Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-07-15

Wnocould at the call OF their country, cheer
fully relinquish those labors for the tented
held and exchange the sweetness and Sc.
renity of domestic enjoyment, for the din OF
battle and the claDgor of war. This was
no effort of enthusiasm bursting forth in an
immense display of momentary, but inca
pa5le of steady and uniform exertion it
/ was no flash of lightning.
, "That in spleen unfolds both heaven
and earth,
But ere man has time to say, behold 20
IS dissipated and lost forever. 1t was the
deliberate. settled purpose of a generous
VlrtuouS people, resolved to maintain that
national character and those national rights,
which they had been compelled to assume,
by the unwarrantable claims of govern
ment, with which it had been their delight
to he connected.
For eight long years, the great mass of
the people steadily supported conflict,
which was marked throughout its course
by every species ofrrivation and of suffer-
ing. With all the ports of our extensive
coasts blockaded, the rich productions of
our bountiful soil could no longer be exchan-
ged tor the manufactures ofthe other quar-
ter otthe world commerce no longer pour
ed her wealth into our lap, or furnished those |
convenlenceS whichhabit had converted in |
to the neceSSaries of life. Labor was no |
longer stimulated by its usual encourage |
ment, and honest industry lost its Just re- |
ward. To increase Sle calamities of that |
disastrous period, malignant enemy in the !
very bosom of our country, carried fire, de-
VISITATION, and death, into almost every part |
OF 1t. Our towns, our villages, were devo- |
ted to the Hames-and the humble cottage, |
not less than the edifce of wealth, was in |
volved IN the general ruin. Yet through
q fhaCn
lngiorlous sentiment was permitted to es-
cape America. However desirable peace
might be, only safe and honorable peace
could be accepted. To have bartered the
dignity of our country for Individual safety,
to have trahcked away her national rights
Tor domestic ease, to have given up one iota
J OF her independence for the restoration of
| any personal qualifications, was unworthy
| of the hardy patriotism of the age, and
would have doomed to infamy, the man who
could have proposed it.
Even that sex, which seems formed to
| sweeten the fiercer passions, and to soften
| the most rugged manners of man; which
! seems best calculated tcembelliSh, to adorn,
tohumanize the world which shrinks from
danger, and persuades by gentIeness par
! took of the general hrmness, and particle
| pated in the general suffering They exhi-
ing resolution, which would have shamed
! into courage, men, intimidatcd by the dan
| gers of the conflict, and terminated those
/ who were worn out by long course of in
! dividual sacrifices. They relinqushed e.
very personal ornament witaout sigh, and
knew not that they became more lovely by
doing so. They yielded without a murmur
every luxury to which they had been accus-
toned, and travelled with gay and spright-
ly steps along the toilsome path which
conducted America to independence.
While the American army, surrounded
with difficulties almost insuperable, MAIN
tanned, with mistaken fidelity and uncon-
! querable courage, the arduous conflict in
I which their country was engaged, the ST.
news of war were cut, the funds of the ma
ton gave way; and it was confidently be-
lieved by those, who founded their calcula-
tions on the ordinary character ofman, that
troops, half famished, half naked, and I'M
paid, would at length withdraw their sup
port from cause, in defending which so
many Ills were to be encountered. But these
: calculators, estimated by wrong standard,
the principles and motives of those from
whom this conduct was expected. An ex-
: allied love of country, a high sense Of natl
onal dign ty, an enthusiastic devotion to ma
tonal independence, had induced them to
assume the military character and no tolls,
no sufferings, no dangers, could induce them
to lay 1t down, till their object was obtain
ed.
Brave and disinterested patriots Never
shall your services be forgotten A CRATE
: ful country will recollect them, and will
rejoice to honor herself by bestowing her
; honors upon you.
AT the head Of this band of heroes, we
behold a Chief marked out by heaven as the
saviour Of his country. Endowed with e.
very quality Of mind and body, which could
fit him for the arduous conflict he conduc
4 ted the destinies Of his country were pla-
ced in his hands, and he exhibited, i'm ST.
tuations the most difficult and the most res
: pousiblc, those rare virtues and talents,
j which the occasion most emincntly requir-
. ed. interpreting without rashncss, firm
without severity, persevering without OBJ
> stinacyj IN him, courage and caution were
o so happily blended that neither could OBJ.
= tain the ascendancy, but each appeared tC
i rule as the public interests required The
d hrumess Of his mind diffused itself over hi,
: countenance and when he presented him
u self 60 his admiriug soldiers, they were
% ready to believe, in Contradiction ~ thcr
Z own senses, that some great advantage wa
20 at hand. View him, with an army redu
'e cedby battle, by disease, or mistaken pc
y Icy, to mere handful, and even in this 81
tuation, he was formidable. His mind, In
:, stead Of bewailiug misfortune, was employ