Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-15
FaE DEFENCE.
10. l..

who chuse their own rulers, and through
them make their own laws. This IS your
-pSceosauve May II long remain So, what
ever the iniatuation aud folly of olher IA
lions! And wliile we pity the low state to
which their ignorance aud a tyrant's
Wrongs have reduced them, ietus cherish,
with the zeai oi our tatnets, the i.ty sen
tments vi freed, IL, sealed MIN their blJn
Devoted u liberty anI msucc, rs hi
tory of the wc;id should teach YOU, a you
wish u preserve them, To b. Ieai0ue and
v'gilan!. II sho;iid leach ybu that rulers
-a'e more apt 10 be tfrrI's han >erve,tsy
and that, with whatever sancl.ty ney may
declare then ,elves the friends and guar
dams OF YOU rights. they are mos ap;,
,Htcr THIS iusd,ous mask, t. s.0fert
them By criminal career OF arabl .on
e IS frae, that taey generally h>t,er 10
b~u0y yol /; ana HAT white they are busi
ed IA the immOiaiion OF i!b=!ly, they a'r
ioudest in is praise.
As then YOU value Your rights examine
with an unbendiHg severity t!ie ,ndutl
OF your rulers. The 0lore important TIE
dates with which public cha ac(er j,
Invested the more insperiousthe neces ,ny
oi rigid scrutiny. When the station 70
.bE b.lsF IS the highest in your power 40
eeSiow, the duty becomes sacred ene !;
and you become ir,,itors IL yourselves no.
u discharge il. Il Is cinliuai III tnan TO
play The tyrant; hut hal crime is of the
deepest hue which free ople perpeirate
by hegiccling Tie means for the pre-
serva,.ol Of their liberties. The tyran;is
buried on by The fury Of his pas ions !;
wh.is the people have no inlUcemcng I'm
DIR Heaven 30 abandon their duty. The
first may influence the psriut! in which
he lives: white th4 lao, $40 often cidei
TOT ages the des'iny OF nation.
Yop are Called en once in four years to
elect your Caief Magistrate. ~ The dis
charge OF dis du.y y, at The last PERIOD, you
raised 10 that high station citizen d,s,in-
gulshed for the variou, Serv ces rendered
70 his country. OF manners simple. Sfi'l-
bic and winning, and with an understand
ing penetrating and perspiCacious, sc nad
long .nnIDded in the WIDE circle of h.s
friends respect softened % Affection.
Even his lem'cs, Notwithstanding their
dislike Of his Political opinions and acliuas,
kaowleugri iher love for The man.
EnufGi from iniLncy 20 III active scea-s
o, lie, aid called by the exigcncies of III.
rcVolti.'oi 10 Il vigorous participation in
ITS t0Hs, he bad, nptwIlis auding, found
time 10 pursue the ea,ly BIAS OF a mind
tached 70 philosophical pursuits and from
the a,iioR OF a aonnd judgment upon a
large stock Of acquired materials, had
Saineu rePu,a. ion in the literary world.
Ills NOT surprising, therefore, that w
Ind bin 10 the legislature OF his own state,
then the wi1cst field OF action presented
by the state OF the country, animated by
the hGneSt enthusiasm OF youth, transcend.
ing the dull routine OF duty, and LAYING
thu foundations of future greatness aud
prosperity by Cieyisin5 and recon
'nenaing plans Of great and general u.!ii
ty. Three vast objects appear to have
engaged his patriotic efforts education,
religious liberation, and the reform &c he
criminal code. Like other philanthro-
p;s lie but ia part succeeded. He sd
,alne1 something TO be dore to ad ance
thc Interests of .earning; and he lost on
Is by the casting vote of,he Speaker law
Tor mitigating the penal code. On the
Interesting point Of religion his victory
was comp;ete; and every man was gia
rdnlesd he free exercise Of his conscience
and religious opinions. But however i'm
peric1t the success of his 2!aos, he sowed
seeds III a soil far Gromincougenial which
have since rewarded all his efforts. IL.
has the satisfaction Of behpjdiuE the CHI
zens ,of his native state enjoying ever,
blessing ihat religious aud civil Eoer,y
Wa b.,'ow; sustaining their STATE mstitu
toos with ability, and ,rausfusing their
virtues into the several departments ofthe
general government,
Such Is the man, who, four years aro.
you called 70 the head Of your affairs.
Eou esteemed him then wise and Writ,
Gus; else you would Mt have placed him
at the very altar Of your rights.
He VAS then, however, untricd in the
discharge Of the duties Of the First VI,
gistracy of free people; and with all hi,
virtues and talents, h. was liable to dis.
appoint the hopes Of his country. Has
he disappointed these hopes ?-This i,
tne obje:t OF the present enquiry. If he
has, II Is your dnty, whatever pain it NAV
give yoh, TO consign him to the walks Of
private life.