Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-04-08
THURSDAY, AparL s, 1918.

| encourage them to prosecute the war witt
viSor; aatter them tina, cur funds are as IN
| pidly deprcciating as theirs; that our new
loans are not more valuable than their old
omniumS; that American stocks are tum-
bling to ruin, and that " bulls and bears" are
proving on our public credit. with the same
rapacity as within the stock exchange in
London +; that Jews, usurers, swindiers and
torgererS, are as busilv employed in Ameri-
ca to render the national faith of the United
States subservient to the base tricks of spe
culators, as they are by the same class of
| rogues in England. But we hope these en-
eniies OF our national peace and honor will
be frustrated in their wicked devices, and be
put to shame and confusion. But to confound
these persons in their designs, let us lrok
back aud inquire from what sources have
originated this ungrateful moned interest,
who now presume to threaten the govern
ment AS TO their public credit. They CT n
sist principally of those who have acquired
their property from the punctuality Off
payment OF the principal and interest Of the
notes they purchased at Is Cd. in the pound
L he first bank in Massachusetts originated
mostly from men Of this description. Their
funds we're founded,o on this basis-and for
many years negotiated their loans at pro-
ut unparalleled in the history OF the country.
Ihe national bank, which became too for.
mldable for renewal, large proportion of
their funds was substantiated on national
securities, which had experienced depre-
clation In the public market, but little short
OF Georgia lands. On these funds the Bank
Coiossnses have been reared, and on these
shattered paper notes of old soldiers (stain-
cd with the blood and tears of their original
holders) the mighty fabric of monied inter-
RI re
Can we, then, fellow citizens, be unmind-
Iui OF what the war-worn soldier has here
tofore endured? Shall we look with COM
piacency on the conduct of men who here
tofore deprecated the credit of the country
with view To depress the veterans who held
It's promises and thereby purchased seven
years services a! q rate that would scarcely
afford them one months subsistenceI Tho
we ever wish to respect property, and To
hold its posscssors in due estimation, yet it
IS hard case, that while our seamen are
deprived the rights of citizens, and are ex-
posed to the lashes OF an unreenting boat
swain, that those men who now hold their
property by our revolutionary war, should
withhold theiraid, and tantalize govern.
mcnt that they will not loan one cent to
maintain the conflict.
The above obserya tions embrace impor
tant considerations on the present critical
situation of the United States. They are
not intended to censure, further than facts
VIII authorize. 1.-THE present war, is prcdi-
Gated on the rights of seamen, is it not as
Just plea as our revolutionary war on the
rights OF properly A duty of three pence
on .ea, involved in it the right of the Bril-
tlsh Parliament to tax us in all cases what
ever. Will it not equal follow, if we adj
mt the right of Britain to seize our citizens
on the ocean, that they may impress our cit
lzens on land For if the right is once ado
mitted, in what limits is the authority to be
confined! To draw the parallel, if the Bril-
tish can with IMMUNITY arrest a sailor on the
ocean, they have the same right to claim
our citizens in all cases whatever
Ii then the freemen of America in 1776
declared themselves independent of being
controlled by acts Of Parliament, which
only affected our property, can they submit
IN 1913 to become subServient not only to
the capture OF their properly, but the en-
siavement OF their citizens5 These ques-
tions rise above party disseations they in
volve in their consequences the freedom,
sovereignty and independence of the coun-
try. And if loans are required, is it not an
grateful in those to withhold them, who have
risen in pecunary distinction by the very
debt contracted on our emancipation from
Britain We would conclude this number
with candid appeal to our opponents, vile
ther the present war for the freedom of our
commerce and the safety OF our citizens is
not more patriotic, than even that which on
ly embraced an exemption from parliament
tary taxation?
While every republican is DESTROYS Of an
honorable and permanent peace, they only
solicit the candor and jiberality of their OPP
ponents in aiding the government to pro-
duce the event.