Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-27

| this description had suic;ent discernmen,
| aud magnanimity 70 ScOrn coalition Wit,
! 50 unprincipled traitor. Gen. Hamilton
! was attached TO monarchicll government,
out he was sincere and avowe1 in his de-
claration of it, he was ambitious, but would
not have sought the qualification of his am
b'tioa ut the expense of humanity, s. by the
CON mission OF crimes the most l0athsome
, and disgraceful. For publicly declaring
, that Burr was unfit to be trusted, (which e.
very one now admits To De the fact) the an
nails OF private combat were eternally dis
, honOred bv the assassination of Hamilton.
And IN what armor, Oh reader, do YOU sun
pose that this mock chevalier and would-bc
, Emperor, aCcoutred himself when he went
TO the field b! 1t was not in armor of steel
like the Knights of romance, nor in one of
brass like HOmer's heroes, but a coat of
mail composed of substance called silk
{ Uetpef, which rs supposed to possess Won
derful efficacy in turning a pistol bullet.
Burr may be man of courage, but he dis
played none OF il in the assassination ofHa-
milton he may be great but his intrirues
have furnished evidence only of Cunning
Therefore both his courage and the great
ness OF his talents are uncertain But he
has given unequivocal proofs thar he is i
| hypocrite, and it is certain that he is not a
HERO.
| Ii should be recolIected too that Caesar,
! cromwell and Bonaparte, had rendered the
! most iliustrious services to .heir respective
| countries, and almost seemed to have won
the empire by the splenCor oftheiratchiev-
ments, rather than to have seized it bv
| fraud or violence. / can never consent to
compare such men, with a petty larceny
conspirator like Burr. The fate OF Cea-
sar falling beneath the daggers of conspira-
tors, is calculated to excite emotions of
sympathy and regret; it has been deemed
a proper subject for tragedy but who will
weep if Burr should be hanged?
1t is now 10 be hoped that the political
quacks will cease to c!amor about 4 want
OF energy III the government. Ifthev wonld
enjoy a government suitable to their wishes,
let them emigrate to France or Russia.
where the bayonet or the knout, the tlunpe-
ons OF Paris, or the mines Of Siberia, furnish
eJeetuAl antidotcs against conspiracy and
! rebellion. Republican government is now,
not beautiful in theory on&,: the experi-
ment made in America, has proven conclu-
slveiy, that a government founded on the
VIII OF the people and consulting ONLY the
| general welfare, needs no stronger support
| than the affections Of the people. The A.
merlcan revolution was effected without the
| AID OF government, and since that peri
od, we nave witnessed enc actual insurrec-
uon,' crushed in ITS commencement, and 4
! meditated one, stifed in its birth by the en-
el'sy OF the people and not Of the govern
! ment. No sooner was it officially announ-
ced, in the year 1894, that the western
counties Of Pennsylvania were in state OF
lnsurrection, than three ofthe states only,
! furnished an army of IS, COO men, who re-
pared with cheerfulness aud alacritv TO the
| scene OF disturbance, and what renders the
tact mere valuable, Is, that the law which
they went to enIJrcc, was an obnoxious one
At this time we behold a man who has
lust descended ircm the sccond station in
the United States, as soon as his machina-
tons are discovered, becoming a vagabond
md an outlaw, and this without extendine.
the csercive arm of government.
1t would AFFORD matter Of the most scri-
Gus regret, Il we could see in these recent
occurrences, any ground for augmcntin-
the permanent military force in the wes-
tern Country, according to the opinion which
has been advanced by an eminent states.
man on the floor Of Congress. On the con-
trary we believe that the commander OF =
numerous army on the Mississippi, would
possess power over the liberty and neace
lofthc country, which ought not to be cntrus-
ted to any individual. Let us suppose \ case
which in the course of time might actually
occur, that the chief Of an army stationed
on the Mississippi, should attempt the ex-
ecution OF scheme similar to that which
has been Droiected by Burr, and should
bring the army into his measures, We Shouts
then have tn encnuncer dangers really for.
midabie, the union would be in serious leo
pardy, and government of energy MIGHT
be the consequences. Let us not commit
our rights and liberties to the custody OF
armies, until the people have shewn them
selves unfit to be their guardians.
BRUTUS.