Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-25

word. The germ offreedcm had .ex-
| banded with sigor that repelled III
those little sickiy sensibilities that so
often copsign TO premature debility ar
|destruction weaker subjects. II struck
Its roots amidst raging storms, ard
lconsequenily struck them the deeper.
Hence arose stately and noble Super
structure, that endured for many age.
and which history still exhibits amoeg
the mos. pendid mo1uments of vic.
tue, power and greatness.
Sach, in those days, was the prond
trophy of PATRIOTISM !--ofa proper di.
ERECTION given to public sentiinenf.
Whose concentred force, once set in
motion, sweils ike the mountain tor
rent, and sweeps all before ii. NY
How different would have been he
result, had the precep, ore and leaders
of those times debased and humilia.ed
the public mind. There is every pros
liability that Rome w onld have become
a nation of robbers, instead of nation
of heroes; and the world never have
reeeivsd the bright legacy, which, e.
lyen in her ruin, she 5equeathsd to be.
nighsed world.
Her example should shed light on
our course. Rome, under hsr repah..
llican system, was, in many striking
respects, in the same situations we now
are. In numbers and wealth and tie
arts, she was greatly inferior TO other
powers. So are we. They laughed
at her pretensions to sovereign power.
50 they do at ours. They ridiculed-
her manners and deprecated her cha
racter. So they do ours.
Did she. sink beneath this accufnu-
lated scorn; injustice, and GU rage {.
In proportion, as they thought, or. al
fected to think, naeanly other, did size
fall in her own. estimation, or reG:is
her efforts? No. The injustice of
others awakened her sleeping energi. S,
which she hurled on the heads OF her
lenemies, whom she soon taught by a
mournlul experinece to respect tho
little band Of fseemen, which they had
so recently despised. How did she,
in the infancy, of her pawer, accom-
|piish thisf BY unanimity-No Ro-,
man dared to question the public vir-
tue and power, without sealing his
own disgrace or ruin, without, being
stamped as a fool or villain. He
was at liberty to arraien the conducts
or virtue ofany ruler however eleva-
ted butt char acfer of the nation was
Unavoidable; and when she had once -
dopred her course of measures ia re-
latlon 10 every foreign power, it woeli
have been considered treason to take
part against the commonwealth, ard at
Its expense to eulogise or uphold the
proceedings and character of a rival
n enemy.
TWAS this that placed the litertics
of Rome upon stable foundation, and
insured her unrivalled triumphs ever
all her enemies. Her arm, raised as
it too often was against HERSELF, was
one and indivisible against her enc
mics. flowed its terror and effect 10
her union and patriotism.
This mighty result was the Offspring
Of public opinion, which, when embo.
died and virinous!y directed, SO hap
ply supersedes the necessity of lave,
What then was accomplished, may
be Effected now by the came means. Il.
the object was great and noble then, ia
JIG less SO noal What were the IJ,er-
ties Of a Roman compared 70 these of.
an American citizen? What was
Rome, physically considered, compare
ed with the American continent!
| Fellow. citizens, you have higher
motives than any other people ever
had, to maintain your indepeadence, ,
to chsrish your rights, 10 preserve
your character, The world has never
before beheld so happy aud yirtuous
2 n2rion. No nation has ever existed,
more honestly entitled to self-respec,.
fhis is the nsaster senliment, on which
all that is great and gpol in national
character must be based. 1t is not
only its foundation, bot likewise 10
most Efficient shield. Cherish it,
!ilsu, l bcseech you, as Of incs:imable
value. / do not cali spon YOU, like
the Romans, 10 stigmauze the whole
foreign world as barbarisns, Il is NOT
necessary to undcrvaiue others. nj