Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-02-25

Minister Of State and President oil the Depart.
ment of Finance. ~
SIRE,
The FIRST wish Of the members of your
council Of state, in common with all your faith.
.ul subjects,is to present at the foot Of the
throne OF your majesty, their congratulations
upon your happy return, and - express those
sentiments of acknowledgment VIII ch have
filled them, in earning that your majesty has
returned t. complete the wishes and hopes of
his people.
During the abseace OF your majesty, whilst
we were cnglged in those occupations which
you had deigncdto confide to us, and Will
every moment was devoted o the execution of
your orders for the happiness and prosperity
o. the empire, we we're far from suspecting
that any Frenchman could be ignorant of the
sacred and all preserving principles, which
has already saved us from anarchy, and should
for ever preserve us from IT.
SIRE-We have witnessed with profound
sorrow the attempt of u fanatick, who by
previous crime, proved that he already merited
that punishment which your majesty had the
generosity to remit but this attempt has on
ly served to convince our ancient enemies of
the inutility OF such conspiracies, and to place
in new light the sincere attachment of all
the functionaries OF the empire to the consti-
tuition which your majesty has given them.
Every quarter of the empire has evidenced
their attachment, and all your subjects have
rivalied the officers in their respect for the
principles and their attachment to your sacred
person, and royal dypssties.
God, who protects France, will long pre-
serve hen from the greatest of all misfortunes,
but should it bef4ifh her, all hearts will rally
round their Prince, the object of our hopes
and wishes; every Frenchman will renew ut
his feet the oaths of love and fidelity for the
emperor which the constitution has appointed
TO succeed. p"
We have been alive to the details Of the last
bulletin of the grand army. What admiration
ought not the Developer Mt of this most au-
gust character Inspire, during that month of
danger and OF glory, where the trials of the
heart could not detract from the strength of
The mind.
What sentiments ought not this faithful pic
ture of unforeseen disasters TO inspire in
truly generous nation, seeing that the tutelar
genius of France knew how to counteract their
effects, and draw from them a new glory I,
Your majesty never appeared greater, than.
at the moment when fortune seemed to exert
herself, by arning the elements, to remind us
that she cOuld.be inconsfant.
Let our enemies, if they choose, rejoice at
the losses which the rigor of the season and
the inhospitality of the climate occasioned;
but let them appreciate our strength and know
that there are no efforts or sacrifices which,
by the example of your majesty, the French
nation Is not capab e, to realize its glorious
designs.
In acknowledging your labours and paternal
| care, We can only offer to your majesty as
does all the empire, the expressions of our sem
timents of respect, admiration, and love. We
dare hope that your majesty will accept this
homage with the same condescenson by which
| he has invariably honored the fidelity and de.
yotedness o his council Of state.
HIS MAJESTY'S REPLY.
| Councillors Of State,
| As often as re-enter France, my heart ex-
| periences lively satisfaction. If the people
evince so much love for my son, it is because
| their minds are sonvinced of the blessings of
\ mcnarchial goyernment
To this dark and metaphysical doctrine Of
Iasaoiogic, which wing int first causes would
found on this basis's legislation of the per-
| pie, to which is to be attributed all the mis-
| fortunes which have been experienced bv
France-instead of appropriating laws to the
human heart, and to the lessons of history
These errors would (as they already have done)
lead to the regime of blood and terror In fact,
1t p ociamed, as duty, the princip Of insur-
recton. 1t deceived the people in proclaim
| ins a sovereignty, that they were unable to
maintain. II destroyed the ,ssnctity and re
spect torthe laws, in making them dependant,
not on the sacred principles of justice and ma
ture Of things, but solely on the will of an as.
sembly composed of strangers to civil, crimi-
ma, administrative, political or military laws.
When called upon 10 regenerate state-prin.
cip'es in direct opposition to these, must be
followed. fr
History paints the human heart; and it is in
history we mus search, to know the advan
tages and disadvantages of different legisla e
| tions.
These are the principles that the council OF
state OF great empire ought never to lose
sight of; to which should be added, courage
equal to every trial, and like the Presidents
Harley and Mole, ready to perish in defending
the sovereign, the throne and the laws.
Appreciate the testimonies of attachment
which the council of state has evinccd on eve
~ occasion.
acknowledge their sentiments
Ia