Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-09-23
Foa rAe rIeclxlA ARcus.

L
|
In contemplating the political face of this
favored land OF liberty, where the last hone
OF prosecuted man has built up her stedfas,
tabernacle, the mind Of the phlanthropi,t
Is .etimes cnvelopcd in transitory gloom
and he ready to exciaim in paroxism OF
Jealous and anxious enquiry, is human
nature then incapable OF self-government
and social freedom ? !''
| All the splendid fabrics of European ex-
| pertinent arc mingled in the dust of corrup-
ton, the instructive monuments of the insta>
ollitv OF that precarious greatness which rest,
on the groundwork OF vice Scerror Eventual
nation whose well-digea ted'systemotlaws |, as
been the fruitful theme of admiration for
ali the apostles of free government, & Which
J ccrtalnlybears the strongest features of po
| iitical justice former times could boa u of,
now begins to feel the .ethargy of old age,
| and to tremble under the slow operations
| of approaching deaih-Yes, that proud and
| perhdious people, whose whole annals h ave
been steeped III human blood-its present
| comparatively perfected Constitution ce-
mented IN the martyrdom of milIIons-great
| IN the accessyons Of accumulated fortune
| fl1ttered from every quarter of the ha5ita
Die gobe-is now feeding upon its own Vi
tails at home-the spoils Of cruelty. ranac,
ty, and injustice abroad The awful crisis
OF her final dissolution must be near at hand.
The sea>girt Isle that has so long foated N
the full tide of prosperity and glory. shlt
| tered To wreck, must be soon haven'd az
tie bottom Of the ocean.
But alas! whilst behold in the clear
glass OF prospective. The cer,ain downfall -,
the most powerful and best-poised nation
of the old world are we encouraged 10
hone thar ou HE s,d.. e tba .,,at... 49,.
OF state will ride at anchor safe aad Secmrs
amidst the storms and tempest, of Conflict
ing Universities ? Is the holy temple OF our
Liberties based on an impcrishabie rock of
adamant Perhaps the fate of cur country
is Inscribed on the sybilne leaves which will
contain the future history of the eventful
contest III which we are now engagei-WiH
the trumpe1s ciangor and cannon's roar
break in twain the strong ferrated chord OF
our Union-dissolvc into air the bi,u,nena
ted pillars Of the govcrnment--diiapid4 te
our national existence?
The system of confederated represcn..
tative republic has been thought to be con,
posed of everlasting principles. The elixir
OF national immer atty which the Legisia>
tive Philosophers of Europe had so long
searched for in vain had at length been
discovered. Our Constitution was work
which neither the pitiless rage Of Satan-as..
piring ambition, the trainers of infatuated
dissenton, the battery Of external enemies,
nor the secret entertainments of ruthless
time, could deface, impair or destroy.
Surely there was a just cause for these
proud, these glorious prepossessions-We
were separated by great ocean from the
plots aud intrigucs, tumuIts and wars which
mad shaken the other continent to its foun-
laton--wc were possessed Of all the lights
which history, experience and corrected
reason could aiTord-we.had fought aud suf-
fered, blcd aud died to gain our Indepen-
dence, with Liberty chartered ON our brow,
and front which tyranny no longer
awed--in the lofty majesty and daring pie
nltude of original man, we walked abroad
free from fear, from control, from oppres-
sion, from passion, wondering on The unali
enable rights of our nature, and chasteming
our reflections for a happy union of forces,
wills and powers. The principles of the
social compact. unfolded By the spiris Of
heaTen-born genius and tho expansive eff
forts OF mental emancipation, banished the
society Of kings md despo S, had been en-
braced here with the ardor of regenerated
truth. From substance ike this, more du
rabIe than brass, the body Of our consti-u-
zion had been carved out by men vino ri
vailed in skid a Phidss 0r Praxiteles. -
Must this last best gift Of God to man, like
other phantoms of the brain, melt away as
the dew-drops of the morn or shall the
only free government on earth, like the soul
OF Cato, " flourish in immortal youth S"-
Oh delightful anticipation, so grateful TO the
pride oil every generous bosom, so CONSOLE
tory to the noble feelings of human nature,
so peculiarly fascinating in the eyes Of every
heir to American freedom Yet there arc
serious approximations agitating the breast
OF the Patriot, that these fond hopes of per
petuity to our happiness are but unsuDstan
tIal psgeantry Utopia OF high toned
phi'anthropy--the ideal republic of Piatonic
speculation.
These Insuspicious feelings are engender
ed IN viewing the present situation Of on
country. IL must be admitted by all yho.r-
prejudices or whose vices have not cast :.
cloud OF darkness Ger their better iudt
menss, hat the War 40 are carrying on is