Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-24
From the RALnIcH IN. c.) Rxersrrs.
ESSAY on LIBERTY.

to MAN. Ii is as much his nalural right
as the afr he brea,ics, and is equally es.
sential to his bappIness---alas how few in
this whole world enjoy ,h, ines,mable
blessing 10 the purity with which Heaven
bestowed it.
ANCIENT governments afford no pleas.
ing retrospect 10 the friends OF IRE. dam.
C,viiiza ion began first in tile east: and
@ere was human Kind Erst subject to di.
gested laws and regular goverDments--
The ioha5itsn,s Of China boast of indeh-
mite antiquity, and succession Of Princes
unparalleled in tbs history of nations; but
Their history is the annals of slavery, and
their long race of Kings the succession of
despoism and oppression.
! Eggtt renowned FOR it's sages, visited by
the wise OF every nation, left no model of
a sound political constitution 10 the world :
she was governed!by arbitrary princes and
ancient WISDOM crouched before the throne
OF despotism- The Greciaa republic were
not favorable to LIBERTY. Under the
name OF Republics the most oppressive a.
ristocracies existed in Greece. The whole
policy OF Rome was system of oppression,
conquest and slavery. A few within the
gates of the city were free, but alas for hu-
man nature, they wantoned with the free
dom OF the word and sought to subjugate
other nations. Asia and Africa afford
no political beauty, the outlines Of which
could give pleasure 10 The friends OF free
dom.
10 what part of EuRotE shall we turD
to see the pure flame ofti5erty, unqucnch-
ed by arbitrary power, and fiscal opprcs.
slcns' Spain preserves the 7amc culd,
basbarous character, As when she expelled
the Moors. The sacred spiric of freedom
Is unknown there, aud cannot therefore he
cherished Switzerland, the fary-iand al
nhope, has los, that hardy spirit OF iods-
Pendcnce, wnich eucircied her name with
glory, aud which amidst the s;erility of
her mountains reyerberated the nan.E OF
iELL and rendered her citizens an enyia.
bic people. The Grand Maroon mas s.ss-
iui,aied the country, and overturned the
government. Batavia, spiii,iess aud de.
Jec'ed ieeis no !onge- the snimatirg poo
ers OF industry, since the fruits ot u ar.
subject TO the coDtroul Of their new mas
les Could the Intrepid Grofias look down
upon his country, bitter and aeoaizino
would be his feelings. FRAscs,yas once
and IS again the vielin of fanaticisrn and
ambition. All, what nov aYaiIs the ocean.
OF human blood, the mass Of human han
plness which was shed and devoted in the
sacred cause ofIibertys NAroLEoH mor-
despoiic tban the Bourbons or Cape,s, will
weigh down the energy of France, and
freedom there will sink into eternal sleep.
BRITAIN was long the boast of freemen,
and the model of political wisdom, and her
constitution was considered the acme of
every thing great and glorious in the sci
ence OF government. Even Britain the
:, proud Queen of Isles" must at some PC
rod, perhaps not very remote, fall from
her zenith, under the incaicuIable accumu-.
lation of her d-bfs. Increase of taxes Nill
yet keep her buoyant, but who can safely
how long this modern Csr,bspe
VIII preserve her ascepdency among the
European nations, Tine is his raojd bat
destructive flight has swepr away the pa
trotic host who guarded the constitution.
Her RaGpdens, Sidneys, LoclSes and Mil.
tors sleep in the dust, and future histori-
ans shah write the Decline and Fall of Bri.
tain.
Sic transis gloria mmidi.
w mere then shall We turn Tor a model Of
Freedom and Happiness! Happy, thrice
happy America On your favored shores
are realized those theories of political pros
perity, and general happiness, which be
tore your emancipation was considered as
Utopian. Hail to those veterans who
laid the Foundation for such a structure OF
national honor. At Washington's name
that of Cesar loses its lustre. The first
warrior IN the world who Obtained power
and dssdained to use Il mfrQherly. Let
grateful recollection embalm his glorious
narseI Nor shsli Immortal Pranklin be
forgotten on his grave let the friend OF
freedom and science strew the most fra
gran, flowers OF the Western continent.
Whilst freedom shall animate tie mini
orelectric FIRE dart from The clouds, Frank
Inns name shall be reyered.
Happy Americans, who AZ shis distance
from your revolutionary efforts expert
ence every blessing which the sApguine
mind car hope for, or which humanity can
enjoy. Best with Chief Magistrate
whose every effort is directed TO promote
the honor and happiness of his country,