Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-12


ing allies in the Turk, the Pope, the Algerines,
and the Indians and they laughed at him the
more, when they recollected that America had
Won her Independence while in an alliance, often
sive and defensive, with Bourbon King of
France.
However, many of the causes whichkept Ame-
RIGA aloff from France are now removed The
principles of 1898 are again adopted in France
the system Of reforming, by means Of conquest,
IS abandoned Napoleon willhave learnt how to
respect the rights and to value the character of
America Experience has taught the Americans
what they have to expect under certain circum-
stances. The latter are in no danger from France
they never can be in danger from France and
Frenclitown and Alexandra will remind them
what danger they are in from England.
IS said, by some persons in America, that
though II might have been wise to seek perma-
nent security in 1898, py entering into the war by
the side of the republic of France it would not
be Wise now, seeing that America has become so
much more able to deteI her elf than she was in
1923, proof of which she has given in her re-
cent war against the rn,dirided force of England
On the other hand it rs contended, that, though
america be so much more powerful than she was
IN 1898, England, loaded as she is with debts and
taxes, IS more formidable than she would have
been in 1898, even if she had then subdued
France tor, though the people of England suf-
Ter, the government has more force at its COM
mand and, what is more for its advantage, the
country is brought into that sort of state which
makes Tear almost necessary. Ifher paupers have
increased three-fold, her armed men and her
! means OF destruction have increased fvc-fold.-
She possesses all the means Questioning. And,
| say these reasoners, it is not only subjugation
| against which America ought to guard it IS her
duty to guard herself also against devastation &
plumber Besides, say they, England has no less
| powerful motives to the exercise of forbcarance
towards America. While the latter was with
out manufactures; while England had almost n
monopoly in the supplying of America; the for
ner saw in the propensity of the latter the means
| OF aug'n enting her own riches and power. But
now the case Is different England sees in Anne.
rlca even manufacturing riva1 and, what is
| stll more provoking, she sees in America rival
| OF naval powerand renown. Therefore, say they,
she must and she will desire our destruction /;
heiher she viii attemp il again will depend upon
| herand our meansof attack and resistance
1t must be confessed that our infamous news
| papers have given but too much reason to the
Americans upon this head. For they have pub
lished Lists of the American navy and accounts
OF the American shipping and manufacturer
| and, having dwelt upon their rapid increase, they
| nave called upon your lordship and your col
leagues to prosecute the war for the purpose OF
| destroying these evidences of rising power and
wealth. They have contended that it was Just
to carry on war against America to destroy her
navy to destroy her shipping and manufactures,
and to obtain, at least stipulation from her no.
to 6tatdshib ofIvar beyondG certain Number, On
| q certain size. They have commended that such a
war would be just; that we should have a right
to impose such conditions and that our safety
| demanded that we should
| II am told, that these are the sayings of set
| offoosh writer's in newspapers, my answer is.
that have seldom seen any of these people pro-
mulgate anypolitical opinion, without its being,
m sequel very 81 car to me, that it not in
| their own foolish heads that the sentiment had
| been hatched' These men are, in fact, nothing
| % hemsefues they have no principles, no opni-
ons they care nothing about the matter. They
| are the mere tools of those who speak through
! them, whom they not mfrequently despise, but
| from whom, and through the means of whom
they live comfortably and sometimes get rich.
Upon the whole, therefore, my lord, it is not
! to be apprehended, that, five make war upon
| France Tor the ayowed purpose of deposing Ma
| poleon, the people of America will feel Strong
disposition to take part with Francen that war
| And, if they were so to do have we not great
| cause to fear, that the war would be extremely
| injurious 10 us by sea as well as by land The
| American pr vateers, though without port to
take shelter in, this side of the Atlantic, did
| great mischief to our commerce even in the
| Channel What, then, would they do if ali the
| ports Of France were open TO them and shut
| against us IF, in short, america were in alli-
ance with France, what English ship UNDERMINED
| could hope to escape capture And, is it TO be
hoped, that, in such case, the Skill the discip-
! line, and undaunted bravery Of the American ma
| Wy would otbe communicated to that of France
Emulation might do great deal towards sen
| ding forth fleets able, in a short time, to cope
with those Of England. Really, five wish to
| keep these two nations asunder, it appears TO
me, that we have no way of accomplishing the
wish but that ofkeeping at peace
| IfAmerica were to jon France in the war, we
should, doubtless, tell her, that she was acting
very base part that she had received from u no
| proyocation that we had not Heddled with her
that we had expressed our anxious desire to live
at peace with her. But, my lord, might she not
| answer very true and you have received no
| proyocation from France' France has not meddled
| with you France has expressed her anxious de-
sire TO live at peace witt, you and yet you have
| gone TO war against France -if, therefore, il be
| base on my part to make war upon you, after
/ you have begun war upon France, where
! is your justification for having begun that war ?
| Besides have you no allyi You boast of having
| ali Europe on your side. And shall France have
| no ally Shall you have twenty allies against
| the old ally Of America and shall il be deemed
| base IN America TO become the ontg al,f of
| France You say, yours IS a war Of brecauttoa .
50 IS mine. You fear that Napoleon may, one
| day or another, get TO London and YOU have
! been at Washington, at FrenchtowB, and at
| Alexandra.
Ii is fayoritc saying, or it used TO be, in Ame-
RIGA, that Il was her true policy 70 keep aioof