Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-02

q
| acquire thro' length oftime prescr,p,i,c
Tile To venera,ion. anu become So inter.
woven with the whole texture ur society,
! gerous. Am=rica has had no Stage OF
harbaiisT in her career; sh, presented
IN her commencement; the spectacle of a
nation civilized IN her cradle, and the traits
maturity stamped upon the features OF
| her infant institutions.
| Let us now hasten 10 the rsilcaions
presented by that cvsntf,il period OF our
history when ;hc Claim Of unlimited taxa.
ton made by the British government pro.
duced the event which we now conime-
moratt. a people who have not refieGl-
ed nationally on the nature otgovernment,
never iaok forward TO prospective danger.
They are only goadrd 10 cesistanc1 by
the actual suffering OF into!crable oppres.
sion, and revolutions thus produced are
attended with crimes equally d'sgracccui
To the oppressors and the oppressed.
With regard to the American people the
amount Of real injury sustained was in.
considerable but they knew that the un-
limited power of taxing the labor and in.
dus,ry Of man, vas one OF The most aw-
fui apPcndagcA of sovereignty, they recol-
lecled that the abuse OF il had been in all
ages and countries, the most productive
| source Of human calamity, and that such
abuse Is inevitable whenever il is inirust-
cd to any other hands than those of the
| responsible agents Of the people.
In the con!lcl which ensued, humani.
ty cannot reproach America with any of
those crimes which wars of ambition and
conquest so often present, nor is the wer
of her revolution signaIized by any of
those splsnd,d achievements of military
prowess, which dazzle the imagination
| and invest the horrors of war VII h f.l.e
and deiusive glory. In fact there is no
subject Oil which the welfare OF society
SO imperiously demands radical change
OF pubic opinion on that of war. A
war should be only undertaken to accom-.
pish some great national purpose which
will justify the sacrifice OF every thing but
independence, il should be entered on as
on an ACT OF direfui necessity, * conduct.
ed with gloomy, and desperate dctermina-
ton. Above all IL is essential that the sa-
critce of wealth and enjoyment should be
general throughout he community, in Of
der that while the nation suffers all the c.
wis, privations and indigence arising from
paralyZcd industry and ruined commerce,
! the favorites of power rn..y no be permit,
ted to enrich themselves by the traffic Of
blood and to harvest on the nliseries of
their country. Whehever the extension
OF commerce. he acquisition of glory or
oil wealth ave the motives which ignp=l to
war, it is fraught with mischief TO The vic.
tors as we'll as The vaDquished, and despo-
tisnl will batten CT, the spoiIs OF both.
1t weSuppose superior being to look
down on he affairs Of men. or to take any
part IN their Contests, il is only such
wartdre as America was waging with The
! disciplined hi:eIings Of despo,isrn, that he
can be supposed 10 view with cotspiacen-
| cY or favor. Never should il be forgot
ten that the American people ihin!y dis
! persed over wide continent, without mi
iiiary discipline or experience, without a
! pubic treasury or government compe-
! tent TO direc their movements and con-
cen,rate their strength, when all the
sources of profitable employ ment for in.
dusIry and capital were dried up, submit
ted 10 voluntary p:yation of all those TO-
reign injuries which habit had rendered
essential 10 their comfort and encounter
ed fatigue. hnreer, the inclemencies Of
seasons, and the dangers Of battle.
The most interesting point of view in
whsch The war OF the revolution can be
considered, is that its objeG was accom-.
| p.ished by the spontaneous efforts of a
people who by being accustomed 10 the
! enjoyment OF freedom, were sensible Of
/ lis blessings and knew what sacrifices they
ought to make in its support. When
thas considered it affords practical! re.
!n;aiion OF those dogmatists who would
coniound the strength Of ars,ion with The
energy ot her government. measure her
wealth by the fUncss Of her treasury, Or
the extent OK hcc resources by thar os her
commerce. From HENCE tyrants may
learn that oppression by weakening the
at;acAnien; of people 20 tIIeir co0ntry
and Their government, weakens one ofihe
strongest pillars ofIheir Powe~.
Some persons Rave been induced, from
a Supposed ansiogy TO the republics of an
/ uqUi'Y, to make uniavorat1e presages Of
the destiny Of on? own. Dul il affords
pleasing prospect, at the same time that
! it serve to STRENGTHEN orr Att ac,Iroeuf Ia