mis-
hogshead could shame an Alexander; that
an INDECENT prophet could briug Sinner
King. David, to repent in Sackcloth and ash>
es: that a captive Scion could appal the
conquest-swo bosom of Croesus: that
words written on The wall (Dse1le tcket an
harsin) could make the prouoest King of
Babylon tremble: when 1 consider ali this,
bow down before that BEING, who could
create a world, out of nothing, praying, that
my weak and foolish words may be made the
humble instrument towards the restoration
of that unanimity in America, which alone,
after establishing orr glorious independence,
can NOW perpetuate the blessings OF natl.
onal liberty to our fastest progeny:
ANTHONY HUM.