Virginia Argus

SHALL THE OCEAN BE FREE?

This is the question which at this moment agitates the world. Destined by situation, by the habits which form the second nature of society, the U. S. will be a maritime and commercial people. To us then the issue of this question is, next to our independence and liberty, the most momentous that can be agitated.

Has it been free hitherto?

Every man can answer the question.

Every man can say, who has destroyed the freedom of the seas and the peace of all the world.

There is an article published said to be from the French minister for foreign affairs—we believe it to be authentic, and enquire not how it came to be published it merits attention, for it speaks a language, dignified, and fraught with the most solemn truths—after the declaration of Copenhagen, that there should be no neutrals—the mission and the arrogance of Rose, were necessary effects of an original cause—and after the declaration at Copenhagen, by Cathcart and Gambier, that there should be no neutrals, what had America to expect—the most envied, the most prosperous, and therefore the most hated and feared of all neutrals.

The vast crisis which approaches, has been long foretold—and if the infatuation of partial and momentary avarice, will disregard all considerations of national and permanent independence and prosperity, in order to gratify that avarice, it will bring the dispute to that issue, among ourselves.

Are we ready to abandon the principles of the revolution.

Are we ready to abandon the principles of the armed neutrality of 1780.

We cannot but take one or the other of these questions—their nature and character is common—and involve considerations which we shall lay before our readers in a more deliberate form.

For the present, and on this letter of Champagny we now say, that it contains most solemn and serious truths—that in relation to the U. S. it speaks the language of liberality and friendship—that in regard to the tyrant of the seas, it speaks very far short of the enormities committed against us by G. Britain.

With regard to the policy of the U. S. it has been and is pacific, but never can this nation abandon to any power, the rights of an independent nation. This the missionary of England on the 17th of last month required of our government to do.

Yet we have not seen a single word uttered against the audacious and insolent demand.

Rose demanded of us to recall our proclamation, and stain our shores by admitting into our ports the blood steeped murderers of our citizens, the insulters of our flag.

Champagny, the French minister, calls upon the U. S. to assert its independence, to maintain its rights, to vindicate its independence.

What do we see—not a sentiment of dissatisfaction with the former—while the latter is represented as guilty of as much violence as if New York had been Copenhagened.

The people of America should peruse and re-peruse that dignified and inimitable letter of Mr. Madison to Mr. Rose—it should be in the hand of every youth and in the heart of every upright man—Aurora.