Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-03

4
| OF American bravery nothing was able t
quench that FIRE of indignation, nor quel
that spirit ofrevenge which had been arous-
ed by repeated insults and injuries. The
| spirit of tolerance had Eeen weared out
patience had been exhausted, and long suf-
| fering had brought no relief--every avenue
| of hope was shut against us /; and, at length
despair, that onnipotent energy of the soul,
| was called into action; slavery or death
were the only alternatives. 1t was this con-
sideration that gave stability To our courage,
perseverance, to fortitude, and activity to all
our efforts to gain our independence.
| ] would draw veil over the many scenes
of misfortune and calamity which shortly
| followed the glorious undertaking of our
| forefatbers. Passing over the disastrous
season of war and bloodshed, would trans
port your minds to that period, when Anne
RIGA finally gained he.' deiverance; but it
was during the revolutionary conflict we
laid the ground work of our present glory.
1t was thea our vanquished foes fled before
ns--it was then that the Temple of Liberty
was erected; then it was that The glory of
our country appeared in its brightest colours.
That unexampled bravery that unparallel-
cd fortitude ;that unrepining patience, which
so much distinguished the sons of America,
was then displayed. To find out the true
character of the nation, we must follow the
raw and undsciplined troops into the field
of battle, and there behold them contending
with a powerful enemy, experiencing ali the
vicissitudes of war, fighting in their coun-
try's cause we must go to those plains,
where our slaughtered citizens bled and di-
ed, to purchase the blessing of a free govern
ment. 1t is not in the calm scenes of natl
on repose ;hat our superiority is evinced:
liberties are invaded, and when our country
is in danger, then it is that the energies of
the nation are awakened, and put forth into
action, and we are able TO achieve deeds of
Anexampled glory and magninimity; deeds
worthy of the admiration UT ages.
Let me again mention the name of the
immortal Washington, the hero of the glo-
ricus enterprise, he who steered us through
me storms and tempests OF misfortune, safe
t. the harbor OF peace and Independence
ne whom Heaven had marked out, tri-
umphantly To WELD the sword of indepen
dence, and 10 lead and direct cur victorious
arm es, against the imposing thundcrs of i'm
vading powers. When America was totter5
ing on the very verge ot political ruin, he
saw and ieit for the situation OF his coun
try. That stability OF mind, and un-.
Yielding fortitude which he possessed =
H%NSf IOTSOOk nlni
in the hour of difficulty, and truth, that
| flame of patriotism which animated him ia
every undertaking. seem to have increased
with every misfortune, and TO have been
nsost aruenv. hen his country as IA, 1T in
danger; he watched over me state with
fathers care, always keeping iii view the
| end Of the glorious enterprise, and to be
deeply interested in It's issue. Thus we fire.
| quentiy hear han exlorting his countrymen
never TO submit until they mad gained the
victory. Washington! thou favorite of hca-
vcnl thou enterprising son of freedom! thy
name snail be ever dear to our memoryli 1t
shailshipe brighteston the sacred page ofhis-
| tory, and each succeeding age shall add 10 it
Increased lustre and glary! M ~ genius ever
3 1i1cenployed in weaving Sarlandsto crown thy
head! May fancy ever delight in the pleas
! iHg task OF selecting the faireSt wreaths to
| adorn Thy sacred brow Fame shall blow
her golden trumpet It'll thy name shalt re
| genius of liberty shall always be found sitting
on the green sod, weeping ore thy silent
! tomb,
After fighting through long and bloody
| war, 10! the sun of Liberty appeared and
! scattered those clouds, which had long over
| Swallowed our country. The long night of
misfortune was then past, and succeeded by
the rising day of prosperity The hollow
sound of the drum was heard no more the
clangour of swords had ceased, and peace
descended as it were from heaven, to smile
upon our land' Victory had crowned the
attempts of the Americans, and the proud
sons OF Britain had met with complete o.
verthrow, and were forced to seek refuge
amidst the waves of the ocean. Thus, by a
succession of prosperous esents, we have
been -snatched from the adamaptine grasp OF
European despotism, and established Oh the
firm basis of rational liberty. We have now
in possession many of those rights and pri.
vileges, which constitute the principal ingrc-
dients in the mass of national happiness, and
in the happiness of each individual.
May tyrants behold America, and trem-
bic for their own Injustice! May they learn
from the American rev olutioa that although
they now trample on the sacred rights NJ
man, that the vengeance of heaven will ere
long overtake them, and that injured free
dom will arise from the dust and avengc hel
wrongs May the political Millennium be
not far distant, when right and justice shall
extend their triumphs over the wide realm,
ofdespotism; when liberty shall smile where
tyranny and oppression now reigns; whcl
peace and prosperity shall shed a universal
blaze over every region ofthe earth!
Let Bonaparte, that "Moloch Of Eu
ropc"-that destroyer of man, who is sen
toscJurge the earth - But it would be i'm
possible to describe him, to trace this tyran
through the whole course Of his public ca
reef, would be to follow the footsteps of am
bition, intrigue and cunning, through al
those various windings, and perhaps to dis
cover enormities unrecorded in tie book o
time, and as yet unnumbered in the dark ca
taloguc ofhuman deformities. Shocking in
deed must be that page on which the lite o