Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-07-27
can We sdcub. the irresistible weight Of
truth, uader similar advantages

truth, Nndcr similar advaptages!
stbecomes from this consideration du-
~ of 40 light obligation in alLwho possess
the powertv use the means of enlgh,eniag
I the public on this point.--Tbis can only
: be accomplished by uniform conduct and
o by proper explanations and Illustrations
: luninteyruptedlv made. Such are the IN
/ sidiuus aud scduciug charms oil war, and
4 so notent the passion of resentment for III
r iuries, that there is constant tendency in
, nations To abandon conciliatory measures,
, aud to rush into an appeal TO arms. To
check this unreHc6ting spirit, chain the
passions into subordination 10 reason is an
a, duous effort, requiring the constant, VII
sorous and united excriisns of wise and
good men.
I Ifthese remarks be Just, il is at all times
scasoDable, by facts Sc argument, to shew,
not only the general superiority of peace
to war, but likewise the peculiar benefits
which the, United States have derived
from peace, comparing their situation with
that of Europe. There, if We pass in re-
view the different nauons, what do we be-
hold bW prostration Of their liberties, a
destruction OF their happiness and an ex-
tlnceion of their hopes. Never, perhaps,
has that quarter of the globe lowered with
blacker sky, and never has she been the
more afflicted victim of war than during
few past years. To go no further back
than the era of the French revolutions, we
behold at that period, compared with this,
relative elysium. Then the different
nations rested in security. There were
some causes of luminosity among them,
tor the ultimate adjustment of which an
appeal might, perhaps, have been made to
the sword. But, had that been the case,
there was little prospect of the flames of
war being marked by any considerable ex-
tension, producing those dreadful scenes
which have since disgraced The annals of
! humanity and justice. Never did reform
wear brighter aspect than at the com.
mencement oiIha, revolution. The whole
French people, with holy enthusiasm, rose
at one instant from their slumbers, and
nobiy We'd with each other in pdtrio &c sa
crihces 10 liberty and their couatry. I'm.
der these splendid auspices The good work
went on, until the allies, who had receiv
ed no injuries, without cause carried their
arms to the borders OF France, and dared
to invade ground sacred to liberty and hu,
man happiness. Here began to be untold
ed he biosdy scene, which is stIh vivid in
the recollection of the reader. This was
the Pandora box from which ten thousand
plaques instantly rushed into the world.
IL is unnecessary to dwell on The success
slyc acts ofmurder. rapine, and desolat,on
winch covered The grea,er part of i urope.
IL is sufficient, foe our present purpose, TO
observe that not a nation aho rose in arms
against Fsance has not rIed the rashnsss
OF their eonduG. Belgiun, Holland and
i'aiy have sunk into yanquished pYovlncs.,
where personal distress only keeps pace
With national dshcuor. Austria P.u.sia
and Portugal are snbdued into PEI feet in.
significance Russia, secure in her dis
lance, surrounded by her satellites, Swe.
den and Denmark. alone maintains her
station among the pow rs of The carih.-
England, unfortunate England, worthy of
4 better fate, is doomed TO a war, wi,hou.
the prospect Of an end, and TO exerlions
destructive of her peace, her ssfey y, and
her prosperity. With people, towering
IN their habits Of enterprise and Industry,
above all the nations OF the old world we
behold the dreadful spectacle cf more OBJ
pressiye taxes, and more individual dis
tress than is presented by any other natl
on of the earth.
II may be computed, or very mode.
rate estimate, that IN Eurote there are now
under arms two millions of soldiers ar sal
lors, and that their maintenance, with the
incidental expenses Of war, costs the an.
nnal sum oil FIVE hundred millions OF dol
lars. This. then, is so much lost 10 the
stock Of national wealth, independently of
its effects in Withdrawing such large por-
tion of effective men from the plough and
the loom, in leaving so many millions of
wives and children TO the precafious sus.
tenance derived from their own iabors.
and OF the Increased consumption OF those,
who raising nothing themselves, are oc
cuped in destroying the production Of o.
theirs. Who does not perceive that the
inevitable effect Of these things is 70 abedoe
the circle OF innocent enjoyments of The
lower classes Of society, by raising their
value so high as to deny them the means
of obtaining tbeml How different would
be the result if all the effective labor of
communities were dire 6,ed to the produc
ton of articles of utility. There wenId
then be enot,~h ,yhoIeSocae fcod and o,,.,>d