Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-26
For THE ARGUS.

villain. Honor and humanity are the &C
knowedged principles of civil warfare. Th,
one sh, uld keep him from those acts O
meanness and guilt which disgrace ever,
gentleman, and the other, from those acts
of ferceness and brutality which deforn
every human being, But the war which
they prosecute, is against every living crca-
ture that can either give profit to their RAJ
pacity, sport to their cruelty, OF innocence
TO their iust.
Yes, their warfare is against human ma
turc in her most mild, affecting and defence
less form. Upon those very beings too that
had thrown themselves upon their pro,ec-
ton and their mercy! 1t was not to be ex>
pectcd perhaps that tbs vauutng supporters
Of a2ciui order a,&f, Asfon. woHid have ad
ded to the crimes % mnS der and rapine the
incapable crimef tenAle pollution. The
matron, the vilsih4lA hd the infant arc con-
secrated 10y honor and humanity, and are at
all times The sacred objects of The tenderest
care and solicitudc of ali parties. But the
& soldiers OF Britain" have long since ceased
to respect thee attributes as becoming the
profession OF arms. The feelings os these
foiished savages are congcnial with those of
their rude allies, and are from that circum
stance, better enabled to distress human ma
ture. as they do it under the disguise OF CT
vilized and tutor'd man. How different IS
the American Soldier !--What pride and
delightful reflection do we draw from the
Contrast They are, indeed, Us different
as mercy from cruelty, magnanimity from
mcanncss, and hcroism from assassination
Ii is impossible % praise the one too high !;
it is more impossible to represent the other
too low. The cnormities which have been
committed at Hampton, mast aud z,M sink
deep into the hearts of every American, 20
matter what bias he may be under, or in
what particular section of the Union he may
live. Ac;s like these concern and interest
us, not only as Americans and politicians,
but as members of the great family Of man.
Homo sum hHnahi s'eneris, Mill me atisn-
nm hugo. No heart that can feel, or tongue
that can utter, should withhold its eXecras
ton. 1t is duty we owe to our country
and particularly to the other sex, to keep
III mind the atrocities winch we're enitned
It hampton. Atrocitiessfhat can never lie
forgiven or forgnttenSs-Ikt them beware of
those scenes where 1t Isl evenApossible for
them to suffer a similar fate Let them
animate and inspire tile manly youth Of
their country with desire OF revenge and
a love of heroic fame. This they cannot
tail to do when they recollect how many
sisters Of innocence have fallen victims TO
the loathsomc and more than deadly en-
braces of British soldier. Embraces which
no time nCr comfort can luil to rest uDon
the mind no tears can soften or dilute the
anguish VI their remembrance, nor can e.
ven prayers look FOR relief on this side the
grave. We w!il not, however, dwell upon
these evils without d remedy, these sorrows.
without an end--At which fancy shrinks,
and the blood thrills 6scuryles at the thought
1t is enough to knog that they were cam
United. Il is our dpty to find out and to
use the means OF reyenge-Punishment is
noc within our power-if punishment car
ries along with 1t the IDEA of Su6cTfnp e.
qHII 20 me CRIME, hat must be reserved
FOR another world. hii mislortunes are said
to Dear with ther1fsome lesson &c use and
aam"islfaon* From hence we learn that
there Is as little Home: and humanity i'll
BRUSH soldiers, asEhere is justice or faith in
orltish ministers. 1--WE are told likewise
'hat there are SoWe among us who attempt
10 eXtenu2e the conduct of the British at
hampton, and thatthere are others who be-
cause they are afraid TO extenuate, affect to
diSbeievc and to deny it-Pope said of the
! Age III which he wrote, that it was criminal
TO be moderate. With how much more truth
we may repeat it of the times in which we
i've. And with how much justice may we
| say, that il there are really such men who
Can paiiiate or deny the enormises al Hamp,
ton, that they ought to be industriousy no
ted and whipped from society. That il
there be any set Of men, no matter Of what
politics they may be, whose feelings do not
! IaFetre at The recital OF those wrongs, they
/ should ne regarded as brutes, and lreatc
as enemies.
But we know that the indignation Of tn.
country is reused to the highest pitch, ant
that the spirit of revenge is ready and i'm
paticnt to undertake the boldest achieve
'nen'S and the greatest efforts. In this pon
Vi view we may look upon the present mo
ment as particularly auspicious.
We must all know that the nature o
our government will not admit Of those ra
pid and energetic movements and prepare
tons which distinguish governments of ano
ther sort. The pulse of tile nation must b.
teit and as that beats, we must act--Th
feelings and opinions of the people are to b.
known and accommodated The transit
ons FROM habits and pursuits Of civil, to thos
OF military life is great and oppressive, ant
they must feel the spirit end necessity of tn
measure before they will move with firm
ness and alacrity. They must also ram
enemy as Il 7vere, before the spirit Of Tia
nation will rise in is fell and entire maicst,
Inns thsY have done-they have felt tn
enemy IN the most tender and vital parts
The Character Of the enemy can no lohgc
be disguised from them. 1t has come be
fore them IN its true and papable form
plunder, murder, and ius'. The veil is ul
lhe people can see and judge for then
selves.
The moment is particularly auspicior
for military eXeTtIous both from the Dreser