Virginia Argus

A treaty, said by federalists to have been taken to France by Mr. Barlow, has recently made its appearance in the True American of Philadelphia. The first article of it surrenders to Napoleon the whole of the mercantile property sequestrated and confiscated under the French edicts. Another article provides that if France and America should think proper to take possession of the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, they shall be disposed of according to the pleasure of "his imperial majesty." And according to another article, the United States are to be admitted into the Rhenish confederacy as soon as it may suit the convenience of the French ruler?

This treaty, so palpable a fabrication is it, has not even been noticed by the other federal papers of Philadelphia. It was unquestionably manufactured in Baltimore, and designed to subserve the success of the federal cause at the approaching senatorial election in this state. Of this fact we have very little doubt. The two federal papers in town have seized upon it in an instant, as an honorable weapon with which to fight the republicans.

The very first article is the strongest presumptive proof of its falsehood. Federalists will not charge administration with adopting measures which would in a moment prostrate their own popularity and standing with the people; but certainly, if Mr. Madison is so very anxious to be re-elected, as they assert he is, he would never have agreed to such an article in a treaty with France, much less would he have proposed it.

The article respecting the British provinces is a very improbable one. It is not likely that the U. States would go to the expense of blood and treasure to subdue the American provinces for a foreign power to give them to another.

As to the article proposing our admission into the confederation of the Rhine, it is the most ridiculous and wretched piece of artifice of which we ever heard. Has any man the sagacity to perceive why and wherefore America should desire to be a member of the League of the Rhine? Can any man point out the reason why Bonaparte should desire it? What are the objects of that league? Simply, to keep the German princes in order, and to overawe Russia and the other northern powers. Could America be of any service in promoting these objects? Unquestionably not.

But the concluding article of this forged treaty is truly delectable. It provides for the publication of the instrument in both English and French, but makes it the duty of the high contracting parties to consider it as having been originally written in the French language.

If such be the means which federalism uses to climb to power; if forgery, falsehood, and depravity of this kind are the only pillars by which their expiring hopes are to be supported, then, alas! deplorable must be their condition.

Baltimore American.