Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-10

consequences by the obvious state oil
things and the necessary operation C.
mears and motives upon the human cha
understanding to be originals in the very
moment that they are miserable imifators
--iorsaking facts and pursuing WITNESSES.
In the individual concerns of one royal
or imperial ruler we feelno more interest,
a. republlcans, than in khe cause of the o.
Their.
To us, as observers and Americans, the
fate or the defeat--of Francis or Nafoieon
lis 40 more interesting than the fate of
Alexander the great or Alexander the cop.
persmi,h-we view them with the eve of
impartial history Gas far as our humble la.
cu5rations can aspire 10 such designate
on y and we treat of their negotiations,
coalitions, treaties, battles, stralagems and
defeats, in the same temper and with the
same sorrow for human misery, as we
feel In perusing the eyentful histories of
apcient war.iois--and ancient ambition.
We see the rival powers of Europe las
we have read Of those of antiquity, a6tIat-
ed BY srnehdr passions, apd-dscover am ex
! traordinary similitude in their madness
and their follies, the fall of the sggressors
and the tirumphs of the iassaiied - ~ lille
| we cannot alter or avert their fate, We learn
useful lessons for reflection by the compa
r'son-we look directly at the facls-aod
we Judge of them as they are.
Such is the mode in which we view the
sontiicts OF Europe, where their coaflicts
are separate from any influence on our
| own fate and happiness where these IN.
| teresis are involved we cannot be indiffcr.
ent--but neither can we be blinded by The
folly which leads men to deceive Them
selves, into an anticipation OF their own
| wishes, without any olher foundation for
such an anticipation, than those wishes.
We do not expect from any aation sa-
cr'fice OF the political in e, is of that ma.
ton TO us.
We do not expea even partial national
Jovors without reciprocal hartiakty.
Bat while we judge {! ;!h.c operations
which lore gn events may have upon as
We no more consider ourselves at liberty
To abandon facfs, in order 10 Pursue Meo.
T1es-ihan we can consent to think that
Two men. one OF whom h,,s committed rob.
oery, and one rcho has nor, are upon co. al
tefms--and ought equally 10 be feared !;
we cannot Consent TO place professional
bully, upon the same ground with man
| whom that bully wan,oBly and uoptoyok.
edly attacked; nor ~ It to us a sound rea-
son tor tearing The man attacked, because
he had beaten The wanton aggressor.
we Cannot believe, thai any nation
which aspires to the eIclusiue con1asyce of
the world--which must sink 10 the copdi-
lion OF third or fourth rate power, if Thar
IN UersaI nsonofoly is broken down--we
cannot Think that such natioa can, while
she upiolds that system, be sincerely
the friend OF any nation which in.erGeres
with that monopoly or that universal
co,Hmerce.
We cannot believe tina, an ohearchical or
| nfon0rchic0i, or an iDrheriai government,
Can be sincere admirers OF representa-
tive elective democracy.
Neither can we discover how or in what
SHAPE the principles of our government
can be supposed TO b ar the least geia.i oa.
direct or indirect, with the conf cts of the
belligerent powers OF Europe. Htsa ri
dicuious avhimsy--or it is d disregard of the
real facts.
Lett be- supposed that the happy effe6ts
of our principles Of government are OBJ.
Jects OF envy III Euro. e-that the empe
rors and kings OF all sorts and sizes--ths
old breed and The nesv-afe so GliIe salis-
ned with their own systems or so envious
OF ours--wha!is he conclusion 10 b. drawn
from such premises? Are we to consider
| the old Jr1endly and the "a 10 host,ie /; or the
old hostile and the new friendly Would
| not his be The extravaganza of zohimacaf
Igor Sfu/isdliy,
| The faet IS, chat a resort to -rhiuisiee of
this kind, ins.ead Of consulting facts-ls
too often the effect of incapacity--a sub
stitute for well digesied opinion--some-
| times perhaps he result oi an effort To APP
pear original where there is CONSCIOUS.
ness OF .ncompetency TO form any rational
| or sober opinion.
Our form Of government is one Of The
last objects of European consideration, al
this time - Pin indeed bad opsliy declar.
ed that democracy must be huf down
Windian1 did the same SO did GrenYliie /;
democracy in Europe has b. en- indeed pus
down; bat il was done by England, and
England IN oyerthroving democracy has
only prepared the materials by which her
government will be put down. England
L T. -. n