Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-08
(LETTER xIT.)
. The Unconstitutional.

DURING the space Of five hundred
years. the wars OF the Republic were
numerous and thcir consequences adj
vantascous and splendid. / proceed 10
relate them, TO mark the incidents
which they produced. to designate the
great mon who iiourished during their
prevalence, and to state their political
results.
The banished Tarquin found sup
porter i'll Porscnna, the king ofEtru-.
ria. and in the year SOY before Jesus
Christ, war took place between him
and ting Romans. The chief events of
this c$ntests|~cfssse actions of IIora-
thus Eocis: whd singly opposed the
whoIaAarAhyt fE&rsenna at the head of
a bridge. wllilstShis countrymen in his
rear were cutting off the communities
ton with tic opposite shore. The
bridge being destroyed, Coolies. altho'
he was wounded, leaped into the Tiber
and swan across it with his armour !;
FOR his eminent services he had a bra
yea statue raised to him lin the temple
of Vulcan by the Consul Publieola of
Mntius Sceyoia, who disguised himself
in the habit Of a Tuscan, and, speaking
the language fucntly. he gained an ca
sy introduction into the camp Of Por-
SIENNA. and afterwards into the royal
tent; POrsenna and his secretary were
sitting alone when Mutius entered the
latter. mistaking the secretary for the
king. rushed upon him and stabbed
him to the heart unable 70 escape,
Mytius-was seized and brought before
tlf king to the NnuItiplid enquiries
Of tAacgGftieiS hegaveH 40 answer, on
- telling them thafsbf was a Roman !;
all, is a pro@ofhj<fortit laid his
right &nd ~ an yfar Of burning Goals,
and looking steSily at tic king, with
ont nttering ygroan. he Boldly declar-
ed that 500 S6ung Romans i Ike himself
had conspired against his liz. and en-
tered his camp in disguise, deternin-
ed either to destroy him or to perish
in the attempt /; this intrepid declara-
ton alarmed and astonished Pcrsenna,
who made peace with the Romans and
retired from theircity; Mutius obtain
ed H.surname of Scevola, because he
had SSt the use Of his right hand by
buQh6 it in the presence OF the Etru-
ria1H rs: that Of Clelia, Roman vir-
gin, O of the hostages which Porsen-
ma had demanded as one of the condi-
tions OF the peace escaping from her
guards, and pointing out the way to the
rest Of her female companions, she
swan over the Fiber on horseback, a.
midst showers ofdarts from the enemy,
and presented herself 10 the Consul i;
fearful OF the consequences OF detain-
ing her the Consul sent her back. when
Porsenna, not 70 be outdSHe in gene
ros;ty, gave liberty to bsr and permit
tedhF to choose saebI6f the hostages
off Abther sex (fQyfllere were in all
tenn kaunS men 9ad tefisyirgins,) as she
shoSd think 1T to attend her; she,
with&reat modcsty, chose the young
est, least capable Of suAaiEing the
rigOrs Of slavery the battle of RegilIe
was another remarkable occurrence OF
this war; it was fought about twenty
miles from Rome, between $4,000 RO-
mans and 10000 Efrurians, who were
headed by the Targuins the Romans
obtained the victory, and scarce 10000
OF the enemy escaped from the field OF
battle the great men of the day were
Brutus, ColIatimHs, Aruns, Valcrius
Pub!ieo'a. and Lartius the consequent
ces Of the war were The abolition OF
royalty, the consolidation of the repub-
lie, ard the establishment Of The dieta-
f0Tship. in the year 49S before Christ,
civil broils broke out among the pco-
pie, who reyoited against the power Of
| ~. arr stQeF2cy, and the plebeians. Hn-
] Geis D.. co14iIct OF one Of their order,
Ynat u :. Slclains BeIlOtus, retired TO
MO- SAceE OH the banks OF the river
tnio, ab06f Three miles from Gomc,
With the intention Of forming new
statt. It was on this occasion. after
all other arguments had failed, that
Meuenius Agrippa. a great fav0ite
Of the people, addressed TO them the
we'll knows fail, Of the belly and tbe
members, which is recorded BY Livy
this had ihe desired effect. and the Pie.
beiaDs, or the consent Of Tire Seaate "a
(, the institution Of the TYibuR&te, re-
turned TO their duty; the principa
cause OF these eOmmOtions was tht
Gcbts Of lbe commOnaity, which were