Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-09-02

which only hcnors them with its support &
cncouraGs IN proportion to the degree
OF their, utility and Importance. In short.
foreigc commerce is rot considered inF France
IS an Indispensable thiag, altho' it is SO con-
siiered in the U. States.
You will taen readily see. sir, that France
has not the same interest which the federal
government has, to make a treaty of com
MERGE and navigation with the u s while il.
S evldcat, that whatsoever may be the DIS
positions, the result doe, not o.Ser an eonali
" ct advantage to the two governments.:
II is only, then. by means uf political sa-
crlhces, thas one can re establish the balance
N coin'nercia! treaty, and also render il
OF coFa rnon d'i;sy 70 the two parties. Besides
lano nave not suffered il to remain cor
ceaied from the administration VIII ich prece
ded THAI OF Mr.. Madison) can the federal
government believe. aud j appeal 70 vonr
discernInent to Judge If the u. s. have not
given cause of serious and multiplied COM
plants to France during the terrible conflict
%sich sue mas had TO sustain against all the
armed powers OF Europe. Notwithstand-
ing me popular infatuation, AID the hurry
ing or 0f the pubic opinion, and the public
rtvor towards a power Systematically mi nj
Cal as well 70 the u States as TO France. ]
WI appca! TO The authority OF al the sons;
Ole men otyour own country, sir. to know
II for more than Ave years past the federal
government has conducted itself towards the
FRENCH government i'll manner to merit
the advantages which you expect from new
convention.
1t would be useless and too tedious To ex
ANNE here what has already all the light
OF evidence, whether the preceding admin
istratlon has not taken the worst course which
m
the two principal beiigerent powers The
Americai's have appealed 20 the rights Of
neutraiiIy, and until now at least their go-
vernnent has endeavored by proccedne,
whlch l shall not permit myself to give :;
name 70, (de qualrier) To draw near T., c..
Britain. who outraSes or dsowns the ri II
claimed i; while 1t Injuries (offcnsait) Franz.
whose measures have for their object The re
establishment and the guarantee of these
rights
Thus your preceding administration. flor
1t is ct that and that only, that pretend IN
speak, placed itself by its political move.
ment (marche) in manifest contradiction
with ITS own principles. 1t has done more
and Notwithstanding my representations it
persisted (obstiuee) to consider the two pow
ers AS dong equal wrong to the government
of the Union, and 70 apply to them the effect
ofEngland seemed To require from their dir
nifty the most energetic measures of repres
sion against that power. But in short (car
emmy sir, 1t is time to come to an cxplana
ton on the p etended wrongs of France to
the U. ,. and at least oppose to them the in,
Juries (!es offenscs) done by the federal 60
vernment.
However severe thcdccree ffscrlin might
seem, in its application to the u States, 1t
was demonstrated that its consequences
would be ultimately Zen derniere annalyse)
favorable 70 their commercial pretensiops.
since its object was to reach (d' ateindre) a
power who had proclaimed its conte mpt
for the rights of nations and without doubt
the Americans were the people the most in
teres.ed il the success of that political act.
There are however American merchants.
who by all the means of the most shameful
deception, have endeavored to elude the
measures OF France, and to second the ef
forts of the common enemy to escape them,
and have at length by their multiplied and
proven frauds, provoked the more severe
dispositions of the decree Of Milan. Thus.
not only were the measures of France insti-
fed as measures of liberalization, but they were
Indispensable to free the American com.
merce from the yoke which c.. Britain had
placed lit, to cause to DC respected in gu
ture the flag of neutrals, and TO force that
power to acknowledge the common rightof
nations AMI the dominion Of the seas and
the conhsCation, the sale, and the burning
of some American merchant vessels, having
false papers, and navigating i'll Contempt of
the prohibitions of their own government.
to favour the enemies of France, have been
legal measures conformable to the rights of
war, and which the force of circumstances
and the interest of all imperiously required.
But appeal to you, sir, the Council Of Wash
ington, of which you were then also a mem.
ber-has it given all the necessary attenti-
on to the representations made on this subs
ject0 by Mr.. Champagney to Mr.. Armstrong,
as we'll as to those which considered il
my duty 10 address to the Sec'y of Statef
Has it been possible to make known taro'
the u States all the advantages which the
American people ought to find in the accom-
nlshment ofthe designs Of France--to dis.
cuss its projects in the Cain Of irnnartia!iiv.
to cause the Voice Of reason ana of princi
pies to be heard, when the declarations of
error or OF bad faith, (whcn. the influence of
prepossessions and the ciamors of party spi-
rat preserved their empire over the public
opinion, o. rather received a new force from
the in-ertitude Qrcertitude) r,he silence of
the tormer) ancient Executive Council
That disposition almost general to at,rbu,e
IA supposer) wrongs to France by way OF wes.
kenins (pour attenuer) the outrages of I'm.
glahd-Was II foreign TO the administrator
OF "hich speak and that administration.
mas It always been willing to hear me, while
1 made u perceive the consequences of the
Conduct ot the federal government in regard
4 a he ht-rsfe d