Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-10-23

1T was at this period, when an immense
s'aauinS army was embodied, that the
or'rles OF the revolution coInmenced.---
Ahey are strictly, and almost exclusive
~, to be traced is this source. The arms
81 The French were crowned with success,
rstary success is rarely accompanied. by
suaer humanity, justice, or moderation.
- inspires ipity views, and confidence
~ 'he tsiamphof force over all opposi,i-
on Inc spirit Of the French people ma
.o'aiy martial was intoxicated with vic.
'ofy' he lootish and dangerous applause.
so unfortunately lasished on great ore.
"eIa's, was dealt out by them with. nm.
reheetins prodigsIity; and ,hcv ,;ui.
arsamt THAI they were building up IDOLS
tisst would scon become The dead,;.e,
scourSes OF thrir coantry.
ns scenes that ensucd are fresh in the
recoheetlon OF onr readers. We need not
'hstetore recapitulatc them. They have
ended IN the overthrow of the renubl;c.
ana IN the establishment of-monarcbv.
AT these assfol transitions the n;nd ;s
100 apt to indulge gloomy ideass Because
a't 'hai IS hoped for is NOT gained, il is
unprecedented that every thing is lost. But
th's Is not true. II does not follow. be.
) Cause The far fabric Of liberty is oyerturn.
C" 'hat h''isous despotis,n prevails. I,
: Gees 10, foiloN because puss liberty has
ceased to e.ist. that gloomy slavery
prevails. The truth is that a|thousb no.
n'ica' liberty does not at present exist in
france, The happiness of the people il
: more respected than it had been befare
ior Centuries under the old moDsrchy.-.
he truth is that Certain revolu,ionsrv
pr'nc'pies are SO deeply rooted, and their
uen'sn effects SO widely difiused, that
their existence may be considered as FIX
ea AL permanent. Among these prin-
c'riss, are these which regulate the trans.
mission OF property, by which the vast
denominations IN particular individuals,
aud Classes are probably forever frustra,-
eu. Let 1t likewise be recollecled tb.t.
Under the present order Of things, all mo-.
noPoiies are inhibited, and every species
al human industry eiiicaciously pro;e6.ed;
while every national resource is deyelon.
ea VITA bold hand by the government,
hi'honsh, therefore, the revolution has
rot t'iss'e France a republic, il has un.
Qhes,ionabiy eniuently promoted her han.
p'ness; and has, We may add, sown seeds
mat VIII one day make her one. Nature
generally aetsby unavailable laws. The
Hork OF ages is not overturned in day.
ara 1t may be in obedience to those prn-
c'piss that that despoIism, which was the
growth oil many- successive Centuries. will
require more tSsn few years to be en-
hreiy eradicated. The Revolution nav
he viewed IS the first step towards this
result; and II u has but accomplished IL
10 part, SO Tar from calling forth our de-
huhcistIon, IL merits our admiration and
applause.
But the principal end Of these remarks
is io'rerule the idea that there is any ana
icgy between the course pursued by the
American and French nations. So far
from discovering this analogy, we shall,
on examination, scarcely fnd feature in
common between the two countries.
France 81 the period Of her revolution
was 2u oppressed nation; She was OPP
pressed by king, priesthood, and an
Hereditary nobility, homouopolisedmore
than hait tie iui,s OF the earth.
In America we had no king, no priest
hood, no nobility. We say no king, be-
cause the power Of the king Of England
was scarcely more lhpa nominal.
We were also free, and always had
been, from The expressions endured By
The French people.
The French people, atthe period of the
revolution, were Totally, and had been
Tor ages, deprived OF the right Of Self-go.
yefnnen,.
The American people were in its full
exercise; Every state had its assembly
The French people consisted oflwo or.
dcrs, The rich aud The poor, the former
OF "hom were corrupted by luxury, ant
The latter debased by extreme Indulgence,
In America there was lille luxury ant
less poverty. Labor was the universal
pa sport 20 independence.
The FfeDch people were uniformed
Ire American were enlightened.
FinaRy, IN France, at ths period OF the
revolution, large portion OF The people
were interested III The overthrow of III,
republic; while IN America the whole bc
dy Of The people were deeply iDteresleC
ini,s maintenance.
he different results Of the two revolu.
tons is, perhaps, best resolved by consi
Iteration of,he force ofmeiudice and ha
bit. These powerful principles operated