Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-05-12
FOR THE VIRGINIA ARGUS,

] have. frequently observed, Mr.. Editor,
and not without some degree of disgust,
that there is class of politicians, who
when any question is agitated relative to
aggressions which may have been made up.
on their country's rights, support an illibe-
ial policy, excluding from the calculation
of the injury, the insult offered to the dig
nifty OF the nation; nay, some of them 20
SO far as to deny the existence of national
honor, and cali il " an fn11noteriaL sfecsre,''
ga Vanishftg meteor" Language like
that indicates a lttleness of soul that can
never soar beyond the calculation of pounds,
shillings and pence, and an apathy of SEN
sib Ity which must forever preclude from
the morbid breast it infests everypa.riotc
impulses But those gentlemen who fulm-
nate their aHathemas with so much vehe-
mence against the honor, the dignity and
glory OF nations as mere phantasms of dis
tempered brains, are not az ware of the igno.
rance and folly they betray. They are
unconscious of their presumption in oppo-
sing their fiimsy sophstry to the well di.
gested opinions of those sagesiof public law ,
Grotius, PuHendorf and Vattel. The latter
particularly hss clearly demonstrated that
the honor and glory OF a nation is intimate
ly interviewer with its political! prosperity.
" The glory of nation, which presuppo.
SEES honor, IS Intimately connected with
Its prosperity aud power; it is that brill =
ant advantage which attracts the attention
OF other nations and renders it respectabi {
to its neighbors. A nation whose honor and
reputation are we'll established, and parti-
cuary that whose glory is renowned, finds
itself courted by all severe gns who desire
its friendship, and fear TO offend il. The
friends of such nation will favor its en-.
terprise, and those who envy il will not
dare to manifest their i'll will" con
celve however that the subject is capable
OF being placed in a view somewhat differ
eDt from that in which IL was seen by those
writers, and although leading TO the same
conclusion, from its infinite Importance, il
cannot be contemplated in too many positi-
ons.
II we look for the origin of honor, we
shall trace it to the feudaI systems of G. II.
Britain and France, when the orders of
Knighthood were first established, and to
illustrate the good effects resulting from il,
repeat what history has assured me, that,
10 that fcudal age when the lordly baron
knew nor reason nor justice but in the tenn
per OF his sword and IN the strength Of the
arm that welded it; its hrst appearance
was that OF benign planet, under the
mild influence OF which all nature smiled
and universal happiness prevailed. Rap,ne
and slaughter were no longer the inevita-
bic doom OF the vanquIshed; on the contra
ry human nature seemed 10 have susj aimee
a sudden meta morpnoSIS, and the most dig
niheG forbearance and generous hospitality,
nov equally exalted the victor, as savage
revenge and wAntoa cruelty had forme rly
degraded hip. In the Knight Of those
days was exhibited al that's accomplished,
all that IS gentle, and all that IS generous d
faithful in human nature. All nations, in
hne, to whom the influence OF that chIval-
rous principle, honor extended, were in
stanty, as by the wand of an angel, attem.
Per'd iron saBguinary ferocity TO the most