Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-21

all the points of it. Even if he were to admit
the force OF all the objections which had been
made to other parts of the arrangement made at
the congress ofVienna, he should still bemost
decidedly of the opinion on the question now be
fore the house, that we ought in conjunction
with our allies to prosecute the war against Ro-
naparte. Hear, hear lie really wished to
hear the sincere opinion of the right honorable
gentleman and his friends, as to what conduct the
country ought to pursue under the present cir-
cumstances Would any man say that we ought
TO make peace with Bonaparte, and war with our
allies 1t had been said, that we ought 90 nego-
tate with Bonaparre in concert with our allies.
III it We're then admitted, that We ought To nego-
ciate in concert with our allies, it must also be
allowed that if these negotiations were not sue
cessful we must go to war with France in con-
cert with those allies. How then was il possible
TO separate the cause of this country from that of
the allies, even upon the supposition of trying
negotiations instead ofwar' Heidi not believe
that any of those who recommended negotiations
with Bonaparte, would deny that those negocia-
tions might be unsuccessful and if they were car
ried on in concert with our allies, we could no
more desert them in war than in the negotiation
Hewas really at a loss to perceive how the arg,i-
ment on the present occasion could be at all help
ed, by finding faults in the conduct of allies upon
former occasions The faithlessness Of those
powers Gf they had been faithless) didnot apply
to the present question. If it were Austria and
Prussia that were preparing an attack upon this
country, then we might talk about their faith
lessness on former OCCASIONS. IL was, however,
from France, and the faithessness of her govern
ment that dangers to this country was apprehend-
ed. What answer was ii 20 this apprehension to
say, that other powers have been faithless too p
Such answer had evidently nothing to do with
the question now before the house. As long as
France chose to submit 10 the government of
Bonaparte, he could see that neither honor, or
pence, or any thing that was desirable for this
country could be expected by entering into ne
gotation with him. AS to the right ofinterfering
with the internal affairs any other country, he
should admit, that as long their internal ar
engagements did not menace the peace and securi-
ty of other countries, there could be no right TO
interfere but when the internal arrangements
of one country did threaten the peace and secu-
rity ofothers, ii appeared TO Inn as clear as the
light that interference was justifable If it
were asked whether any thing in the personal
character of a ruler would justify other nations in
not treating with him, he should answer by tax
ing supposed case.
Supposing then, that any nation should, in
time of peace, put itself into an extraordinary
state of preparation for warif that nation should
organize itself III such a manner as to be perpe-
tually prepared for commencing offensive war
if that nation should embody itself under the
command of military chief of great talent and
experience in the art of war if for fifteen wears
Europe had experienced that the efforts of that
nation were uniformly directed to aggression,
conquest and spoliaton-if Europe had been o.
bliged in selfdefence to carry its arms into the
heart of that country; if the capital that coun-
try was taken; if the conquerors in teir magma
nimity and moderation offered peace which
was accepted with gratitude if that treaty was
accepted with gratitude by that individual who
abdicated the throne and if, after ten months,
that guilty individual was 10 be recalled by a Ii,
ceDtious soldiery, for the purpose of fresh ag-
erosion, was he then to be told IN that house
that neither we or the other nations of Europe
had any right OF interference with the internal
arrangements of such nation. LOud cries Of
hear hear How did it happen that the Just
and legitimate sovereign of France had been dri-
ven from his throne 1t was because that his
unambitious virtue made him appear to the sol
dery, not to be proper instrument to WELD the
unsocial and unnatural energies OF the French
empire. If it were SAID that personal character
had nothing TO do with inc question, he should
ask why was the treaty of Paris ever entered in
to That treaty turned entirely on personal cha
racter and those stpuatlons were considered
satisfactory when made with the lawful sovereign
of France, that would not have been entered IN
to with Bonaparte If we were to take the COM
mon feelings Of mankind upon this subject, we
must recolect how universally the abdicaton OF
Bonaparte was halled in this country, as an event
more important than the most brilliant victories.
Our question was not now merely with Bona
parte, but 1t was with France. She had purchas-
ed the benefits of the treaty of Paris, by giving
up Bonaparte, and taking her lawful sovereign,
in whom Europe had confidence. If we were
now to declare that we were ready TO treat with
Bonaparte, it would put an end to the coalition
Once we profess to beresdy to treat, nothing re-
mains but a mere question of terms, and then
the different nations of Europe would urge their
separate interests. IL We we're to tell the French
people that we were ready TO negotiate with Bo-
Uapartc as their ruler it would at once destroy
all the hopes that might now fairlyb entertained
of the cooperation Of a considerable portion of
the nation-WheD, however, we saw the SITUATE
on in which Bouaparte now oodi when We saw
him reduced TO make professions contrary To has
very nature when we saw the vessel in @hlch
his fortunes were embarked laboring with the
storm, and it's mast bowed down TO the waters
edge, It would be the height of impolicy and alb
surdity, to hesitate on the course that we had to
pursue We had now most powerful combina-
ton Of allies, not fomented by us, but acting
from the moral feeling which pervades all Flu
rope. five were foolish enough to throw away
those means, we could never hope to recall them.
Those Of has friends who had talked the most
about husbanding the resources of the country,
had confessed that when an occasion should ar
rive, when some important blow could be struck
against the enemy, that system should be no lon
ger perseyered in. That important crisis had