Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-04-30
Political.
az look ATIr .FAIRLY.

l .~-le i l1jJh ~ FAIRLY.
1t must be admitted by every one who
| was not born blind, that the impressions
| which we receive from any object depend
very much upon tie syay in zvlich sve losk
at Il. We make this remark in order to
illustrate the notions concerning European
affairs which have too much prevailed in the
Y, s. The federalists. with great poiiti.
cal cunning, lave iabored, with extraordina,
nv diligence, to impress on the public mind
the danger to be apprehended from the ei-
gantic predominance of French power. The
views Which all the opposition journals fur.
nish of this subject, uniformly direct atten,
ton to France. reiaffUe oniyfo the confinen~
tai tospers of the European world. Inn,
when Bonaparte had reduced Italy to SUBJ
lection. had rendered Germany measurabIv
dependant oil his will, had Incorporated Hoi
land with his empire, and had extended the
sway of his arms TO the Baltic, controIline
Sweden aud influencing Russia and when.
IN addition to all this, ne attempted to com,
pei Spain to receive his brothef as her king
the appearance of his domination. in conf
mental Euyo1te, was certainly of menacing
& alarming character a. Jar as nregarded
tie natfsns Of The comment Had the Upit.t
States been one of those nations, it wonld
have become them 70 have looked 10 their
safety to have opposed, by all means, and
at any price, the eECroachmeuts and the
policy of France. But 81 uated as the Uni
ted States are IN a cornerof The 4porld bu
themselves, II becomes them to view Eu.
rope entire, and not &c Consider continental
transactions alone. Looking at Europe as a
whole, what was The picture presented for
observation We mean in the beginning of
the year 1912. The French emperor. !, il
true, on the one hand, triumphant on The
continent, with the single exception of the
peninsula of Spain and Portugal. On the q.
ther hand, however, there was Great,Britain.
the absolute tyranical mistress of the ocean
Ic American trade she offered endless oh.
struciions. There was no opposing navy on
that element to balaHce her. We shall have
truer idea OF the immensely of this English
power, it we suppose that Bonaparte had
dethroned all the sovereigns Of the Eurone-
an continent, and had made himself the sole
monarch of al the people there. He would
in that case, have been an unbridled despot
reigning over vast space of country. and
giving laws to,the people of every descripti-
on that inhabit it. Comparing the conduct.
and the actual power OK Great Britain On the
ocean, with this state of things what do we
see The fleets of France, Spain, Holland.
Denmark, and Russia may be Considered as
ndlioHS once ess0bished on the seq. TuRv
HAVE ALL BEEN SWEPT from THE FACE
OF The WATERS. These oceanic powers.
which formed a counterpoise to England
preserving an equilibrium and a freedom
for commerce, have been totally DESTROYED
by the British The French and Dutch. and
Spanish navies have been beaten those of
Denmark and Russia have been stolen the
latter from Tagus the former from Cooens
lagen. WIN IL be said that they were won
~ arms. and we're fair objects of conquest
50. too were the nations which Naooleon
s1bdued. He, nevertheless, gave to those
',a;es which ne subjected, rominal sover-
'igns. sufficiently Independent, as experi-
nee has since shcwn, to enable them efTec
iualiy to check his career, and TO drive
nifn back upon his own territory. But En-
siand-when has England suffered the rem
nant o. an opposing navy to remain in exis.
tence' IL is notorious, that, no,withs,abd-
iug her close Iiauce with Kus-ia, she has
not to tlii day restored to- Alexander his
sn'Ps Vi war that were seized in the haroor