Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-08

jul- we are told that Mr.. Madison rec ON /.
'nended this war to save his popularity
What discovery! We had been at peace
Tor THU : years -our habits. our interests
and our inciinations endeared us Co peace
We had no soldiers or officers, aud few
ships! A war with Britain. was war with
her friends in America With all these
facts before him. Mr.. Madison reco y, IN end
cd war, for purposes of popularity! With
all your wisdom, you have never found on,
that he was an ideot.
remember that in his arrangement with
Mr.. Erskine, You thoughs he was roo Gun.
ming. This crafty and designing Madison,
most unfairly circumvented This honest. un-
sus0ectirg Minister of his Majesty And if
this is fhe mon. how can you suppose him
so stupid as to recommend war 70 pro.
mote his election But several gentlemen
have told us a story-that Mr. Clay and
others, committee, waited on Mr.. Madi.
son and threatened him that unless he re-
commended this war, he should not be re
elected There is much of the marvellous
in this The fact has been peremptoriiy
denied at this board, and gentlemen have
been challenged to produce the proofs.
How have they succeeded? AS they Do in
almost every thing Some newspaper SO
stated, and it was not, as tfev knezv of,
Clay, while in the chair, if it were not tine,
and he returned no answer. And because
Mr. Clay treated this insoent enquiry with
silent contempt, gentlemen infer that the
fact Is proved
There are already sufficient checks in
this constitution 70 prevent any war against
the wishes or interest Of the people. The
American Deop!e do NOT delight in blood. -
War is abhorrent to their FEELINGS, and not
very CONSEQUENT To- the nature of their gov
ernment They viii endure insult and nm
preston until thew nre no longer tolerab'e
before they will engage in war.
There are better ca"ses for the war than
the defect in the constitution. The nDpa-
sitIon IN this coUntrv we're the authors of
thS war. You told Great Britain tSp' the
United States could MOI be " kicked into a
war" In this way YOU encouraged her ag-
gresSions. Sn long as her insults and on,
pressions would be borne, so long they
wonii be continued. Bnt Britain has been
once more deceived by herpretended friends
IN this country She hasHbeen made the
d e of their schemes of ambition Nor is
the continuance ofthis war less the effect of
goNr nnpositi n I it SUI rrising that Britain
sh ou'd take encourage ~ IRE u this most
uDiustifable opposition THE enemy takes
ritory. Instead II apelinF hin Van srpoint
Convention = divide tne States. unless
y England shalt be per ~ - to rule them
Vou pretended to raise zen thousand trooDs,
but instead Of this, the Farsford Convention
met, exploded, recommended to friter aw4y
the Constitution, AMI mission is sent to
washington on very extraordinary, and
! had almost said foolish errand, TO obtain
forsooth, The United States taxes TO be
paid into the state treasure And Il Mas.
sacluSetts can ge' this money, why then we
are tn see astonishing military achievements.
This is the way you prolong the war. If G..
Britain has not lost all confidence in this
sco'ding, processing, threatening parrv,pour
conduct viii urquestiouabiy procraslinate
the war. We have made the war disas-
trou s~-9oas 'iDG Massachusetts how DIES
sbs stand 10 the eyes of me world in this
contest. Every act of ours tends to en-
barrass the government aud encourage the
enemy, We viii not rejoice at victories, nor
thank even the defenders of our soil We
insult our copqnerors by sea and land, by
declaring the war disasterous and disgrace
| fnl.
Sir, would never res, rain your repre-
sentatives of the people from making war
l am far from believing that perpetual
! peace with Great Britain ought to be ex
pected or wished Thirty vearS peace had
well nigh prcstr9ted the liberties Of ,ais
country. w were trammelled and hand
cuAed BY Br,ish iu1usnce. We we're sleep
ing ander the fatal operations Of this iahu.
cnce. And bur for this war. we should not,
perhaps, until too i4'e, have discovered the
extent Of this influence.
believe sir, there ig a natural entity be
tween this country and Great Britain. -
Britain is jealous e or increasiny com
merce and naval glory ,be will never tor.
give us our iidependere THIS war will
give us navy. AMI avy may be the
cause Of future war
The war has been vast benefit. It has
taught Great Rti. i1 20 remember and re.
spect our strength. IL has taught us to re.
spect ourselves, and to feel a confidence in
our own power anj resources. It has
strens henei AID perfected our indepen
dence by improving our agricultural and
manufacturing interests.
The glories we Eaye acquired IN this war
will command the honor and astusishment
Qf Europe On the ocean we have hum
bed British pride. The victories OF Erie,
Plattsburg Niagara aud New Orleans Il
val all the glores Of the revolution. wish
| in God, Massachusetts,. as a state, could
participate in thee most brill ant ach eve.
nents. But look at Pcnobscot Massa-
chusetts. how art lhou failcu
Sir,you mast conc in and help in this
/ contest. The honor of Massachusetts pust
! be redeemed This war has been dsrract
| fut only 70 this state. If we regard the
Uoitcd States as our country. if we would
| avoid the scorn and contempt OF the worlI
u we are the sons Of patriots who sacri6-
Ced their lives on the altar of their conn
try, let US abandon this strange opposition