Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-07-21

Fellow citizens, we have convened 10 c.
Iebra,e the anniversary Of our birth, Us
nation; 70 E.lclaie ourselves upon Oure
Emancipation from the yoke .ot proud
and iupeiious monarch; TO pay our de-
v0.ion 10 lh- genius that animated our m
Cesioys 10 indicate their rights and esta-
blish On a solid and permanent Foundation.
the liberties of heir country
In contemplating the American revolu.
ton, the philosopher, the phiianlhropist
ard The patriot, wi. fin / abundant sources
Of grauGca,ion and Joy The ph'oso
pher viii eyult at the irresistible pr agress
OF tru.h, reason and justice that tae pre-
iadlces and errors ot antiquity, tn poi,-
teal I'D religious heccsies which have SO
long kept mankind buried in ignorance.
barba,ism and slavery, have yield d 20 III
iluUn tons Of science. hat nations
which Cor apes had been ianguishlng IL
bondage, ard were bewildered in The
clouds Of ignorance, credully and supper
s,i;i n, are now enlightened by the mid
influence or literature and rational cnqui
rs. The hr Ght example Of America la,
i,vigorattd their faculties, ,he MUD has
acquired new snr'ng liberty has increas
eGi,s euerly. The rhilau,hro, ist will &c
l0lce a, the extensive prospects OF human
;.ic;ty which are pteseut, d TO his view,
IN ccntem :llating The rapa d an.elloratjon
Of the condition Of nlan, and q the pleas
s;rE reelection, chat an asylum Is louad in
the new void, where prosecuted huma
nity may rest IN p ace and q ietnesss,
: ~ patriot VIII io,ce When h cas.s h.s
eyes ar"u i him, and beholts The slugu
lar felicity OF his fellow citizens; al he
reccU0clian Of the present AID he tnlici-
patton al Inc fu;nre greatness, prosperi
and glory OF This rising rcpu5hc: Eut who
can calculate ;he destiny Of nation, that
without soldiers, with"u, military stores
Or accoUu eincn;s, without navy, with
cut recuDiary resources and without q
s.rocE and efficient government, was able
ater long AID a glorious struggle to ef
fec revolution, not only OF government
bu, Of opinion: nation that has discard
e1 jhe m1Xime that were ccnsccrajed bv
time and reyerenccd by their ancestors:
nation that has atchiev, d . revolution
W thout prototype. and hich has form
CO new ara IN HE history of mankind d.
las not the example Of these people dc
Juonsirated the truth Of the m kim that
4" for na,i' n tn ne iree," us enough tina,
she wills il?
In rejecting on this great revolution,
the mud /, inyuiunIarily led 70 Al revle v .oi
the principles thai gave ii bl'ih
Is il 10 W attributed 10 he folly OF tn
king AID parliament of Great Buain, t"
the restless disposition of Pc pie VIII
rfr.h . En- I,
public mnd of the abs,rdu, of an cirJti
to hold the great Continent Of Amerca u
subsection 10 the iitle i,land Of Great
britain, a mere spot upon the map oG in
rope! the KING aud the Parliament say
vi h establishment * dismal. the growing
greatness SlPfosperijv Of he colonies they
attemptedto check theirp' ogrese, and 10
Controul the great laws Of nature, reason
aud justice they did not sc. the madness
and Iutility OF tleir e Tbrts thay did not
calculate the power and ertIu,lasm 81
great people wben reused to defend 'hgi.
rights. They attempted To bind " by
the laws Of legislature IN which We were
not represented; ,hcH IMPOSE arbitrary
& oppressive reatrict'ons on our com
IGetce; they dttru.)Jed TO lax us ". bout
Onr Consent; they abandoned The sacred
principle OF modern legislation, tha, tax
alton AID representation Shall be CO ,staul
cemcOmtants The i'm ne-y Of these eli
forts, excited the ind cratinr of The ne.
pie, their reason reyol ed At 'his tyrdnni-
Gel assumpsion of power, bu' they sill
used the language Of decenCy and node
ration. They petuione i ia tie moi I'M ~
bic manner for redress Of grievances
they couiured The parliament they SUI.
p'icatcd the king; they demonstrated 70
their brethren IN Britain. Theirpc.iiio
thcir sappicaG0ns and their remop.tran
ces, were rejected with Indignant en-
tempt, and followed by new insults and
aggfessions, mil the whole condua &C
the British government cvinced a steady
and premeditated design TO 'cduce Us T.
unconditional slavery. Though we were
allied to the inhabitants Of Brlt in by the
ties of blood, speak the same language,
aud have been remarked Tor the similarity
ct our customs aud manners, they euter-
tanned the opinion. that liberty was iey
el too prec Gus to- We entrusted to the ~,
babilints IF tho new world lh,v aucnlDt-
ed to wrest ii from ,hcn by arbitrary pow
er f; the people of these states were d.
cllrcd TO BE- rebels and ,ru'or. . mann