Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-06-14

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point was the fatal transaction az Washington |
As an attack on naval arsenal and depoe OF the |
enemy, the plan was wise, and conducted with
Singular ability and vissor but he never could
toTtelnplate without pain the destruction of
buildings entirely devoted to pacific purposes,
and some ofthem to those of the arts. The de-
fence set up was, that il an.act cfretaliation
but he must condemn the principle. Retaliation
was OF two kinds, defensive or vinticl,ye. me
former might be employed for seifprotection;
cut tie latter went to consider vengeance rs
duty it was 10 reverse tic christian principles
and substitute instead Oft that you should do to
Ell as they have done unto YOU But the charge
ct unbounded ambition was brought against
America This was discoverable, it was SAID, in
her attacking Canada, at the commencement OF
the war rs if, because she gave il out to be war
for her maritime rights, she was bound TO confine
it to The ocean, where you were strong, and she
was weak. America might think that the best
way of conducting war for maritime rights, was
by attacking Canada, where ministers lad con-
fesSed that we were weak But the American
government made Canada = point in the negocia-
ton, and nothing could be drawn from the procla-
NATION of IN invading general which he believed
was afterwards disowned by his government
Another charge was, that she manifested amen
croachng spirit, against which it was necessary TO
guard, by her acquisition OF Louisiana, an event
that took place not less than eleven years ago.
That transaction simply originated in this
that in consequence ofthe transfer OF louisiana
10 France by the Spanish government, the Ame-
ricans were drcadfullv alarmed least they should
have Bonaparte and the French perpetual
blister on their backs. Their alarm was not with
out reason; for no sooner had Bonaparte obtained
the transfer. than he refused 10 the Americans
their depot at New Orleans, which was absolute
" essential TO the whole of the northwestern
trade. Thus actuated, O,ey eagerly purchas ed
.idered ground ofjealousy at tie time, that
cur minister in a letter to Mr.. Rufus King, the
then American ambassador in this country, con-
graduated nun on the acc, sition, as tavorsble TO
the interests Of both countries. 1t was extraor-
dlnary that the acquisition q Louisiana should
cot be sent forward as an outrageous act OF aS-
grandizement. But il was said, that the prot est
eli Spain against its occupation had been studI-
eusly concealed That protest, however, GER
tsirly was withdrawn: at least it was so stated
in speech of the American president to con-
sress in 1904 But supposing the whole aleSa-
ton true, was itwise or prudent to bring forward
row, when the measure had been acquesced in
Or the last seven years. The next ground OF
charge was the question of West Florida. Du-
ring the progress Of the Spanish revolution, Flo
.ida was divided into various factions struggling
for the supp enancy The Americn goyermnen t
interfered, improperly he thought, and occupl ed
the province, on the ground that it was necessa-
~ to prevent it from falling into hands That
.light be dangerous as ne,ghbors. They deciar-
ed at the same time that they hadno intention Oh
permanent occupancy. We ourselves had recent
ly done the very same hing by occupying part o.
West Florida, for the purpose ofmaSmg war on
the United States. The last ground on which
the .arge of ambition was founded, was the sPIr-
it of c1croachment the Americans had displayed
in purchasing indian lands. But this was the
system of extending Their cultivation which the
III ,l,t oI and. - yUa he
system which we ourselves pursued in Canada
The noble lord next proceeded TO make va
fety of remarks on the negotiations respecting
be boundaries on the Canada Inc. He observed,
tht in his opinion the American commissioners
bal shewn the most astonishing superiority over
TIE British, during the whole of the correspon-
Once. Having considered what the treaty did
include, he should now advert to what it did not
include II described no boundary line from
lake Superior 10 the Mississippi it stipulated
5or 20 direct communication between IIAllfax and
Quebec the islands OF Passamaquoddy were to
be the subject ONO discretion at all, and they
were referred TO the arbitration OF the emperor
OF Russia. Above all, it contained not one word
respecting the original causes of the war, or the
maritime rights in contention between the two
countries. lie knew that by some this omission
had been called an effort of extraard nary WIS
dom and it was thought wiser to leave these
fights upon the general principles ofpublc law.
i o leave such questions as these 10 the declSion
ofpublic law, was to leave them TO tle appeal OF
+he sword. Ifthere were no other reason for the
present motion, let the house support 1t, IA order
70 have this question set at rest.
Eehsd never heard that America disputed his
75ajesty's maritime rights. {" fes," from The
rriniStsrS. J lie understood that she only asser-
red the extreme difficulty Of applying them TO
the relative situation Of their ships and rights
II they did dispute the right in question, did mn
isters hope by leaving it untouched 10 prevent
ear There was no question but in that case
we should soon be at war about t. II was
therefore, that ne thought The treaty defective
whatever ofsU5stance Il contained might have
been arranged in less time, and there had been
time enough to put these important subjects into
some shape. lie only required the house 10 say
whether ne mad not laid before them sufficient
grounds to warrant them in desiring TO have the
papers laid before them, TO enable them to exer-
else their own judgment on this case, and give
such counyels TO the prince regent as should
seem to them best founded IN justice and policy.
He had argued this case as if II were above the
rule ofpTecedent, and he wished to keep il so /;
it had so peculiar character that no established
rule could be applied to it; for where Che would
ask was the treaty ever before which contained
no article whatever upon the point which had
bcca first ms ztod or, and which was so well put
in the prince regents FIRST declaration OF the
grounds Of war---a state paper which he felt hap
py to compliment for ability and justice
The treaty contained nothing of the points
then insisted upon nor did II even refer In the