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

laws of nations, to wit, good faith, upon
which those laws might rest with stability
and firmness. Tits \ memorable sentiment
of Johh, King of France, sthat ii honor
were driven from all the world, it should
And an asylam in the mouths * in the hearts
of princes; for should they disregard it and
violate their treaties, what power on earth
can decide the difference between them. -
Innumerabie passages might be quoted from
history, where n good faith amongst nations
is she wn tn have had its origin from that ho~
nor switch gilds the age of cavalry With SO
mild a iustre." Yet, sir, we hear 1t impu-
jdent,y asserted that honor is "an inim,a re-
rial shectre," ga vanishing mcteor." But
what idea does the same writer q mean
Col. John Taylor ofCaroliael wish to con-
vey by the following words! I" Honor is
very va 'uabic, but IS IL more Uaixd6ie
nctah hisicat Jewel than religion /? The To-
! gic contained in that sentence is briefly this.
Honor is very valuable, religion has no va
llue, but honor is not more valuable than
religion. In other words, that which is We
| ry valuable is not more so than that which
pc rfectiy valueless. To have attached,
however, any definite idea to that sentence
might puzzle a brain more penetrating
I:han mine uhless indeed the gentleman
intended it as an acknowledgement of the
so great predominancy of his head over his
heart, that what could find no asylum in the
latter he had attributed co the operations of
1.-THE former, s. in a spirit of derision termed
that a metaphysical jewel which swelis with
enthusiasm the breast of the patriot. APP
peal to every hepest American if the no.
nor and glory of his nation have not a real
and solid import Or are they mere s.iguii
fatui," that play before the well affected TO
their conntry's prosperity, or Z" airy no.
things without local habitation or a
manner" 1t so, then wheece the source OF
that glowing indignation which cleo
trised every man OF cur republic, when lhc
dignity of their fig was insulted and their
national honor and territorial. rights were
invaded. Had any souliess sQphist at that
time probed the wound eady TOO copiously
bleeding, by asserting that the injured no
nor OF All lRsulted nation was san, inmate
rial sfectre," "a vanishing mcteor,' his
indignant countrymen might have furnished
him with rainient better adapted to his
character. Ftis denial OF the existence of
national must be predcated upon the non
exIsteaCc of individual honor, confession
somewhat more candid than dishmorabie
men generally make. Here may with rca :
son expect that neither the gentleman nor
his friends will feel themselves aggrieyed
!. because of my having attached to him the
epithet of dishonor, since ne would rather
think 1t ridiculous than compliment, To at
tribute to him what nc where IN human ma
ture can be found. That he does not now
possess it, however,is not much to be won
tdered at, when We reflect that in all human
probability it was pucked from him * car
ried off in its fight by that "mairss corvus
which we are told by his worthy friend, so
maliciously perched upen his shield i'll bat
tle.s However selfish the motive by
u which it was dictated, cannot but think tina,
his attempt, in all the plenitxde of hts So
phIstry, TO sweep from our vocabulary the
word. was rather unkind to the military
hero who may have eRtwined his brow with
a wreaihe. Decatur will not readily forgive
him. After all have said some hair-split-
ting sophist, or BRAN puzzln g sceptic may
ask me what is honor |! Honor, reply, is the
casket in which is contained the most prec :
Gus gem of morality; for since /" ntetahhisscs.
Jewels" are in vogue, may be allowed a
moral gem, but although that privilege
may be granted me, the gentleman will no,
SO readily admit the existence of meta
| PHYSICAL dollar. The word honor rightly
I considered, has an import rather generical
\ than vague. IL places before our mind s
\ view in regular succession all the noble ST
| qualities of the heart. lie zuho conGaes
himself Invariably TO the truth, is called an
honoratte man; he zohs 7v1uid cut oft Ms
l r1gTt arm rather fhaIi gtDe HHbEcitY 10 a
confidential letter, is sad 10 be az, hsrora.
Die man and he Ivho would nor onLy sa
Icr5fce successive croyts, 6ut his fame tfseh
and aHhts Sooridiy goods to he digui.y and
IhrosherIty Of hs country, IS a very Gin
\ cinnatus, harriet and rufy honorable
\ man.
/ The motive inducing this address to you,
MIR. Editor, though strong, is pure and un-
alleged. The author was never very as
pring, and IN submitting his public alton TO
your discretion, he is not emulous of a Boil
lingbroke or Chatham but feelling h 5
whole soul revolt at the disgraceful senti.
ment he has attempted to controvert, to
wit, that national honor is an unnatural
sheefre," ga vanishing meteor =" knowing
that it had been advanced by man whose
. heart was never warmed by one generous
impu Sc, and rejecting farther, that, that
very man had once attained an eminence
. from which lac was viewed with some thfn ne
like admiration, thought that the crisis had
arrived when an ephelneral and unfairly
acquired fame should give place to the in
dignant frowns of justice.
As the father of those famous resolutions
which involved principles so dear and "a.