Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-22

that it is with labor and with pain, and that
he can continue to sink only, unit! by the
force and pressure OF The descent, the
spring OF his immortal faculties acquires
That recuperative energy and effort that
hurries him as many miles aloft. It's at
that period, that the state seeks for shelter
in the destruction of the press it is in a
period like that, that tie tyrant prepares
Tor the attack upon the people, by destroy
, ing the liberty of the press by taking a.
way that shield Of wisdom and Of virtue,
behind which the people are invulnerable
IN whose pure and polished convex ere the
lifted blow has fallen, he beholds his image
and IS turned into stone. 1t is at those
periods, that the honest man dares no,
| speak, because truth is too dreadful To be
told. II is then the proud man scorns TO
speak, but like physician bafiled by the
hayward excuses of dying patient, re-
tires indignantly from the bed of an I'M
happy wretch whose ear is TOO fastidious
to bear the sound of wholesome advice,
{ whose palate is too debauched 10 bear The
salutary bitter of the medicine that might
redeem him, and therefore leaves him to
the felonous piety of the slaves, that talk
to him OF life, and strip him before he is
cold"
"Let me suppose that YOU had known
the Charge upon which Mr.. Orr was ap.
pretended, the charge of abiuring that BIZ
gotry which had torn and disgraced his
country, ct Pledging himself to restore the
people OF his country to their place in the
constitution, and Of binding himself never
to be the bctroyer Of his fellow laborers in
that enterprise that you had seen him
upon that charge removed from his indus.
try, and confined in goal, that through
the slow, and lingering progress of twelve
tedious months you had seen him con6n-
ed IN dungeon, shut ont from the common
use OF air and his own limbs /; that day af.
{ ter day you had marked the unhappy cap
tive, cheered by no sound but TIE cries of
his family, or the clinking Of chains; that
! you had seen him at last brought 10 his
trial; that you had seen the vile and per.
jared iniormer dcposing against his life :;
that you had seen the drunken, and worn
out, and terrified Jury give in verdict Of
death, that you had seen the same Jury,
when their returning sobriety had brough,
back their Consciences, PROSTATE them
selves before The humanity Of the bench
* pray that the mercy OF the crown might
save their characters from the reproach
oil an involuntary crime, their consciences
from the torture OF eternal sell-condem
nation, and their souls from the nclel bic
stain OF innocent blood. Let me suppose
that you had seen The respite given, and
that con,rite and honest recommendation
/ transmitted n he xuI,
presumed to dwell; that new, and before
unheard OF crimes, are discovered against
the informer, that the royal mercy seems
TO relent, and that a new respite is sent to
the prisoner, that time is taken, as the
learned counsel for the crown has express.
ed 1t, to see whether mercy could be ex
tended or not ! that after that period of
lingering deliberaton passed, third re
prIeve is transmitted; that the unhappy
captive himself feels the cheering hope of
being restored to a family that he adored,
TO character that he had never stained,
and 10 country that he had ever loved !;
that you had seen his wife and children up
on their knees, giving those tears to era.
titude, which their locked and frozen
hearts could not give to anguish and de-
SPAR, and imploring the blessings of cter-
nal Providence upon his head, who had
graciousIy spared the father, and restored
him to his children. "Aas [! nor wife,
nor children more shall he behold, nor
friends nor sacred home !" No seraph
mercy unbars his dungeon, and leads him
forth to life and light, but the minister of
death hurries him to the scene Of suffering
and Of shame; where, unmoved by the hos
tile array of artillery and armed men COL
lected together, either to secure or insult
or disturb him, he dies with solemn de.
claralion OF his innocence, and utters his
last breath in prayer for the liberty Of his
( country. Let me now ask you, if any of
( you had addressed the public ear upon so
foul and monstrous suble6l, in what Ian.
I guage would you have conveyed the feel
ings OF horror and Indignation? Would
I you have stopped to the meanncss CT qua
liiied complaint? Would you have been
mean enough but intreat your forgive.
ness.--l 90 not think meanly Of you had
. l thought 50 ncanly of you could not
su'ier my mind to commune with you as
it has done ; had thought you that base
and vile instrument, attuned by hope and