Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-24


breath, and to which retire with mex.
pressible pleasure. am equally sensible
o. YOUR gooaness in the approving terns.in
which you have made this Communication.
The concurrence of veteran patriot, who,
from the first dawn of the revolution to this
day, has pursued unchangeably the same
honest course, cannot but be fatteriny TO
his fellow lsborers. pray you to accept
The assurances OF my sincere esteem and
respect.
tbs JEFFERSON.
HIS Excellency.
Governor TYLER.
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
VIRGINIA.
/ receive with peculiar sensibility the af.
fectionate address OF the G eneral assembly
Of my native state, on my approaching re-
ttirement from the Office with which have
been honored by the nation at large. Hav.
mg been one of those who entered into pub
| io lie at the commencement of an AGRA the
most extraordinary which the history of
I,nan has ever yet presented to his contemp-
iation, Claim nothing more, for the part
nave acted 10 it, than common merit of
having, with others, faithfully endeavorcd
to do my duty in the several stations ailot,
ted me. In the measures which you are
ipieased particularly to approve, have
been aided by the wisdom and patriotism
| of the national legislature, and the talents
and virtues of the able coadjutors with
whom It has been my happiness to lie as
isociated. and to whose valuable and faithful
services with pleasure and gratitude bear
WITNESS.
| From the moment that, to preserve our
rights, Change OF government became me-,
lCeeearv- n 1ntt,f rOuld hos ~.
a republican form was most coosonant with
treason, with right, with the freedom of
man, and with the character and situation
ct our fellow citizens. To the sincere spi-
rie of republication are naturally associa-
ted the love of country, devotion to its H..
lberty, its rights and its honor. Our prefe-
lrencc of that form OF government has been
$50 far justified by its success, and the pros
lperity with which ithas blessed us. In no
portion OF the earth were life, liberty and
property ever so securely held: and it is
with infinite satisfaction that, withdraw ing
from the active scenes of life, see the
sacred deposit ofthcse blessings committed
I to those wao are sensible OF their value, and
determined 10 defend them.
J IL would have been great consolation
| to have left the nation under the assurance
Off continued peace. Nothing has been spar.
ed to effect it : and at no other peciod of
history would such efforts have failed to
ensure it. For neither belIgereet pretends
TO have been. injured by US, or can say that
we have in any instance departed from the
most faithful neutrality; and certainty
none-will charge us with awant OF forbear.
ance.
! In the desire Of peace, but in full conf
deace of safety from our unity, our post on.
! and our resources, j shall retire into the
bosom OF my native state, endeared TO me
| by every tie which Can attacn the human
heart. The assurances of yeur appreciate
on, and that my conduct has gwen salts
| faction to my fellow citizens generally, will
be an important ingredient in my future
happiness; and that the supreme. ruler of
the universe may have our country under
his special care, will be among the latest
of my prayers.
TIL: JEFFERSON.
Feb. 16, 1909.
When the tories began To threaten n die
solution OF toe union. even Mr. Raodo,Dh
limited, that there were such means Of pun :
ishment as = the knife and cautery''-
now, that surreptitnus majority of the
assembly OF single state, repeats the lam
guage OF the tories, national rights and ius-
tice seem to be forgotten, in submission To
I the demands of faction, that the national
voice alone would be sufficient to crush.
Aurora.
These are days that try mems souls. as
faithfully as days of battle; and the yeo-
manry of the country, look for and expect
the spirit of 17z6, in their delegates. In
that glorious dawn of our existence, If the
representatives Of the colonies had hcsita-
ted 10 their great and necessary underta-
Kings, because there was in every state
tory faction, or because Delaware was in
favor of an adherence to the British Crown
we should now be groveling like the Asiat-
les and Irish, at tue feet Of ruthless ty-
rant yet, in our days, when the success of
our revolution has provoked from our old
task masters, tel times more CALLING abuse
and outrage than ever we experienced when
Icoionies-nen delegated by the indignant
people OF America to express their will.
hesitate between "a total or a partial de-
| graduation of the land
LII the embargo had not Effected its pur-
pose, are we therefore to be satisfied and
contented with all its Clistresses in addition
to the ignomiDy it was intended to ayenge ,
lhis will not suit, even the phlegmatic peo-
pie OF the north, and God forbid the oeonIe