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

I,hcn 6reary wilderness, their inv;ncl,le AZ.
tachnent to civil and religious l;hcitY--
from that period similarly nesarioas rrac-
tees have been continued and unless pre-
vented by nm effcctual corrective, viii be ex-
tended TO the latest posterity. Bnt the Om-
nipoteni Arbiter OF human events, has been
pleased hitherto 70 inspire with wisdom, pa
,riotism, and iortitude American frcemen,
IN whose estimation a life of rational free
dom IS OF more worth than an eternity Of
degradation and slavery, to preserve invio-
tate their sacred rights and to deliver them
unimpaired to their virtuous offspring.
To whom are we indebted for the poti-
cal division of ou,, citizens for the embar-
easements which IL has produced for their
unnatural antipathies against each other:
and Tor the dangers to which we have been
thus exposed Has not the British adm.
nistratirn been tile source of these evils tho
origin and prop of our foreign and domestic
toes! IL it not as i:ii meal to the liberty of
Great Britain, as to that of the u States
Has it not DESTROYED their harmony with her.
and rendered indispensable a war; which our
government had long studiousiy endeavored,
out IN vain, to prevent? Has it not used
every mean in its power, to bring that gov
ernment INTO contempt. AMI to overthrow
It Has 1t not, when in peace with us, been
guilty OF horrid plot, for exciting our citi-
zens to a secession from the union and as
the inevitable consequence, for involving us i'm
civil war! And does it not now with un.
parelleied effrontery demand of US, by the a
gency OF those citizens whom Great Britain
CLAIMS "as her friends" an answert to their
enquiry, OF what is the object of the warn
we viii answer the questionable object
OF the war is 20 put an end to the British de-
precautions on our commerce, to her infriupe-
ments OF our commercial rights, by her ar
oltaiy orders in council and blockades and
TO place our future relations with her OH
sucii a foundation, as shall ensure peace, ON
terms of perfect reciprocity for the want
OF this would destroy the effect of any ami
cable arrangement with her. and render it
ON our part national degradation. We know
what our government and nation are and we
hrmiy believe that G.. Britain herself is desi-
rous OF SUCH peace; but are not her adj
minisrraton and her" American friends. !,
pursuit OF an ostensible peace, which shall
give to them an early opportunity to renew
It's atroci,ies? AT length the secre, motires
OF these. are promulgated by Mr.. Brourham
III ms celebrated speech delivered at Liver
pool IN October last. Hear the dcc,arario,
of this prominent statesman aud me r,ber of
the British parliament
You are aware (says he) tina, by various
abuses through the lapse of time. and the
changes which have taken place, in different
parts Of our system, the crown has become
possessed OF vast funds; raised without the
interpos'tion ofparliament, and spent with
OUT us control. These arise from different
Sources but the branch most considerable.
IN amount, and most miscellaneous in IT'S orr
gin, as well as it's abuses, goes commonIv
by the name of Droits of Admiralty
IT Is composed chiefly OF the proceeds of the
sale OF prizes, taken from foreign nations.
before an open declaration of war-and i'm
the course OF this war and the last. it has
amounted to about eight millions sterling
labove thirty-seven millions of dollars. \"
= In making these Captures our scamen risl-
their lives; but the prizes go not to enrich,
them, and large part has always been re-
served to pay for secret services, which
VIII not bear the highland to souander,
away on favorites-or bestow on the bran
cheso the royal family. But attend, pray
you, to the means by which this fund is acs
CURED, and see the Inducements which IL
affords to your rulers to plunge YOU into
wars, for their own separate gain and to
make these wars in the way most hurtfuI
20 the honor as well as INTEREST," of the en-
pre-. All the prizes taken before the war
IS openly declared, go into this odious fund.
AS long then as it is continued on its pre-
sent footing, 1t is the direct interest of the
crown to take allied or friendly nations Inv
surprise. to make war on them without no.
tice, and to seize the property of their pea
ceabie subjects on the seas, or in our ports
while coniiding to the appearance ofpeace.
or entrusted to our honor Am wrong
then, in calling it the wages of national mi
guilty f--the price which we take for the
loss OF our character and honor in the
world ?"
Here is uncontrovertible testimony. of ONE.
amongst many of the unjustifable, Disgrace
ful and outrageous practices of the British,
administration, by which our merchants and
citizens have been robbed in time of peace
ot their property to be squandered ON the
royal family and its favorites, and for secret
services which will not bear the light. And
after this most important exposure, can any
citizen OF the United States, unless indeed
he is on the establishment of the "Dro;te
OF Admiralty" or robbers fund, be oDDossfl
to a war, for preventing in future such cri-
minal conduct, as has been stated. on ths
part of the British administ, alton or wish
for peace, on terms that shall ain ex-
pose our citizens to such outragesl-Doe4
not this discovery explain the reasons for
tile late eqnivocal revocation of TIE British
orders in council, of which THAT adninistro-
ton has so much boosted a measure. for
ITS subiity and deception, as objectionable.
N NOT more so, than was, that according to
their views OF 1t, Of the emperor Napoleon.
III regard TO the revocation of the Berlin
and Milan DEGREES docs it not accoun, fo,~
the inconsistency Of the judicial decisions NJ
the British courts of admiralty, at one time
sanctioniug and at another condeming the
same branch of our commerce A-Doee -
not evince the imDossioilitv If n ,,o,roo,...