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

Infantry Blues, which zye Publish with
Pleasure, az the request Of that Comha-
ny.
fietlo7v Cou,,tryn,en, -
/ ONCE more, the revolving year brings
round the important day OH which the peo-
pie of America, declared themselves indie
pendent, and took their place among the
nations of the earth. Throughout this wide
extended empire, from the st. Crox TO the
ISt. Mary's, and from the Atlantic to the
Mississippi, our fellow-citizens assemble to
commemorate an event equally glorious and
interesting, and TO manifest the Joy vet
glowing in every bosom at the successful
termination Of conflict, commenced on
principles the most exalted, and continued
with hrmness the most infeNiblG. Long,
VERY long, may we continue to rejoice, and
! 20 feel all those motives FGr lautuai gratu~
iation, which ought to animate egesy bo-
som.-Long may we behold in oHtSSlves,
one united, happy people; in possession of
a fertile, extensive, undimiuished terrific
ry; enjoying all the blessings of real liber-
! ty, OF mild and equal laws enacted by our
selves, thro' the medium of governments of
our own creation. This is, and this will
be the happy condition of our common coun-
TRY, so long as our own conduct be calcula-
ted to preserve it, SO long as we remain sa-
crcdly observant of the rights of others, and
taCtiyely vigilant in :he maintenance of our
Town. America alone can throw away A
merican happiness; and it is not among the
least of our advantages, that the United
States, if true to themselves, have nothing
to fear from others.
| The human mind on some occasions, &C
lquires a sublime grandeur at other times
unknown to it; and, as il elevated to the
height of the object it pursues, displays
vigor, and manifests an energy, of which in
lordinary situations, it would seem incapa-
tble. One of these great occasions was on
the day we celebrate /; and 1t is impossible
to contemplate the circumstances attending
it, without feeling for The actors in the in
Iteresting scene that exalted and enthusiast
tic admiration, which actions, far above the
ordinary level of human achievement, can
alone produce. ~,.
Britain had closed a long and bloody war,
in which she had triumphed over the grea-
ttest potentates of the Garth, and had torn
from their unwilling hafsds an immense ter
ritory which served 70 swell and TO secure
her own extensive dominons. France and
Spain had sunk beneath her arm. She had
unfolded powers, and displayed military ta-
Tents not before attributed to her. Her ar
mics were deemed invincible, her fleets CO.
vered, and trumphed in every ocean, and
her resources appeared inexhaustible. In
no part ofthe habtable globe was her pow
er more respected, or her military capaci-
ty held in higher estimation than in Ame-
RIGA. We had ourselves contributed to ga
Their the laurel with which she was crown
ed, and to entwine the wreath which en-
circled her brow.
In this state of things, a claim was ad-
vanced, which we believed, conscientious.
ly believed, to be incompatible with our Ii
berries, and subversive of our rights. 4
few gloomy years of irritating alteration,
demonstrated that this claim, however un.
. righteous, must be submitted TO, or repel-
led by the sword. Such had been the con-
ncCtion between the mother country anC
: her colonies, that this unexpected change
. of affairs, found us without arms, without
soldiers, without ships, without revenue, 8,
. dependent on annual importations from Bri
ltain for the very cloths which were to shielC
us from the frosts of winter and the PERM
cious influence of our summers sun.
Could it be believed that in this defence
less state, infant America would dare L
G take up the gauntlet thus haughtily thrown
down by this gigantic champion, and en-
;. tering the lists alone, match herselfin sin
gle combat with the mistress of the deep
L had almost said the mistress of the world
y Yes, she did dare, she greatly dared t
enter into the tremendous conflict. Wher'
is the American, whose pulse does not bea
Thigh at the recollection of it, who is no
proud of the fame of his country, and wh
does not feel ennobled by the manly resolu
tion then taken to preserve our rights, o
to perish with them II is thus, and thu
alone, that national grandeur and nationa
5 safety, arc to be obtained. BY daring unde
such circumstances to contend for self go
vernment, America showed herself worth
y to be free and the courage which promp
ted her to engage in the enterprise, was
sure pledge of its successful issue.
s. Never can we Sufficiently admire thos
> enlightened patriots, who, at 50 much ma
= Yard to themselves, in the early stages {
- the war, saw the storm thicken around then
p beheld the tightening fiashj and heard TN
thunder roar, but refused to seek shelte
10 from its violence by means humiliatiHg [
themselves or injurious to their posterit,
Wonderfully maganimous was the resolt
ton taken BY America, unfinished wit
the means of war, and having no other r,
lance than the courage Of her sons, TO joi
70 in the appeal of heaven and the sword
le meet with mistaken fortitude the pressuI
w of varied and multiplied calamity and
=, spurn the inglorious idea of purchasing ea,
~ and security, by the abandonment or h,
national character
Turning our eyes from the sages who pr
sided in our councils. with what pride a.