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


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procrastinated in our industry.
nat as i pleased the Deity to place our
ancestors in this part of the Globe where
mere was no opportunity to get instruct-
| ons, but from them, we are to be excused
u We make an error, but are thankful he
mas given us talent, and we wish 10 make
use OF 4, viz. not to bury il in the seas of
Venerable Pater, we hope you will be SO
courteous as to visit our dwelling when
1 You are travelling through our country,
mat We may have the pleasure of YOUR
! company, tor Instance You are capable to
Judge OF our sdvancementsin manufaeto-
/ W, &c.
We are Dear Sir,
respectfully Yours.
! Among the numerous features which
Characterize the policy of the present adj
ministration OF the general government,
there is none that will descend 10 posteri;y
| with more eclat, than the enlightened hu.
mainly anu friendship with which the abo-
rhymes OF the soil are treated. In the
measures pursued for the promotion of
their happiness will be drscerned spirit
! OF pure and active benevolence and in
i the means made use Of tow ards effeefinos
civilisation, will be seen a policy at once
simple and profound, such as circurn.
stances require, but such as has in other
nations never been practsed.
! Hitherto force has usually been embark
ed IN every enterprise for rsclaimine the
savage stale. Let US say conquero,s,
| hrst inspire the sayages with terror, and
then they will lend a willing ear to our adj
wee, and obey our precepts. Little did
these men know of the human bart
Little did they appreciate the stubborn.
ness OF the materials Of which il is formed
before it has learned 10 DOW beneath The
yoke OF usurPalion., Hence all their proud
schemes bsve persisted withon, success /
And .hey have ended, at once. in the de.
strucslon of the innocent and the entire a.
bortion of their hopes.
May the lessons which America teach
es sink deep into the hearts of princes,
and may they learn that hoiicv, no less
than Justice, inculcates the duties Of for
bsarance and mercy.
! IL may add to the interest OF this meri-
| ted tribute to the enlightened policy OF
our government to give short outline,
drawn by the correct pen of Robertson, OF
the very different system pursued by the
Spaniards in planting their colonies in this
! quarter of the Globe. ID.
he first visible consequence of the
establishments made by the Spaniards in,
| America, was the diminution OF the anci.
ent inhabitants to a degree equally asto-
nishing and deplorable. have already,
on different occasions, mentioned! the dis.
! sstrous influence under which the connec.
ton of the Americans with the people oi
our hemisphere commenced, both in the
islands, and IN several parts of the conti-
nent, and have touched upon various eau
ses Of their rapid consumption. Where.
yer the inhabitants Of America had reso.
luton TO take arms in defence Of their
liberty and rights, many persisted in the
unequal contest, and were cut off by their
fierce invaders. But the greatest desoIa-
ton followed after the sword was sheath
ed x the conquerors we're settled in tran.
guilty. Ii was in the islands, and in those
provinces OF the continent which stretch
y from the Gulf Of Trinidad to the confines
of Mexico, that the fatal effects of the
Spanish dominion were first and most sen
/ sibly felt. All these were occupied eithe,
by wandering tribes Of hunters, or by suct
as had made but small progress in cult
walton and industry. When they wer,
compelled by their new masters to TAX,
: up fixed residence, & 10 apply to regula
labor; when tasks we're imposed upor
: them disproportioned to their strength
and were exaeted with unreIenting SIEVE
rity, they possessed not vigsr either o
mind or of body 10 sustain this unusua
load ofoppression. Detection and despai
: drove many to end their lives by violence
Fatigue and famine destroyed more. Il
all those extensive regions, the origiaa
race Of inhabitants wasted away; in SOM
it was totally extinguished. In Mexico
where powerful and martial people dis
J tingushed their opposition TO the Spa
riards by efforts Of courage worthy Of
better late, gress numbers FELL in the field
and there, as we'll as in Peru, still ereate
numbers persisted under the hardships {
attending the Spanish armies in their Va
rious expeditions and civil wars, worn on
! with the incessant toll of Carrying ,bei
baggage, provisions, and military stores.
J " Bot neither the rage nor cruelty {