Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-04

gle individual on each side should be left at
Client to take advantage of any opening
ter renewing the negotiation but both
these statements are at variance with those
contained in other letters Of the latest date
from Ghent, received by the French mail
OF yesterday, according to which the diplo
matte intercourse still continued. We re.
peat, that we do not thia!s this the point
to which the public attention ought to be
directed. We should look not to the falla>
cious terms of an artful negotiation but to
the infallibie evidence of our enemy's mind
and intentions displayed on his conduct
The bill for conSc,ftdon of the whole
American population is a measure that
cannot be mistaken. Whilst such n bill is
IN progress, and before it is known whe
Their the people Will submit to its being
carried into execution, it would be madness
10 c1fiect a hcaee. 1t would be madness to
expect peace with persons who have made
up their minds to propose so DESPERATE a
measure TO their Countrymen for either
they must succeed, and then the ihtoxica-
ton of their pride will render them utter
ly iniractable or (Which is indeed more
probably they must fail, and their failure
must precipitate them from power, and
consequently render treating with them
impossible. When an american gentleman
OF sflendtd attatamentS, some years since,
composed his celebrated review of the Con-.
scrip:ien Code of that monster Bonaparte,
he could not possibly foresee that his own
country would. in so short time, be sub.
jected TO the same bar6arons h,lnHliation.-
The prime and flower of the american CT
uzens are to be taken by lot and deliver
ed over to the marshals, who are to deli
yer them over to the officers autho lied
10 receive them, who are to act at the dis
cretion and under the arbitrary direction of
the President. Thus does, Mr.. Madison,
from simple republican magistrate, sudS
denly start up military deSftot of tae most
SanSuinary character a double Of the
6Lood-fhirSty wretch at Elba. We are con.
vinced that THIS sudden aud violent Sheck TO
all republican feelings, to all the habits of
The people i'll all parts of the Union, cannot
be made zcifh IMMUNITY. Certain it is that
this Jaw cannot stand alone. To give.it the
least cS.ahce of being put in execution it
must be accompanied with all the other
chapters OF that bloody Code by which
France was disgraced. and barbarised, and
demoralised- WHO is to hunt down the
refractory conscripts ? Who is to drag
them, chained together nrows, to the head
quarters o. the military division? Who is
20 punish them, their parents, relations and
friends! Even Bonaparte was many years
In bringing to its diabolical perfection the
machinery of his system and carefully as
MT. Monroe may have studied IN that ac.
cursed school, it cannot be supposed that
ne has at one flight placed himself on
level with his great instructor. 1t is high
~ probable that many of the men who
nave labored iA the details of oppression
and violence under the Disturber of Eu.
rope, may have by this time MADE their
way to America, where they will doubt
less receive cordial welcome from Mr..
Madison. and be set to work to rivet the
eoHar on the neckS of the american citi-
ze"8 !; bat we own that, with all applian-
Ces and means to boot the President, in
our opinion, must fail. Nevertheless it
would be most dangerous to suffer such an
opinion to produce the slightest relaxation
in our efforts. The British government
should act as if it saw Mr.. Monroe at the
head OF his hundred thousand regulars, well
disciplined and equipped, carrying the war,
as he distinctly threatens he will do, into
the very heart of Canada. Late as it IS,
we must awake. Eight months ago the
Duke OF Wellington with his army might
have fallen like a thuHderboit upon the
Washington Cabinet, leaving them no time
Tor conscriptions, no means of collecting
French officers to discIp inc their troops.
no opportunity TO intrigue for friendship
and support among the continental powers
OF Europe. 1t is not yet too Ia c for striking
decisive blow but that blow must be
struck with all our heart and with all our
strength. Let us but conceive the Dropo.
sed hundred thousand regulars embodied
IN the Course of the ensuing spring. Does
any one believe that. without a mighty eff.
fort on our part, the Canadas could be re-
tanned another yearl Would not the ex
ultation of seeing himself at the head of
such force urge Mr. Madison, at all ha =.
yards, TO complete his often-trie invasion ?
Even If his scheme should but partially
succeed, and he should be only able to drag
ON q defensive war for another twelve months
who knows what allies that period may
stir up for him, under the false pretences
OF regard for neutral rights. and for the
liberty of the seas ? On our side, to con-
clude peace at the present moment
would be 20 confess ourselves inundated
by the warlike preparations of the enemy 4.
IL seems, therefore, that we have but one
path to- follow. Whatever was tie force
destined to act against America before this
DARING BILL of Mr.. Monroe's was
thought Of, let that f,Fce instantly be dou d.
6fsd let us cast aside all BuTohcaH no..
httcS that cros8 this great and Paramount
obJect Of our e.Cerfi0Hs. Let General of
accompanying name be at once dispatched
to the seat of war We have often said,
and we repeat it, that america is a scene
on which the Duke OF Wellington's talents