Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-09

To the Fre.hoiders Of the Congressional dis
f'ict eomhosed Of the counties Of Meek
Ienburg. Lmear6urg. and Bransvoiek.
FELLOW CITIZENS,
The conclusion of an
extraordinary and important session of Con-
Yress furnishes an occasion, Of which i a.
vail myself to address to you some obser
vations OIL our public concerns.
The relations OF the United States with
the European belligerents have, since the
declaration OF war. undergone no material
change. After the adoption of that mea-
sure, to which this government, by series
OF unparalleled injuries. found itself compel-
led most reluctantly TO resort, but a short
period was allowed to elapse. before over
lures were made by the p. esdent fer re-
Cancellation with the enemy, ON terms mutu.
ally just and honorable. These overtures,
The offspring of that tlignifed moderation &
undissemb,ed spirit of amity. which have
always SO eminently distinguished the ex-
ccutive IN its foreign intercourse, were met
by the British government with low sar-
casms, and the aHectation of contcmptuous
indifference But even this conduc. did no,
extinguish the desire of the administration
FOR an accommodation wit. England. The
interposition of the emperor Of Russia for
the re-estabshment of peace was prompt
ly accepted by the President and an EN-.
'bassy for the attainment of that object was,
without any delay, dispatched to ST. Pc
tersburg. A favorable issue of this mission
will depend solely on the question, whether
q. Britain has returned to a sense of Justice
The United States will, at least. possess the
consolation of having, in the view of an i'm
partial world, absol, ed themselves from a
ny accountability for the calamities result
ing from a continuance of the war. AS well
the misery which has already ensued, as
that which uay follow, and the innocent
blood which has been and may be split, must
be visited on the heads # The English rulers
Their. perversity pointed directly to the
course which we were to pursue.--The oniv
mrans left to us for the security of the most
essential rights, and the redress of the most
enormous injuries, zuere 10 be looked {o, in
a vigorous and succesfhthroaecutien ofthe
fvar. In no other way were we to expect
the release OF thousands of our fellow citi
Gems, wholly British impresses, have been
dragged into the most wretched and horri
be captivity-ln no other way were we to
expect future safeguard against similar
impressments--In no other way could we
seek remuneration for millions and millions
of property which the enemy had pirated
from us on the ocean--By no other
expedient had we any prospect of atonement
tor the numberless unexpated atrocities that
had been committed upon our coasts, on
our frontiers, and within our very domiciIe
In fine, there was no other mode by which
we coald hope to regain "the freedom of
the seas" and,to enforce an appropriate re
spect for our privileges as an independent
State.
1t was under these imperious circumstan.
ces that the Legislature acted, when, at the
preceding session measures were taken to
enlarge the active military resources of the
country--to increase the navy--to give a
more efficient form and structure to the ar
my--and to provide immediate supplies of
money. Impelled bv circumstances of un.
diminished pressure, Congress has, a. the
present session, adopted variety of mea
sures which for their support address them
selves TO the tried patriotism of the Ameri
can people.
In order to give security TO The public
faith, and inv'gorate our military operations,
laws have been enacted for the annual col
lection OF an internal revenue to the amount
OF five or six millions-An act has been pas
Sed To authorize an additioualloan of 81 $780,
000-EGcreased expenditures have beer
authorised, for the better protection Cf our
maritime frontier against the savage in
cursions, the depredations, the buruings, the
rapacious plunderings, and the brutal vic.
lence OF most abandoned and ruthless fee J
The public burden has been also somewhat
augmented by provisions for. the more per
feet organization If certain portions Of our
land forces These, together with other
expenses previously incurred, and sanct;
oned. for the support If the military and
naval establishments, will, during the pre-
sent year, amount probably, o 1922 OO0, 900
--af which, about S14 900, 900 will have been
expended on the army, and about So 900, 0OC
Concluding The sum appropriated for build
iDs ships Of wary on the navy.
The protested object Of the late extra
meeting of the Legislature was to provide
a revenue, which, together with the receipts
from duiiessnn imports, and from sales of
public ands, wo6l6 be sufficient 10 NEE,
the ordinary demands Of the governs ent,
and to discharge the infetes, accruhg on
the public debt, and also that which may arise
on new loans. The sum required annually
for these objects is about eleven millions OF
dolars-ofth sum, IS 10000 are caIcu.
lated to be derived from pre-exstipg sour
ces j he deficit of IS 100000 is contem
plated to be raised FROM Internal taxes. d
this latter sum, it is proposed, by laws re
Gently passed, 10 take effect ON the list Jan
next, to raise S3,000,000 from direct taS
on lands and slaves; a. about S2,50O,0
by various indireci taxes ;--namely, by 2
tax on carriages, S150,000, it is estimated
will be produced BY n tax on iefned ~
gar, S200,0t0-By tax on licences to re