Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-25

! raj, Just & beneGccnt intentions, wby did
! they not give examples of these sen,i.
men,s and designs in cases where they
would be unopposed! why did they no,
turn their eyes upon Poland, upon India,
upon Ireland, and upon the ocean? In this
wide scope, they would have found ample
opportunities To prove TO all the world thai
they honestly believed that the war which,
! they waged against France was dictated
by philosophy, justice and necessity, and,
as they pretended, for the security aud
happiness OF, the world.
! Far different was the condu6 Of the
confederates. No ray of hope was afford
ed in any of these important relations so
that while this mighty project against
France was going on, and ready to burst
with tremendous explosion, The chains
OF slavery and subjuga.ion were forged a.
new, and the peaceful enterprises of the
ocean were not only disturbed, but forbid
den.
1t will be answered that the confedera.
ton was formed, not against France, but
against Bonaparte. Poor, pi,iful subtsr.
fnge!! What more is Bonaparc than an
elected chief, whose distinguished talents
and matchless achievements whose pub.
| lie and private character procured for him
the distinction and elevation which he
| holds ~
How could it be otherwise Late in
the year 1898, Bonapar,e. by the in,rigues
of traitors, was compelled 10 abandon his
native island, Corsica. where he lived in
| retirement; he sought and received en-
1 MI vr INF 4, 4
and heroism soon gave him celebrity |;
rank ensued, and his deeds have surpassed
all example. The popularity and pow yer
Of this extraordinary character, has not,
nor does not derive its support from any
other source than the conviction which
exists in The mind Of every Frenchman,
that he deserves the nations confidence
and gratitude. Nor is there FrencAman
who does not well knew that the combined
nation, tho said 10 be against Bonaparte,
was against France.
| These things ere known to all the world;
and although every Tyro in history
viii be compelled to acknowledge them,
yet they make leap over ali that is true,
reasonable and just, and endeavor to de-
stroy their victims with the ialons of ca
lumny; and to heighten the picture of in
justice, they attempt to- canoni1e some OF
the tyrants and oppressors of the present
age, Among these, Louis the 10Th has
| been represented as a mere model of v;r-
tue and benevolence, and that, as a punish.
mcnt for his dsa,h, not only all French
men who then existed, but all who have
borne part in any of the subsequent e.
vents, and above all, Bonaparte ought to
be destroyed. They say that Bonaparte
is tyrant, and at the same instan; declare
that sanguinary and regicide France, as
they are pleased 10 express themselves,
deserves 10 be ruled with rod ofiron. If
they are in earnest in these declarations,
then Bonaparte is the man OF all I ne world
whom they ought most TO respect, and for
whose preservation they ought to confede-
rate, until the French people shall be suf-
RECENTLY scourged; such is The paradoxi-
cal nonsense which is daily uttered andre
echoed.
Strange, indeed, if Bonaparieis tyrapt,
that among the mighty hosts whom he has
commanded in different quarters of the
globe in so many battles, aud in all the
stages and events of reviews, marches,
''"' bot OnC more Su-
perialiyeIy wicked than all The rest, has
been found TO strike the foremost man of
all me 7oorid, and tins enrol his murder
Gus name high in The annals of infamy.
To restore the Bourbons, TO reiHstate
sthe ancient privileges, and to Cover eman-
cipated France with new terrors and
chaIns-these were the projects of the
hunbied coalitions. & these are the things
Tor which those who weep over the tri.
umph OF BonapaTte, the battle of Aus,er-
iitz, and The treaty of Presburg, give way
10 groans, signs and tears. if the delu.
ded enthusiasts, retailers and trumpeters
OF these erroSs and creeds, believed in an
hundrsath part of the miseries, 10 which
lbs degraded and oppressed peasantry Of
FRANCE were formerly exposed, they would
turn away from these erroneous opinions
wilh shame and modification, and would
consider. no, only Bonapafte, bnt all others
who contributed to oppose or prevent The
restoration Of the ancient order Of things,
as the benefaclors Of mankind. AS it does
not Eel! 10 the lot of all who read news.
papers, TO be acquainted with the history
OF nations, few examples illustrative of
these truths will now be given.
n