Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-27
81 r,

DIR,
i address you under the influence of no or
binary feeling. At time like this, when
the thickest gloom seems to hang on the
dearest interests of the Republic; when by
sea and by land the blaze and roar of battle
presents but one wide scene of carnage, of
spoil and desolaton to our anxious el es:
when Britain by the boosted terrors of her
navy, by the roar of her cannrn, and the
shrill whoop of her S1UdgeS vainly tries tn
stun and appal the spirit ana feeling Of the
American people and when too by her
gold, Treason is quick and busy at her work
in the heart Of the land not i'll covert ma
chinations, but in almost open and auda oiouS
+, sIstance to the government, Us this time
tor c.e who has obtained a temporary, or
even a commanding elevation of character
to make it subservient to the vile purpose Of
IL paltry ambition? These are no times,
said the gallant Armstrong on a recent occa-
sion, to quarrel about StruzUS Ifmy country
had given me but a regiment, should have
accepted il, believing her Condition at this
time to Put III requIsltIon the service of ali
her sons. Do you read this and nor
blush ? These are the noble and pure
views the love of country should imparl.
What is your conduct1 You are animaling
an opposition that unnerves the arm of go
,ernment You are encouraging, either from
mutual understanding, or from tacit Consent
in the use OF your name, party hostile to
the free and happy government under which
we live. The declarations of OEis-that he
and his friends would vote for man friend
IL to " MaTiuDle rights" and averse 20 war
and to commercial restrictions, Cannot but
excite a feeling of suspicion When we un-
derstand-the man he means is you. Ynu
owe, sir, to the world an eXp,anation-you
should owe to your own feelings and cnarAc-
ter-iet not your tongue "pI ompt to eceive
with adulation smooth" give vague Inde
finite assurance of no connection with him
+ his party-or privity with their designs.
Come forward boidly-rctute every UNIV or
thy inference by the integrity of your con
duct-avow your purposes with manly and
an honest candour-proclaim to the people
the ends at which you aim.
If the great fuuCtunaries of our govern
ment stand high in your csteem-if the mea-
slres they have taken meet your full appro-
baton, let the world know it. But if you
would obtrude yourself on the American
people as the rival of Mr. Madison adopt
that course that honorable emulation should
inspire-expose his weakness and ncapaci
ty-demonstrdte your superior Claims to the
nations confidence, and the questl n would
be fairly at issue. Yet, before you hazard
even this determination, permit me to sug
gcSt the nature OF the ground on which you
stand--iet me beg you, foryour own sake, to
retreat from a comparison which cannot he
but to your dsadvantdgc-to avoid COM
petition in whose shock yuu Cannot but be
annihilateG. The love of country, and the
pride of character, should lead you to che
rish Union in the republican party as our
sheet anchor IN this stOrn-if divisions IN it
are furthermore fomented, the most melan-
choly approximations involves and clouds the
brightness of our future prospects. Yet, q
a mad infatuation still urges your progress
II oar future safety weighs not a feather a
gainst ambitions lure--let NE adjure you by
the memory of the past to rCfleC, before you
decide-to examine well the hollow ground
on which you are about To tread. Let me
warn you by the fatal ambition Of Burr, and
the price he paid for it-irre,r re cable infa-
my and ruin. And what are your pros
poets IN analogy to those that animated
him! The fame of his tdicnts--the many
services he had rendered the cause, shed a
brightness OH his pretensions, which yours
can never have. What are you, SIR! I'm
known but as the Mayor Of New York. Up
on what weight and worth of character do
you found your claims; or where IS the e
violence of its exisJence5 What great pub
lie trust, the bright earnest Of future hope,
have you ever acquitted to your own honor
70 the service of your cOuntry-or the exul-
tation Of your friend83 If, then, the wretch
ed Burr, with all his talents, and with all his
services, fell from the highest rank in the
love and conlid ence FMS country, to where
40 eye shall ever sec him more"-blaStcd
by tho indignant feelings of an inSul,ed PEG
ple-Where, Sir, will be your hope, when
| you follow in his wakel II these conside-