Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-08-23
FROM Tue BOSTON cAzErrE.

FROM THE BOSTON GAZETTE.
Genera! Miranda. In a late English
paper { 6eifS Messsnscr) We find a length
~ article on he character and views OF
gen. Miranda. Our readers have been fur
nished with the more prominent parts OF
the character Of this distinguished adven-
turer but the following extracts, contain,
we believe, course OF remark and obser.
Walton, tha, will 10; be read with indifFer
encc.
" But what is the effect of the present
system OF government in Spain, which is
decidedly crbityary---a government, whose
fundamental principle excludes all, but
the Privileged class from the Offices and
honors of the state. What we say. is The
effec; Of this system upon the other orders
of the people Why simply, that having
nothing 10 look TO as reward they have
no spur as an extraordinary exertion.
1 heir is no effort In The absence Of emu
lauon, and no excellence in the absence
oi effort. The whole mind of The state is
PaisIed: the great remain in incidence,
because they can attain the ordinary OBJ
l-cts of desire w;thou; ezer,ion, and the
lower class will not toll, where their toll
obscnrlty.
"Such is the condition of the Spanish
monarchy al this moment with regard 10
the production of those eminent men
whose aid is so much required in this sea.
son of need.-Will it not appear almost
aparadoX TO say that Spaincan only oc pre-.
served by a revolution yet it is only by
this event tina, her latent powers can be
called for,Ii.-that the dormant and not
eXtinguished spark of her former natl
ona character can be re animated. The
season of peril and high reward will call
this spirit forth. The necessity Of the
time will shake OF those who are inferior
to its demands. Rank and piace,--the
slaves of court or a minister--the gene.
rails Of parade and admirals &C o9icio,
must then retire and make room for me-
Tit Of more efficiency.
The monopoly Of Spain, and The reeu.
laiions 10 which, in common with every
other parent country, she has SUBJECTED
her colonies, has long hung a heavy yoke
upon the necks of the colonis,s. The
weight Of this yoke has not been aleviated
by the sense OF the superiority of The mo-
Their country. The cooItisls have not the
consolation that their servitudc is the tri.
butte for their protection:--as incapable
OF protecting as governing them, the mo-
Their country hangs a dead burthen upon
her colonies. Like hnchiscs, in the ia
bic, she is supported on the back Of her
children, but her children, unlike E.neas,
are not much pleased with the weight.
In the language OF the same fable, traves
fed &c they E1p bon, 4 h.. 81.
off The old woman"
"Thus tits at present. s, thus has il long
been, with Spain and her colonies. Her
claim to the monopoly must be urged up.
on her former services, and no. upon her
present ptotec,oD. But il is the PERSIA.
sion OF The colonies that this debt of for
mer protection has been paid off by former
seyyitude, and lha. the service of pro,cc-
ticn having ceased, the colonial rcoie1ifus,
The monopoly andisubj>ciion, should cease
with it. In word, that they shorld be
no longer subjects To power, which can
neither give them an intercourse OF COM
merce to mutual advantage in peace, nor
probable protection in war.
"The independence Of North America
gave birth TO those principles--ihc French
revolution has confirmed them. South
America is now restrained within her ODE
dience by Two bars only--a very weak mi
Iitary force, and a militia already corrup
ted, being in fact but the country itself.
cit was in this situation tn,t gen. Nj
rendo conceived his design of effecling
his fdyorlte purpose.
" lie promised Mr.. Pr that with ten
thousand men he would scour South Anne
rica. and effect her independence. MIR.
IfH listened TO him, but there were two
mpcdmenls---lhc state of our armies,
aud the positive refusal Of gen. Miranda
ithAYe any thing 10 90 with The expcdi-