Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-30
Il dollars per annum.

coasting trade particular. " I; the Giliicn,ty
ofits execution !; its oppressiveness indeed
on some class Of our citizens-were pot all :
shese evils more than sufficient to counscr-
balance the almost imperceptible effect
AZ produces on our enemy We think they
were and we are therefore grati6ed at the
rescision OF the embargo, and with it Of the
incorporation system, which had betome
nerveless and impotent ftolR tl}r Qpscsxjon
partly of the same causes. Efft ~ ,nfo,
Their consideration that. stro1 = <fe< a ~
ded the repeal of these iteS q oxer
which, we know not Why's M q eo0ee4i-
ment was studiously throUf dnrns che
discussions in Congress on this ka>6ic-<the
necessity of providing revenue. Let US
raise the veil, and exhibit the fact. The
alternative presented itself OF repeating the
restrictive sy stem, or of now imposing addi-
tional taxes for the uext year (l8I5) amount-
ing, IN case the war continued, to more
than I'VE millions annually, and more than
doubling the present rates ofinternal ,axa-
ton. Had an adherence TO the restrictive
system been necessary TO an energetic pro-
secution OF the war, these taxes would have
been unhesitatingly resorted to. BIT !, was
not necessary-and the repeal OF the non.
Importation and embargo, without weskvnr
ing IN any respect the force of our military
~--.-.3 N~.S costoNSn tiiC uNCCooity Imposing
additional burthens on the people, which the
continued prohibition of exports Of the pro~
duce of their labor would have rendered
them, IN some parts of the country at least,
utterly unable to pay. We have not mem
toned the concurrent advantages expected
- De derived from opening our ports to the
commerce of Russia and Sweden, whose
Ministers, it is pretty well understood, had
pressed our government very urgently on
this head, as well as from the commerce of
such other powers as should be amicably
disposed and neutral between US and Great
Britain. To all these weighty arguments in
favor of the course which was recommenA
ded by the Executive, and which the governs
ment has adopted, was opposed the objec-
sion of inconsistency. To this we have only
to reply, that consistency is relative term,
and is valuable or otherwise as it is applied
to wisdom or TO error. AS a nan who
walks the street will. if he pertinaciousiy
adheres to straight line, sooner or later
Ind his heels tript up or head broken by
some OF the obstacles IL his way; or as q
ship, whose steersman shall keep up in hur-
ricane all the sail he had set iii favoring
breeze, will sooner or later founder in the
vast abyss; So nation, whose affairs ara
conducted without regard to the circum-
stances OF surrounding nations with whom it
has connections, hostile or amicable, will
sacrifice, for the reputa,ig N of OBJ Innate Cum
sistency, its best interests, if il Go not hazard
its existence
mus much respecting measure, on
which the opinion of the Republican party is
P .rhaps more divided than on any me asure
which has been sanctioned by the Execu>
tive and majority of the party and which
we therefore couId not pass by, without de-
sending tina opinion in regard to it to which
we incline.
We come now to other measures, next,
IN Importance, on which we are happy to say
there was little or no division among the Re.
publican party, though they met with an uu-
varying opposition on the Federal side of
Doth Houses OF Congress. We allude to the
measures for invigorating and extending our
military opera oEs. OF this character acts
aav. been passed, the objects of which were
20 encou age enlistments in the regular ar
my, and thereby fill it's ranks by Offering
eocreased bountes to recruits and on enlist.
ments; TO authorize the President to cause
the IS regiments of twelve months men to
be enlisted for five years or during the war:
to raise three regiments of riaemen, in adj
ditIoh to the force already authorized by
Jaw; to authorizc the President to receive
into service certain corps tf volunteers which
had been organized under the volunteer law
which had expired, aud who were DESTROYS
to remain in service; tn continue in service
the ten companies Of rangers employed ON
the Western aud Northwestern frontier; 10
provide tor the better organic ton of the arr
my, Tor the conso idation Ct Incomplete re-
gin>ents, and for the dismissal OF supernu
merary officers; to appoint additional die.
trlct paymas,ers. &c. These measures were
all that appeared to reqeire Legislative in
terpostion, unless we include under this
head the acts to amend the general militia
sySem, which will render much more useful
that species of defensive force on which so
much must always depend.
Several laws were also passed aux;,;arv
70 our naval establishment, and to the gen.
eral system OF maritime defence; among
which were acts to authorize an increase of
the marine Corps; to authorize the appoint,
msnt OF trtain officers for the flotilla ser,
vice to allow bounty of an hundred dol
lars Tor every prisoner brought in by our
privateers; to authorize the building, euuip-
ment and employment of one or more float
ing batteries to authorize rank to be be-
slowed On naval officers for distinguished
good conduct; to regulate the pay of officers
and seamen in the navy, &c. Among the
acts TO encourage and invigorate the naval
establishment, may be also ranked the law.
row Tor the hrst time passed, TO grant pen
SONS to the orphans and widows Of persons
stain on board the navy, and the act to grant
pensions 10 officers and seamen serving ON
hodrd revenue CATERS, whilst enployed i'm
Concert with, OF in the duties of, our naval
ornaments. Nor ought we, under this head