Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-12

BILE Congress of IVA, invited the Canadians,
to Consult their own glory and welfare, and
to unite with them, in the great compact,
which they had formed. Your province.
said, they. is the only link, wanting to COM
plete the bright and strong chain of the uni
on. But, according to an English historian,
the spirit of liberty was too faint and feeble
in Canada, and the aristocracy and priest
hood too powerful, to admit OF any conside-
rable effect from this address. But This eff
feet was produced. The Canadians de-
clared that the quarrel was one in which
they had no concern, and in which they
would take no part. AS soon as this dispo-
sition was known, the invasion of Canada
was projected, and the expedition contided
to the gallant, but unfortunate Montgomery.
Such was the policy, such was the conduct,
of the meu TO whose wisdom and hrmncss
VIC are indebted for the revolution. They
knew that The Canadians were not their f.
nemies, but that Canada formed a part of
the dominions of their oppressor-a part
essential to the reposc and security OF the
Union, and they wisely determined TO take
it, if they could. They did not whine ard
cant, as some of their degenerated offspring
have done, about the innocent Canadians !;
about the unchristian wiCkedness of making
war upon harmless people. They were
not hypocyitcs. The exclusion of the enc
my from this continent was the great object
which they had in view, which we ought
to have in view. now, and which during this
war or the next, will be inevitably accom-
ptished. This idea is sanctioned by the opi>
Mon of Washington himself; and yet those
who have formed a society, under his name,
insult his memory; the memory OF Montso
merry consecrated by a glorious death, and
that Of all whom this day brings to our proud
and grateful recollection, by defamation as
insolent as it is puerile against our invasion
or that province.
Let us remember, though we have not fol-
lowed, the example OF those, whose wiydom,
virtue and valcr, we arc here assembled to
celebrate. Our fathers did not wait until,
the oppression, which produced the war
was actually felt. They opposed the unjust
professions Of G.. Britaiu, at the instant at
which they were announced. The British
government asserted right 10 tax the Co.
io3ies. This usurpa'ioB was strenuousiy op>
posed. The contemplated tax WAS trivial
in itself-apd might have been paid, without
diminishing a single comfort, winch our citi-
2ens had been accustomed to enjoy. But the
people of America, happily for themselves.
for US, and for the world, decided, that they
would not submit to the aiightest imposition
They opposed principle, which, they knew
would lead to unlimited dominion. The Brl-
fish ministry endeavored to silence this OPP
position, by commercial regulation, which
while 1t asserted tue principle, made the
az; itSef entirely nominal. They took from
the export duty in England, a SUN precise
ly equivalent to the duty exaCted here. But
this miserable subterfdge did not succeed.
The founders of our revolution d.sdaiDed to
| make those peCuniary calculations, which
| have been OF late 50 common. They scorn-
ed to weigh gold and silver, agsihst princL
| pie. TEey knew rot how to estimate mo-
ney, as the price Of national degradation and
slavery and they required that the claim
OF right to tax them should be unequivo"
| caliy surrendered But sur rcmonftrances
were treated with scorn our opposition was
/ declared 70 be rebellion; Washington him
| self denounced as a traitor our trade was
aDnihiIated, our cities destroyed; and our
country ravaged, by the veteran armies oi
| our oppressor, aided by hired murderers
| from the continent. But the spirit which
! dictated the Declaration of independence
| was not subdued the fame of patriotism was
/ cherished with more than vestal vigilance
| " the chain OF union was bright and strong ;;
/ and the surrendcrer of the British army, in
| this state. produced Il reluctant but inai ac-
I qtIiescence in our claim to National hide
| pen,lence. Such was the conduct, such were
| the suiFerings, such was the success OF those
whom we are now assembled TO honor and
| VINO ara mast worthy to be honored
Have we. animated by the spirit of 70 fol
lowed this great example, HEye We united
! and risen up to oppose insolent and urJus
pretensous, as soon aa they were annOunc
ed ? Have we had wisdom to foTesee thc
mischief, which acquiescence in foreign usui'
4 a
enough to resist it, from its commencement
No! we have not had this wisdom. We
have not displayed this firmness The hare
hand Of oppression was laid upon US ; anS
though We nurmured, we did not resist
We have been ins,ilted and injured at HON,
aud abroad, tnough we complaiRed, we ne
yer struck blow in revenge. The spirit c
our fathsra slept. We have indeed beef
patient. Patient Let me speak the truth
we have been abject. Under pretended
devotion to peace, we have concealed on
love OF gain. We have been corrupted b,
high prices for produce and Tor freight tn
miserable profits OF a despised and despica
bic neutrality :and in cur ardent pursuit o
wealth, we have stopped and crept ant
crswled, until, we had almost lost the powe
10 becoae erect, and we have been Cypress
cd and irsmped, uutil not only every feeiinj
Of shame, but all sense OF pain appeared L
be extinct. Our commerce. had been TO
ears practically piundered, our ships takeI
from Hs by force, or consumed by TIRE, upoI
the ocean; our cities insulted, our citizen
murdered, our flag d;shonored, our seaner
made slaves, and our national character De
come the scorD Of nations. All this we havt
seen aud yet onr patience was not exhaust
ed. For seven long years, the very periot
during which our fathers encountered al
| TIC uliscrlcs Of war In renellInn q Claim