Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-05-20
FROM THE TRENTON 4RUE AMERICAN.

vernment III wnich The People exercise me
supreme authority, are denounced by MO-
narchIAts and AristocraIs as "new lang ed
doctrines. Ale ERNoN SIDNEY, WHO
was sentenced TO death by the Infamous
JeftrIes, and executed by the minlons oi
Charles the Second, held these pImcin.es,
maintained them In manner which Lut
ali the Champions OF Monarchy at defiance.
and sealed his love oftuem with his blood
principle count in his Indictment, was
TOR having asserted in his writings that the
power OF Government was originally III the
People-that 1t was but delegated Dy them
to their ruiers-that those rulers we're ac-
coumtable to the Peop.e for their use OF this
power, &c."MILToN,p possessed and adj
vocated the same principles.
he sc 'tence pronounced by Je6rics is
so characteristic of the worse than savage
baroarlty OF Kings and their creatures, and
their heliiah spirit OF revenge against tnose
who endeavor to restore to the Peupie
their just rights, liberties, and happiness,
that we cannot decline copying it
Sentence Of Je6'rieS on Col SIDNEY.
That you be carr. ed hence to the place
"from whence you came, and from thence
"you shall be drawn on hurdle to the
"piace OF execution, where you shall he
"hahsed by the neck, and being alive cut
"down; your privy members shall be cut
"oit and burned before your face; your
"head severed from your body, and your
"body divided into four quarters and they
"to be disposed at the pleasure of the
"king, &c.
SIDNEY's behavior on receiving this
horrid sentence, was such as a Renub'i-
cans ought always to be-frm, inflexible.
and consistent. His sentiments were those
ot true and faithful patriot. When
the sentence was delivered he exclaimed
=" Then o God q God beseech thee
"to sanctify these suffering. unto me, and
"impute not my blood to the country. nor
the city through which am to be drawn
let no inqusition be made for it bnt If
ANY, and the shedding of blood that is in
''nocent must be revengcd, let the weight
''of 1T fall upon those that maliCiously per
secure me tor righteousness sake"
H. [. J.Jc1rfes SCI pray God work in
"y0u temper fit to go INTO the other
world, Tor l see YOU are not fit for this"
Cot' Mdney.-"My Lord, feel my pulse
:" n iding out his hand] and see if ] am
u'S"rlered u bless God never was III
"better temper than am now"
SIDNEY was not less determined in HE
principles after his condemnation, than be-
fore. He Introduced his Apology. ,, which
was written IN prison, with the following
paragraph -
"Being ready to die under an accusati-
on OF many crimes, ! thought fit to leave
thIs as testimony unto the world, that. as
mad from my youth endeavoreG to uphold
me common rights of mankind, the laws
OF TINS land, and the Protestan, religion,
against corrupt principles, arbitrary pow.
er ana popery, / do now Willingly law
down my life for the same and having n
sure witness within me, that God doth alb.
solve me, x upho d me in the utmost extre-
m ties, am very little soiicitous though man
doth condemn me-"
An authentic anecdote of Sidney will
serve to illustrate the independence and
intrepcdity of his mind 90 While IN a
state of exile from his native country in
France, he was one day hunting with the
klng' ana being mounted on a fine ENGLISH
horse, whose form and spirit caught the
KING eYe' he received a message that he
would p ease to obligc the king with his
morse at his own price He answered that
ne did not choose to part with him. The
KING determined to have no denial RAVE
orders To tender him the money, or seize
the horse; which being made known to
9.uhey' ne instantly took pistol and shot
''"' 'fl "IS1 tDdt MS morse was born free
creature, had served a free man. s. sbouId
notbe mastered by king Of slaves"
Before S1DNFT was sacrificed bv the
HIoHarchiSfs of England, they had succeed
cd as John Adams tells US, in rendering
the name of RehubHcan GO as unamiable nc
witch, blasphemer, rebel. or a tv- |
rant. WHEN the Monarchists of mir
country can render the name of Reppbli-
can mere as odious as Adams saws Il was
rendered by its enemies in England. sncb
Republicans as SIDNF7, and indeed many
thousands less distinguished than him. NAV
expect to suffer his fate-apd appearon.
ces deceive us If there might not be found |
drunken Je6ries to wreak the vengeance !
OF besotted and infnriate monarch. and |
cement his lettering throne with tine blood |
OF the best patriots of the nation.
Russia is the mos; barbario,s- p,.,,..;.
the most A,hcistical,- and Eugyy,,J ,bc
most oppressive and bloody Government
IN modern Europe-yet these Government
are the fdvorites Of our FederqEsys--ror
these they pray, they write, and would wi
Ingly cmbroil their country in var
From such aLfes may providence in ite
mercy long preserve us