Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-01

| thor of a system, calculated and intendct
Ia break down neutral commerce, with {
visw to destroy the opuencc, and Cripple
this, power ofa rival, whose best Interest AND
whose real policy were to uphold tha'
commerce, so essential to her own prcspe-
rity.
I 1t is not for us to decide, whether the
enemy of France did, or did not, adopt the
most natural and efficacious means OF repei
ling her Injustice 1t is sufficient, that we
are persuaded, the United States might, by
firm and dignifcd, yet pacific resistance 10
the French degrees, have prevented the re
Iourrence of any retaliatory measures not IN
tended to injure us, but to Operate ON the
author of this unjust and iniqutous sy stem.
| And however honorable men may diner, as
| to the Justice of the British retaiiatory or
ders in council, we do not hesitate TO say,
that France mcrited from our Government,
| a muchhigher tone of remonstrance, ana a
more decided opposision.
! In viewing the avowed causes CT the pre-
sent war, we you'd, it it were possible, pass
| over a series of transactions, iniperfecty ex-
planned, and calculated to excite our alarm
| and regret, at the hasty manner, in which 1t
was declared. But the his DRY of the pre-
tended repeal of the French DEGREES, which,
| il our government was sincere, we are
bound TO believe was the immediate cause OF
| the war. is so we'll attested, and has been 50
often discussed, and is, besides, so important
| in this inquiry that mere motives OF de.ca-
cy cannot induce US to pass 1t over, without
notice.
If war could be justified, against Great
Britain exclusively, it must have been, on
the ground assumed by our government, that
the French DEGREES were actually repeated.
on the LIST of Nov. 1910 The indiscrlmi-
nate plunder and destruction of our com :
merce-the capture of our ships by the
cruizers Or France, and their condemnation,
by her courts, and by the emperor IN person
his repeated and solemn declara ION That
those DEGREES were stall III force ana constr
tuteG the fundamental laws OF his empire, at
a period long subsequent To the pretended
repeal. seemed to furnish an answer, suiii-
cien.Iy conclusive, to this question ; and ~
cacno, but lament, that evidence SO s3lls
factory 60 the rest OF the nation, should nave
had so little weight, with that congress-,
whose term Of service has lttely eXFir,
ed
But this important question is now ceiini-
tiveiy answered; and the American people
have learned with astonishment, the depth
| of their degradation. The French emperor,
| rs If. for the perfect and absolute humiia
| tion of our government, and tor the annun
| citation TO the world that ne held us inutter
contempt. reserved till Nav 1912 the official
declaration of the fact, that these DEGREES
were not repealed, until April 1871 and
| then, not in consequence OF his sense OF their
| Injustice. but because we had computed with
| the condition he had prescribed, IN the let
| ter of the Duke of Galore, i'll causing our
rights 10 be respected" by a resistance TO
| the British orders and he has since added,
! that this decree of repeal was communicated,
| TO our mirister at Paris, as we'll as TO his
| own at Washington, to be made known To
our cabinet. AS The previous pledge OF
! Great Britain gave the fullest assurance,
that she would repeal her orders az soon as
| the ,Aecrecs, on which they were founded
shout,, cease to exist; and as her subsequent
| conduct leaves no doubt that she would have
been faithful to her promise, "c can never
| too much deplore the neglect to make known
I this repeal, whether it be attributable TO the
| French government, or our own.
! Ifto the former belongs the guilt of this
| duplicity and falsehood. every motive ct in
! terest, and every Indictment of duty call
! loudly upon our administration, to proclaim
/ this disgracefu, imposition, TO the American
| people not only, as il would serve 10 deve
| lone the true character and policy OF France
! but TO aconit our own officers OF a suppress
! sion, too serious to be overlooked, or forgi'
| ven.
But whatever may be the true state o.
| this mysterious transaction, the promptness
with which treat Britain fastened to repea
| her orders. before The declaration of war, by
! the United States, was known to her, anC
| the restora ton of an immense amount O
| property, then within her power, can leave
| but little doubt, that the war OH our part
was premature, and still less, that the per
/ severance in it, after that repeal was known
WAS i,nGrofier, nhhotific and UNJUST.
! Ii was itnfroEer because 1t manifested u
| tits instance, distrust in the good faith ant
disposition to peace, OF a nation, IRON whici
| we had lust received a signal proof OF both
| 1t was inholific because it gave counte
| nance TO the charge, OF subserviency u
the views of France, and OF an Interior DC
sign Of co operating with her, III the protli
gate and enormous project OF subJugatng TIT
rest Of Europe.
Ii was irnfoE,ic as il tended to unite al
descriptions OF people, III England III favo
IF the present war; and to convince ther
however erroneously, that moderation ant
fairness, on her part, only laid the iouhoa't
oU of new Claims, and higher prctenSlons ol
ours.
IL qvas nnjust because the evidence. at
forded BY the prompt repeal Of the order
IN council, ought TO have satisfied us ina
Great Britain was sincerely disposed t
maintain aud pre- er, pacific relations, witt
the United States; and AL wars are MINUS
the objects of which can be attained, by ne
gocia:ion.
II uas Unjust; because the whole histo
Nv Of our diplomatic intercourse with Urea
Britain shows that we never induced her