Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-12

1atnerS then was not cead. W. nave as
serted our indisputab,e rights, we have de-
clared war TO support them: and they will
be supported. The badge of slavery
which we have worn SO long, will be reno
we'd, and the chain be which we have been
bound &c CALLED will bs broken into pieces on
the heads of our oppressors. The feelings
excited by this day, consecrated TO depar
ted worth and patriotism, will insure our Il :
nal triumph. For trust that YOU have not
come here in quest OF amusement or to in
dulge an idle curiosty. I trust that yen
have not ventured 10 approach th,s hol,
National communion, unless your hearts are
purified by love of your country, zeal for lis
rights, indignation for the wrongs th,t have
, been heaped rpon us, and firm resolution
to resist those wrongs for ever.-Feciings
like these belong TO this sacred day. Pos
sessing then, we may look back without
shame, aud forward without apprehension.
Engaged as We are IN n just Cause, the ble,-
sings of Almighty God will be upon US 1t
we arc firm and united. we shall prove TO
| the belligcrents. OF Europe, that We will not
be injured with IMMUNITY, and shall
ourselves learn that insofencc and rapacty.
must be opposed at their Com rncnceinent,
as they never fail TO increase in proportion
TO the patience, with which they are endured
This subject of our wrongs ana humiliations
deserves our most serious notice. 1 will pre-
sent it distinctly to your view. l. VIII al
ford Va a saiutary lesson. Ii will teach us to
! follow with frmness and perseverance,, the
steps OF those that haye gone before rs,
or to forbear the celebration of virtues,
which we have not the courage to initiate
| 1t is obvious, that during a war between
France & Great Britain, the u. States, iSneu-
trial, must derive crest benefit from com
| merce restrained only ny the law of nations
concerning contrahand and blockade. For
| time this benefit was cnjoic ed, our trade in
creased and our tonnage became nearly
equal 10 that of Great Britain. Tie COM
| mercial jelousy of thi, uufriendly power was
excited, and her ministry awaiting tien.elve.
her navSi supremacy, determined 10 en-
! barrass ii not destroy the rival commerce Of
| the Unised Stae.. OF this plan, history
assures Us THAI they viii never lose sight /;
| and if we have peace this year, in the next
| we shall be exposed to new wrongs, and
| outrages anless We are prepared to do
| that by force which reason, Justice and
| humanity never can effect.
| The first measure adopted by the British
Government, was to declare large portion
Of the French Coast in state of Blockade
| This idea was ss novel, as the measure itself
| was injurious to the United States We re-
| monstratcd, complained, negociated---5ut
| the grievance continued, and the errde OF
| the " States suffered iBcalculatie Ios.cs It.
10 true that this principle ht, ben since
| abandoned. and paper Sit-: 'SG:ies ars adfoit
/, ted to De iliegsi. Hut DDS s,ii.ssion wa,
not made, until a new prInoinie lad been
| adopted, which occupying brohdes ground,
made this surrender oil 10 consequence to
neutrals. How much we suffered by this
4 10. =
| certain (; but they are recorded III the boukn
of the Admiralty of England a court whicA
| under the preIencc oil securing to the mar
! incr the reward OF his valor III the spoil
| taken frors foe IN arms, distributes among
pirates the plumber, of which they have
! robbed a defcnCeless and friendly neutral
In consequence Of the naval superiority
| of Great Britain, the French Government,
| opened for neutrals, the trade between the
colonies and their belligcrent parent That
| trade which had heretofore been confined
20 the ships Of France, was now carried 90
by the neutral American. The British Go
vernment, not satisfied with the destruction
OF the carrying trade of France, detcrmin-
ed that no neutral should enjoy what France
had lost. They soon promulgated doc
trine fitted exactly Tor the occasion. They
declared a trade opened to neutrsls by a
bciligerent in consequence ola war, TO be
| illegal, and seizures ard condcmnations TO
the amount Of millions followed the deeiar-
alton. Again We reconstructed again we
negotiated; but our grievances were not 8,
dressed.
The American merchant to avoid the mis-
chief OF this usurpation imported the pro-
auctions of the beligerent colonies, iOto the
United States as they had done before the
war, aad then exported the cargo, or sold
it to those who exported it TO France. For
this STATE of things, a new principle, pre-
cisely such as the convenience of Great Bri-
tain required, made its appearance in the
Courts of English admiralty, and was corsli-
ally received as a part of the law of natl
ous. II was decided that an importation in.
to the United States did not interrupt the
continuity of the voyage, and the work oil
plumber and piracy continued as before
American vessels loaded with American
property, going from an American port,
were seized on our own Coast, by the pow
CT and condemned by the rapacity of Great
; Britain This too, we bore.
To render our situation still more dcplo-
rable and humiliating, British Ships were
stationed off our Coast for the express pur
pose Of intercepting this colonial produce
and our vessels engaged even in domestic
trade, were ordered 70 come to, and state
what they were, I'D whittier they were
bound. Dsobedience was death. But the
murder of Pierce aroused for time, the
torpid spirit Of the country.---A sentiment
OF shame aad indignation pervsdsd the Cen
acknowledgements and complaints
were pressed from all quarters upon the go
vernmeDt.-Those from the trading towns
merit peculiar notice--Never were rights
more accurately described never were
| wrongs more elOauentiy denounced neve,