Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-20
FOR 9RE VIRGINIA ARGUS.
TO THE AMERICAN YOUTH.

SllilS when IL Is COlLeCllD5 all Its venom, in
order To deprive US of our existence as a free
and independent nation, it certainly behoves
every one who regards the name of .fnfey1-
can as the most dignified title, to stifle the
base, tyrannical animal, If possible, imme-
diately; and to contribute as much as in INN
lies, by every exertion in his power, to warn
his countryman against the danger which
threatens them, and to eXhort them to per-
severe in that line of conduct, which alone
can save them from sharing the fate of dis
tracted Europe.
War is now declared, and it is the least
evil which threatens us Payment of tr-
butte; destruction of our civil and religious
liberties; dependence OH a foreign power;
submission to q faction, which knows not of
truth, of justice or of religion, whose only
rule of right and wrong is force and fraud
these are evils, the extent of which the mind
OF man cannot conceive, nor his tongue de-
clare; these are evils under which, should
we be obliged to crouch, the goodly fabric
raised by our fathers, and cemented with
the choicest blood of our Country, will fall
and crush US, our families and our fortunes
i'll one indscriminate chaotic ruin.
americans obliged 10 crouch under Foreign
domination
Lively does my pen trace the doleful line,
whist my youthful blood bois with indigna-
ton, and loudly declares it cannon it shall
not be. 1t avarice be not permitted to sup
ply the place of a noble ambition, every n.
merican will say, No--let the horrors of war
growl over our land let the thunders of
our enemy's cannon resound through our
peaceful helds; let the light of our burning
houses guide us, as we seek for safety from
the savages of our powerful foe; let our CT
ties be as desart, and the sun no more
shine on our habitations--we will not be
| rebels to our God and to our country; we
will not fall in ignominious sloth, but die
If die for the good cause we must" with
harness on our backs"
americans will never tamely be trampied
upon. The foot that is held out to us to kiss,
we spurn at, and proclaim to the world,
that gve knozU no master. We will rally
arouno standard of our country, of its
! constitution, its liberty, and its indepen-
dence; ike faithful soldiers we will protect
| the citadel which contains all that is dear
to US, and when the enemy enters its gates,
! our bodies shall form bridge over which
he may pass to the possession of the well
defended prize.
The man who would turn his back on the
! foe is a traitor and not an .Hnlerican Shall
we barter the bones and ashes of our ia
thersl A shameful thought tEr blood
would cry from their tombs for vengeance on
! our cCwardy heads: like that of the blood
OF Abel, the Omnicient would be the aven-
| ger, and such mark would be fixed upon
US, as would render it the greatest mercy if
| the hills were to sever and conceal us from
| the sight of man.
My youthful brethren
DiShonor not your mothers-rtogv attest
That those whom you call fathers did
beget you"
On us now much depends; striplings shall
pluck the laurels and grey boards wish for
youth and ST. ength again. Old men shall
| not again fight the battles of their country
they acted well their part when they were
| young, and they shall see that we who were
in the cradle, wnen they were in the field,
are as proud OF the name of americans as
| themselves.
Then permit me, my friends, whom soon
| snail hail my brethren in arms, to hope
that you will not he tardy in attending TO the
call ofyour cou-nty. Our external foes may
shortly see the danger of attacking an united
nation, determined not to survive its indie
pendence and the despicable imps of dark
ness who still infest our land, will be taught
in the most feeling manner, the folly I'D
| wlckedness Of their Vaccinations when
rhey sec us resolved to support, AT every
hazzard and against all odds, the govern
ment of our choice and the freedom of our
country.
Let us but for a moment consider, for
what we are to combat-For resistance for
individual and national honor and reputation,
more dear to a real American than exist
ence itself; for our constitution, for our laws,
for our freedom and our independence. -
What mighty objects are not these ?, In de-
fence of these, women might be brave, and
towards valiant no one but a traitor would
refuse to risk his life IN their preservation
| REMEMBER--Ve have the greatest in.
ducements 70 lead us into the field never
was cause 50 just as ours never could ar
appeal to arms be made with so perfect
reliance on the assistance of the Suprem,
Creator Of nations, who forgets not the Just
the yirtuous nor the brave.
YOUTH OF SEVENTEEN.