Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-28

tors and seattle: is enenias in prostratton
and discontinue.
The right of search as it is called, another
Ut the catalouge Of our wrongs, interpolati.
lDs OF various other indefcnsible Claims into
the code OF nations, together with the rigo-
roIs enforcement oil. certain absurd and am
iaua,ed. but revived professions, were also
Drought 10 bear upon Our almost exhausted
patience. BY way of retaliation for which
Propositions from one beiligereut, the other
exercised the more distressing, though not
more unjustihao.e, authority of actually
burning and destroying our ships and car
gees on tie ocean.
During these aggressions, Fellow Citi-
zens, the deadliest of all, that late refine
ment upon outrage, which was reserved for
the page of modern history, that foul and
ndelibie stain On the bearings of our indie
pendence, the right OF impressment as it is
aiso miscalled, has been Systematically ex-
ercised on our persons: and not less than
seven thousand American citizens, have
been dragged from their occupations, their
country, their families-scourged like ma
lefactors--chained like galley slaves to the
sides OF British ships-exposed and slaugh-
tered like piratcs--aud their wives and chill
dren subjected TO an unnatural widowhood
and nrphanage, while these deplorable VIC
TINS themselves, by force of British service
and British law, are compelled to become
denizens of that monarchy, which prohibits
repatriation, and assumes, to itself itIrisdic-
ton p reclaim, wherever found, she fuei-
tives from It's impressments, its taxation and
its ignominious hardships of existence.
1t would ne easy, Fellow Citizens, TO mag
nifty this retrospect with many other incligni-
ties. and with The hideous details of those
thus cursorly noticed. But the volume is
already overcharged, and it is necessary to
break off the narrative, which has been so
often, Sd much more striSingly unfolded
that its images must be engraven on the
memory of every lover of his country. We
might else carry your attention from the sea
to the land: and arresting it first on the
frontier, where the tomahawk of the savage
is prompted to the butcheI7 of our uncon-
scious settlers by the Internal stratagems of
ruthless rngiand-direct it afterwards to
the more CT ihzed department of the union,
TO our cities. TO our firesides, where the
nude OF attack again appears adapted to
me scenepf IFS operation, and n glozlng, CT
viiized British Spy is found, Ike the Ser
peni in Eden. tempting our weakness with
nntried changes, ard with all the witness OF
hut 1t is unnecessary, we repeat, to dwell
m the'host O. excitement which march he
ierc and beckon us to combat We have
borne more than ever any people did with
out an appeal TO arms. We nave left mat-
tempted 40 striving for adjustment. We
nave expended al the stores of pacificati-
on; and do not hrandish The sword with the
right hand, ill the olive branch has wither-
ed III the left. We have deprecated long
enough our unappeaslblc, insidious assail-
a"'s, more dreadful, more pernicious in their
ambush, than hey could be y fragrant war
We have been more plundered of orr trea-
sure While suing tor accommodation, more
abused, more injured, than we should have
been IL the same period Of hostiIities: and
the current OF our rational character, of our
national Existence, fellow r;tiz ems, is gliding
cut Of view, while we lineer on The shore,
vaii:ly inploriug the monsters Cf the deep
to - are as.
The season for action mas arrved--aTriv-
ed, did we say; as our fruitless but Iauda-
bic eXertions to avert the last resort PAIN
fully prove, itarrived but too long ago: And
placing the highest trust in that Being, who
sometimes in his inscrutable providence af-
filcts the just, but oftener requites their con-
stancy, we are likewise full of confidence in
the people OF these United Sta,cs, IN the
righteousness of their cause, in the alacrity
and energy of their aroused .endeavnurs
We call TO mind, feilow-citizens, the former
struggle with Great Britain; when, without
arms or ammunition, soldiers or officers.
garrisons or ships, treasury or preparation
OF any kind, without even compact or 90
vernment besides a common sympathy and
common enthusiasm, the then thinly scat
tered people of the Atlantic coast, snufing
subsection on the gale at distance, erect
ing themselves ike a column, on whose sum
NIT Heated the banners of liberty, and alone
on the detenceless beach, breasted the onset
OF vam-glorious Observation-Disclosures at
reverses-unsubdued by privations--pcrse-
vering, indetatgable, nvinCibIe--gradually
advancing to discipline, organization and
MISUNDERSTANDING at the end Of seven years
OF toll and alternate fortune, that indepen-
dence we are now in our turn challenged TO
sustain.
We call to mind, fellow-citizens, the vet
more distant annals, the discovery of our
beloved country, when Columbus, the type
OF the American character, i'm a frail bark.
with a disaffected and coward crew, buoy
ant on the trackless and unknown deserts of
the western ocean, Drawing all dangers and
doubts, more terrible than dangers, still
kept due onward his undaunted course.
TIL these shores appeared--tIIe reward of
resolution and a just conhdence-these
shores now covered with populous, power
ful and martial republic, whose citizens
need nothing but to be resolved and ius,iv
confident in themselves. to conquer, fike
Columbus, and the heroes Of their own re-
volution, the seemingly stupendous obstacles
which infatuated injustice opposes to the aC-
complishment Of their final and permanent
emancipation.
Resotved, As the opinion &c this meeting
that the only efficient remedy for the pro-
tracted and aggravated evils which aAiiot
nllr cnnnfrr. will be fn,,,,I =. Z. -.