Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-10-05
4ASAN,IS,'JrsIoR, PRINrER no rne CoMMoNwrALer
T1s ~ crn,- .ssnrge.l

4 7. N
in this situation wi'hout ,ise recollecfi-
on ot the cruelties of his Seien, ,hev
would have bestowed on him the " n.
Eng tribute oipraise. gct thar recolles
ton came like an eclipse across NJ,
glory. The pow~fs,s of his, mind arr
acknowledged, but hisvices are recot,
tected with Devastation. His r-siynas;-
on OF his power, has wcn the astonisb-
mehs, but not the esteem of the world.
Advancing still further INTO ar, ;;r,,r;-
y, we shall discover a sill more SIR.
Hprising instance ofthis kind of mac,,
nimity. We. behold SyIla. AFR
sweeping awayin the resistless imn.
tus OF his ambition, every impend;n,,
obstacle to its qualifications, after ,y.
d'ns In iabopous toll thro' civil blood
and desolation to tire supreme dom;-
nation OF his conntrv, vamquished. sev.
hausted, fallen; after destrovina ,ha
en'eebsed bulwark Of her laws aGrr
prescribing her citizens and butcher
ing her freemen; after subyert;ne ~
constitution, and after snbmerp;nr
her liberties to extinguishment with
the inordinate pressure Of his gigantic
power suddenly, to the inexpress;h,a
astonishment of his increaulous conn.
'rymen, throw up The reins, of a mosr
desfotc and unprecedented rnle, FREE b;s
country from the iron and sepatrd
oonda OF oppression, and sink into the
qulescent state of private citizen.
fre causes which produced the me.
mosah'e event, were unknown TO cor
temporary historians, and It's imros-
sible that we can at this distant dav
view him through the dark ncs,,,ya
of time long elapsed. with tha. ,iist;ncr-
ness which IS 'ndispensibly requisite to
ihe formation of defnite decis;,n.
but from bic character which was fac,
tlors turbulence, relentless race. san.
culinary cruelty, and inordinate amb;-
en-, we may. infer, that they were nor
such as should confer honor. or e,;c;.
our admiration. Born TO ride RI
whiriwind and direct the Storm he
aeiighted In war as congenial ele- :
Dient, he gleried in i,orfid con1s-7773 -
ons, he %'antonsd in blood shed az, 3:
deseia!ion, ne rioted in ruin Ssde sifs5sf;
on; but he turned in lcathina from ~,
sim, Gains of peace, which like hated
Srecco suspended and paralized tb-
active energies Of his mind, ard left
Gin IN sta.e Of apathy and frip,d
qnlescence; he disdained to opnres.
his country, when she no longer resist
ed the dictates of his will; he scorned
to tyrannize over abiecr slaves.
The abdications OF Sylla. of DceI;
tian, and of Charles, are most dis,;m
suished instances OF the kind, which
are found IN the history of natione
The late one OF the king of Holland i
IN my opinion superior to either of
thcsc. Unlike them, he has given nm
his power ere iswas abused, 9 snrren-
dcied his sceptre ere it was stained
with the po'lusion Of cruelty or tyran-
ny. Unlike them, his constant e1dea-
vor was to advance the happiness of
those whom ne commanded, ard when
tie feu.id his endeavors unavailinr. =.
resolved to relinquish power, WHICH
he couitl not exercise With honor "a
himself, or benefit TO his people. THE
'ui.'"s I'LL ttioh Oh MS heaOStrOnr bro
Their, overruled the calmer dictateso
his persuasion, & rejected he admoni-
lions OF bis eason. Resolved to rule
Holland in despotisn, the Emperor
Napoleon cnGeavoured TO EMPLOY him
as the Instrument, but his prefers wev-
rejected with disd+in. With in,l;s-
rant horror, Louis resolved to saefi-
fee his power and his throne, 10 nre-
serve invioiate his integrity. lie
hose rather to I've private citizen.
than kingly tool of despo,ise,.
When vice prevails, and inp'oas men bear
away,
The post Of homer is the private station.
Louis Napoleon, your memory ~
inmortalized. 1t shall not perish De-
fore that OF your ambitious, aspiring
bother. Whist he is recolls cscd -
the ensiaver Of his couutry, the foe OF
mankind, and the destroye, Of nai;SBs,
you shall be remembered ~ a p3n of
mild virtues, generous io'egtity. aud
virtue. Would to God
that all sovereigrs were OF your dis
position. Tire void would thea 80
10Y ue ace liberty and ha,ntoess. Nm