Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-07-01
"a dollars per annum.1

threaten dissolution of the Union, it will
then be time to "trozvn Indignantly" upon
these men.--And should such profess them
selves the disciples of Washington, we could
not avoid comparing them with those loudly
protested disciples of Jesus Christ, who slam
der, bite and devour, and in all their CONDUCT
deny the true spirit of the Gospel. When
popular phrenzy and mad insurrection of a.
NY part OF the people against their own GO
verhrnent is excited by mere demagogues Of
no standing and no talents but that of tho
tongue, the evils produced are not lasting,
and threaten no final subversion of govern
ment and change of Constitution But when
men s'7vhose talents, fyofessions, hyoherfy
and Influence haUe fiaced them in the most
re$hecfabJs grades ofsoctety, and in high off
ces IF gfeTfunient" become so blinded, by a
maniacepir of party, as to forget all their.
formerDetter knowledge, and employ all the
arts, powers, and influence, of which they re-
main masters, inpromotion of principles and
practices which they once abhorred, and
which no sober man can justify, the crisis be-
comes alarming, and calls on all the friends
OF union, government and laws, without re-
gard to party, to express, in bold and decided
terms, their hrm determination to support the
constituted powers, their own agents freely
and frequently elected by strong majority
of the people and declare that a small ma
jority must and zv2F' submit
The recent proceedings Of " an aSsembiage
Of citizens" in the metropolis of the state,
have excited universal regret in the minds
of sur fellow citizens. the right of the peo-
pie to assemble to petition for the redress of
any supposed grievances, and to express,
with decorum and dignity, their sentiments,
circumstances and situations, cannot be deni-
ed. But when, instead of availing themselves
of this right, for these objects, men, respecta-
BILE for their property and influence, ass1c iate,
Tor the purpose of declaring that laws con-
stitutionally enacted, " must and will be resis-
ted, all good citizens are alarmed at the :.
temerity of their proceedings. view of the
situation we should be pla ed in, werelsf4eh
examples frequently to be before us, heissh-
tens our apprehensons. If it be RICH. toEe-
clare that one law d" must and 7viW be resi.-
ted" the same rights will extend to all laws.
Fit be correct for one "asSem5Lage Of Gift
zcnS" to adopt and publish sentiments of this
description then with others it will be e.
qually correct. And where are we to sop
in this career of anarchy and confusionf it
is astonishing that the metropolis, which from
its opulence, has the greatest possible stake
in the preservation of social order, should
start with so much energy in the career of
Reorganization. And the united sentiment
OF the community must be directed, with Pc
cul.ar gratitude to your excellence, who act
ing upon your high responsibility have. with
so much dignity, afforded the weight of your
patriotism, influence and character to save
the Commonwealth from an example so per-
ncious and abhorrent.
Many mutual advantages are derived, to
town and country, from placing the seat of
government in the chief maritime town. And
1t would be circumstance much regretted,
III nm fair nee IS aIv
part Of the capitol, or if any proceedings in
their " assembiageS," tending to irritate po-
pular feeling, and produce unpleasing collis
sions, shoald make 1T necessary to remove
their sessions from " within the 7vGits."
Since the mighty strifes between Rome and
Carthage, never has the old world been pla-
ced in a condition like the present. Wni.e
two colossal nations struggle for existence &
empire, surrounding states are trodden be-
meath their disregarding feet. The law of
nations, and the maritime law, the pride and
prosperity of Europe, the MODEST products
ons OF civilized man, are, perhaps, FIR a long
time lost to the world. Man has descended
and gone back to the practices OF pirates and
barbarians The people of Europe and near
est nations Of Asia and Africa seem t. be ex
pecting mighty master i'll the final Conquer
or, and new Roman Empire. But n us it
is consoling, that the Roman and the CreCi-
an, and the Empire of China, have always
had their bounds; and the earth has been
found too large for the grasp of man howe
yer great and ambitious. 1t does not become
America to place herself instead of Divine
Providence to direct the concerns of distant
nations. Our distance, the nature and extent
Of our territory, our internal resources, rapid
increase of population, and the always supe-
rior bravery and constancy Of freemen, place
us beyond the fear of any considerable i'll eff
fects from the result of European wars. We
prefer the words of Washington" In them
we have none, or a very remote concern"
Men of various employments have come to-
gethcr under our social compact. Of these
the principal are agricultural, manufacturing
and mercantile. To protect all these, and es-
pecially to protect the persons Of cur fellow
cihzsns from foreign rapacity and captivity.
acArding to the power and means enjoyed by
Il Tfbn, n certainly the nations duty. Yet
nd always n a hasty temper Of war for ev-
ery&g&Yessiah. Not always by a vain decla-
rati6flpf -zskr against nations beyond our
reach. But by adopting, sometimes, in pre-
ference, such measures IS may have tend
encykp bring BAH, va feeling Of interest.
the Hiator Of the bFdctce Of justice. When
t@6St lligcrcnts hafed done US wrong, it seems
at first view cvef degsading to ask which
wronged us first Yet tod government, whose
genius is more civil than military; a nation
=.