Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-10-03
LONDON, July 90,
AMERICA.

AMERICA.
The conduct and known dispositions of the
American government for the last five or
six years, and the infuriate wish for a war
with Great Britain in the more numerous,
though least respectable part of the Anglo
american population, have perplexed the
thinking men among themselves and DISCUS
ted the noble minded every where. From
their dislurction to the French revolution,
and during the earlier periods OF the reVolu-
ton, IN what light were the Anglo
cans regarded by other nations of chr;sten-
dom As a people, who had acquired at
once glory and national independence, by a
rerilouS, and for time most unequal con-
test with the then most feared and most for
midable empire of the world, and this tod
their mother country; people who bega}
and followed up, this most hazardous entcry
prize, not, to emancipate themselves-foA
they already enjoyed an extent of liberty
both personal and political, impracticable in
the old world, nor yet to reDei any .impor-
tant injury; but almost wholly in the hros.
fective defence of freedom and equal rights
III maintainance OF a hrinciAie AS peo-
pie who after the successful close of their
struggle, scarcely allowed the name of legit-
innate government oany constitution, in which
the supreme power was not periodically re-
sumed by the nation and re-delegated BY the
majority; ard who in the jealousy of repub-
licanism had themselves delegated the exec
utive power so parsimoniously, as to render
the written law inadequate to the protection
OF the weak from the strong In fine, as
people who, subdueing the hereditary pre-
JUDGE, OF contempt and dislike from Contra
rlety OF national character, had avowed a
warm predileCtionfor France and for French
firctl nc rla ci,.
their followers, in the maintenance of self
government and the chastisement of foreign
interference.
Such appeared America at the commence
ment of the French Revolution, and during
the continuance of the Republic Since then,
republican rights have been exchanged for
military despotism, and the soldiers of llber-
ty have become the blood hounds of the most
remorseless tyranny, the most insatiate am
bition. The independence of all the sur
rounding states has been trampled on, the
names ofmany obliterated, and the CONNER
cial republics, distinguished by an excess of
wrong and mockery, which has been as care
fully proportional to their former liberty and
happiness, as if it were high treason to the
conqueror ever to have been free and pros
Porous! Forms ofgovernment the most fan
tastic, and code of laws inadequate to all the
just purposes of law, have been prescribed
Unfortunately to France and all her fellow
vassals, with as little respect to the interests,
habits and wishes of the several states, and
imposed with as little ceremony, as new
parade-dress on a regiment of conscripts.
The rights of states has been followed BY
those of individuals. Their property has
bOen rooted up by plumber, or moved down
by still recurring contributions, and by taxes
increasing, as the sources of payment are
Cut off or dried up. Lastly, all the youth
and manhood Of the finest parts Of Europe
from the Nis,ula 70 the shores of the Mediter-
ranean, scarcely supply the voracity and e.
ternal hunger of the CoHscrihtioH, that vul-
tire, which perched ON the steps Of the
throne on which-thc French Molock sits in
carnate, feeds on the heart and vitals of the
giant victim beneath his foot Nor, while all
are oppressed, have single acts Of peculiar a.
trocity been wanting. The ingenuity Of guilt
has learnt to vary even the coaly E,thiop's
skin with spots Of deeper black. These are
truths, unezaggcratcd truths: and THANK
Heaven, they are likewise Hoto5f1ug truths,
which faction cannot hide, which sophistry
cannot mitigate---Noi nor yet can the sickly
prudcFy, Questionable at present, Of discoun
tcnancing the plain honest nomenclature Of
vice and virtue, avail to dilute them into in
sipidity.
We'll then, if even The cold and torpid Hol-
lander, with the Frenchbayonet at his throat
can hardly stifle the curse that IS struggling
there, what must not nation Of regcneratcd
republicans who stand at safe distance !;
who dared Speak all they think, and express
all they feel, among whom general conyic-
ton cannot exist, without relieving itself as
PUBLIC oPTNION--what must not America
have feltI Her old ally, rendered yet more
dear as a sister republic, enSlaved ioa foreign
adventurer by means of the armies w.ih
which size herself had entrusted him, as her
sworn soldier. The rep lJlic passed away,
like the dream Of slave, who had fallen a.
sleep during the bargaining, which ended IA
transferring him TO a new and more cruel