Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-28

devoted to the views Of the national govern.
ment, or were deprived of their righ.to in.
quire into its measures.
In all tree states, the people have at some
periods, been hurried into rash and danger
Gus excuses, to oppose either real or ina
ginary grievances. An individual, who is
under the influence OF passion or prejudice
Will be likely to form erroneous opinions and
pursue indiscreet measures, and vet, in the
highest pa- 1xysns of anger, ne is checked
by sense OF responsibility. But when the
passions of a multitude are iniiamcd. they
have little restraint of this kind, and will
be m danger OF proceeding TO excuses, Of
which as individuals they would be incana
be- In this mnuner the abuse of liberty
mas Often ternina, in he loss ofu.'
To prevent such fatal excesses, whene
ever the conduc. Of the genera, gov.
eminent or its officers is thought to be
| unconstitutional or oppressive, and no re-
/ medy can DC Obtained in the ordinarv
course OF justice, the people OF ,he state
nave right to apply To their legislature
Tor assistance III obtaining redress Th n
petitions, presume, will be attended to
| though not with disp sition to i,apu,e i'm
| proper motives to the agents of tbs general
| govern nent, or TO condemn their conduct
upon slight grounds frivolous pretences.
IL the members of the legislature are Com
WINGED that the comp tint is well founded,
they will employ the most prudent and ef.
| iectual means tor red-es Tits course was
thought TO be regular when the cons.itu-
| ton was adopted, and it seems to be the
most efiicacious as we'll for the relief of o. /,
pressed individuals and the preservation of
| the rights of state, as Cor the main enance
OF order and the support of just admins.
tration OF government. hope. therefore,
that the people Of this Commonwealth,
however they may at any time think them.
serves injured by the National agents, will
not resort 70 unauthorized and intemper
ate measures, which may prove extremely
hurtiul to themselves and the public, but
cannot DE advantageous to either.
Before war was declared, when we saw
the tendency OF the national measures. we
expressed our most ardent desire that hos
tlii'les might be avoided. We could hardly
conceive II possible, that under the pretence
OF guiding Our commerce, we should a,
dopt course, by which it must be annihi
iated or tnat to protect our seamen, we
should engage in a war, that would lead To
thelr destruction. We knew that whensv-
er the war between France and England
should terminate, the evils we complained
OF would cease and that our Commerce. If
unobstructed by internal restraints. would
be mere profitable during the war in Eu
rope, than after peace should be estabish-
eo. III IN the arduous conflict between G..
nrlta'n ana France, and their respective al
'les, the couibatants did not always suspend
sneT blows, when we happen to go withie
reach oil them, yet we could see 10 reason
'or our interference. Ia the quarrel. But
me government became impatient, and
though there was apparently some emhar.
rassment n deciding which of the beliesr
ems should be Alta ed AID whether il
would not be exrsdient TO attack both at
once, IT was som deterrent ed to select that
people tor our enemies, with whom we
were the most nearly connected whose
commerce was m st inD prtaat to ms. and
"ho were able. do US rhr most risch,ef.
soon after the declaration of war we
learned that the orders in conrci' were re.
Hea'eo' WIN aVieW to omen the way to
peSce, the Bri ISL government proposed an
unconditional armistice, to which o. ad,,i
nlstration refused to agree. TIE rel ction
OF this proposal appeared to US an extreme.
~ untortuH te event az comDIiau &C with
Il might have saved the honor oe tn govern
ment, ard eX'inguished the war hefore il
was kindled to a flame. 1t vas n so unf9r-
tunate, as together Wit other circnmRtan-
ces, 1t erved to convince the BRUSH nation.
mat the war was wGged nat for the pro,ec.
ton OF our maritime rights, bat for other
purposes. and particularly to obtain posses
sion OF the Indian country, and to conouer
the adjoining provinces Of Great britain
These apprrhensions have teen manifest,
ed by the British commissioner; i, he 10
gocidtions tor peace. Tie terms. frs, nro
posed by Crest Britain, nndoub edlv imn.;.
ed want Of confidence in our pacific v;ewg
both with regard to themselves aid the In
dams But the Bri ish ministers knee n,
the same men who commenced the ~
still administered our government--tbey
might, therefore be more apnrehens;ye
that rmer measures would be rene,teJ
Should the conditi rs of peace. TO which we
may ind 1t convenient rItimaiely tn agres
be not the most favorable the faul, will No,
consist in making peace but in havino mad.
war. This fault will not be diminished h.,
p"stponing reconciliation to a distan, rer;
cd rei'her the political character. NOR ,bc
moral stain Of an unnecessary war can he
efaced, though the war should be continn-
ed many years.
We still Hatter ourselves THAI tbere mill
soon be favorable issue to the nesotistio,s
IN Europe. But so | Dg as hostiI;ties ave
| continued, and we are left IN defend b,, o,r
| own eNertiOns, our extended maritime fron.
tier, the duties Of the legislature Of thi. s,,,e
must be arduOus. ] hore that unter the 10
huCnce OF that wisdom which i, F-or, -