Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-01

sSAOS VI vost hutpcTtnuCO tUdI tueSe
publications should be cornteractsd if
possible. They are either true or
false--if the latter, as would fam
hope, they can be easily refuted-if
true, which it would be shocking to
believe, certainly we ought to be very
ready aud forward to make atonement
to the Americans for what they have
suffered.
These statements have, too, produ-
cad another most serious effect. They
have filled the crews Of the American
ships with implaeab'e revenge. To
the usual motives Of patriotism and
glory, they have added 70 still more
powerful motives Of vengeance. A
gainst crews, thus animated, men un-
der the Influence OF the mere ordinary
motive to bravery, really cannot be
expected to succeed without great
superiority Of force. I leave your
Lordship to suppose what would be
The effect of statements like these, il
the ease were OURS. II we were at
peace with all the world, and were
carrying IN our CON merce, agreeably
TO the laws of neutrality while the A.
merleans were at WAT with some other
power; aod 1T the Americans were to
impress EngiShmen from on board
English ships, bringing up Goals from
Newcastle to London, were 10 force
them into their ships of war, compel
them 70 fight for America and, in
short, to occasion, in the English pa
pers, statements such as have above
! quoted. Ii this were The case, does
your Lordship think, that we should
DE very qaietf And If such state
ments would be likely to set us in a
iiame, are we to ssppose that they
have had no effect on the Americans
Here, my Lord. as you well know,
we have the real cause Of that war,
which, il is sIid, ia now to engage q
hundred thousand men. tsco hundred
ships Of roar, and which cannot cost
less than twenty millions a year. II
has been asserted, that the Congress
declared war against us to assist Ma.
pOleOn on the Continent. This is so
foolish, that tie writers must think
that they are addressing it to men
little superior to brutes. Ii was i'm
possible that the Americans could
know where Napoleon was, when they
declared war. It was impossible that
| their war should really aid him in his
designs against Russia 1t was
gainst their interest that Russia should
he crushed by aDy power, and especi-
ally by France. The other charge,
that America, Sc like an assassin at.
tackled US in the dark is equally false
and foolish. How could an open de-
claratiOu of war by Legislative As
sembly, after repeated discussion, be
Nh act deserving such description D.
How could that he called an attack in
the dark, especially when il had been
threatened for years, and when it was
followed immediately by an off r for
truce, in order again TO negotiate
for peace
Here we have the real origin Of the
war. Terminate as it will, this was
its origin. This origin must not be
forgotten, whatever efforts are made
30 puS il out OF our heads. When the
war should have ended, and W. shall
SET down TO count the cost, this origin
must be kept steadily before US.
The Times aud Courier are still la
bOurinS 10 persuade us, that there will
ne a separation of the American
States: that the four New Eng and
States would decl7re themselves indie
pendent Of the General Government,
aad will form an alliance 1oith Old
England. Now, my Lori, mind,
pledge myself, that, fany such propo-
S tons be serioGsly made by the friends
Of the famous Captain HENRY, by the
would.be Noblesse of Massachusetts,,
they will very quickly be decorated. not
with coats Of arms, but with coats oil
tar ana. feathers. The people of New
England are =" essentially Republi
cans" They have been, or, at least.
a part Of them, stimulated by very
cunning meD, to violent opposition
against Mr.. MADIsON and the WAR
But only let them see the real obiec,
Of the chickering's, the Otises, the
Quineys, &c. and the fall of these men
is as certain as the return of Sprinp
after Winter. Ii is not b. large ma.
| iOpifu that auan Tho No,,, Is--l