Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-29

: their new settlements. The former wcri
! temporary caianities, fatal to individuals
!. the latter was permanent evii, which
with gradual consumption, wasted the ma
: ton. When the provinces of Mexico and
Peru were divided among the conquerors
each was eager TO obtain district, from
which he might expect an instantaneous
recompence for all his services. Soldiers,
accustomed to the carclessness and dissi.
patton of a military life, had neither in
ldus,ry to carry on any plan Of regular cul.
tivation, nor patience 10 wait for its slow
bur certain returns. Instead of settling in
the vallies occupied by the natives, where
I the fertility IT tue soil would have amply
rewarded the diligence ofthc planter, they
chose to fix their stations in some of the
mountainous regions, frequent both liz
New Spain and in Peru. To search for
mines of gold and silver, was the chief OBJ
ject of,tbeir activity. The prospects which
this opens, and the alluring hopes which
II continually presents correspond wonder
fully with the spirit of enterprise and adj
venture that animated the first emigrants
| TO America in every part Of their conduct.
In order to push forward those favori.e
projects, so many hands were wanted, tina,
the service of the natives became indis-
| Pensabiy requisite. They were according
/ iy compelled to abandon their ancient ha
citations in the plains, and driven in
crowds to the mountains. This sudden
transition from the sultry climate of the
vallies, to the chill penetrating air peculi-
ar to high lands in the torrid zone; exor-
bitant labor, scanty or unwholesome nour-
ishment, and the despondeDcy occasioned
by species OF oppression to which they
saw no end, affected them nearly as much
as their less Industrious countrymen in
the islands. They sunk under the united
pressure OF those calami,ies, and melted
away with almost equal rapidity. 10 con-
sequence of this, together with the intro.
ducton of the small pox, snaIady TN.
known in America, and extremely fatal to
the natives, the number of people both in
New Spain and Peru was SO much redu-
ced, that in few years the accounts of
their ancient population appeared almost
Incredible"
Mr. JEFFERsoN.--It has been report
ed, and It is to be believed, from the mo.
derate department Of Mr.. Jefferson, and
from concurring ideas, snat he will have
! the magnaoisnlty to decline the continu.
ance OF the high Office of President of the
United Staes, at the expiration of hi. pre-
sent s5iemn engagement to the nation.
Although this act of public virtue should
be regis cred as brillian, instance OF self.
denial, even in the career oran honorable
aud phiIanthropic ambition we find, from
miserable conviction, that even dispose.
ton TO recede from the well. manaeed ai,-
1 thori.y, cannot silence the ca,umnie. of
those arrogant and ambitious men, who
i are slsepiess in their endeavoss 10 annihi-
late our civil AID religious liberties Be.
fore this generous disposition was in cur
rency, he was charged with an insatis,.
desire OF power: now it has become pro.
!. babie, that he will nubIy loiego that pow
IN oppos,ucu 10 he common voice o.
! his grsiefui country F; the angln-iede raj fac,
ton are but changing the toae otlhe,r OBJ
ioquy, ana Charge that 20 his policy which
is only cognizabe, by his honor and tru!h
What shall We urge 10 these inexorabis
enemies of human right and happiness
What argument can we urge to remove
the sting of their unworthy preiudices j?
MIR. Jeffcrson's offences towards the tories
OF the United States consists in the uni
formity of his labors to sas,ain the glory
OF his fellow citizens, who are the leeiti
mate objects of his government and for
this benevolent consistency his political
enemies will never forgive him while he
smiles OH them so unfortunately true is
the maxim of Dryden
forgiveness to toe INJURED does belong:
ds Toe, ne'er pardon rObo bzue done TIE ,prong.
To have Reihodised, extended and con.
solldated the freedom of his country is
the least of his merits. He has gained
the empire of opinion He has proved to
an admitting world and his gralefulf fellow
citizens, that he lives to enligbten and sof
ten the condition OF the human race I,
make his Official authority subordinate e
the happiness OF others and while the
shafts of calumny are Hying about hi
deathless name, he journeys onward to
glorious Immortality, evincing the folly o
: his enemies in the triumph Of his cherac
r ter.
The superstition Of his conditional offe
: TO fll more uninportant department {
the state, in succeeding administratio,
has not escaped the tooth of mal;c,
r WIN ran - f.,f.f.-