Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-08
From The Ksaracky Ltghi- House.
LIGHTHOUSE TALK.
TO she Inhabitants Of the State, Of .Ne7v-
- England.

renowned Physician of Kentucky, without
power, without riches, to address YOU con-
cernisg your civic welfare, and that OF the
Union but the less YOU expect of me, the
greater will be the effect of my address, pro-
vided 4 can give you more than you expect.
have from my earliest youth been closely
kept to study at 90 acquired the A G
of the nature OF man: at so, i learned to
spell in the spirit of laws and the civic rela,
tions of man to man: and now, that am
nearly fifty. I-have began to cypher smartly
in the science of politics. don't tell you
this to boast of myself; for that would be
very childish; but to explain to you why
am without power and riches. A mipd
smitten with the love of science, is always
(perhaps too) indifferent about places and
money, and often shated, but always miss
trusted by that part of the people, whs love
TO see the lightest swim on top. / am per-
haps the Embellishments in the Union in
principle but as | abhor TO be any thing
by faction, you can be assured that value
your liberty Of speech and the press as my
own eyelids. Whether you like the present
war or not :--whether you despise or love
Madison and his adherents: whether you
think England or France our most DANCE
rous enemies whether you believe France
or, England to have kicked us into this war
altthese questions, as they are subjects of
reasoning and OF free opinion, l, as real
Democrat, have no right TO decide, though
IN future, perhaps, may give you my huns
BILE sentiments about them, in hopes-(you
know, we arc all fond of our own opinlons)
Ito Convert you all to my side. willn
only ask you: Ought you, or not, to support
The CONSTITUTION of the u Statess
You are acAnowledgedly a very respecta
Bile part of the Union, and--(as am told
for never had the pleasure to live among
you)-better informed by regular education
than perhaps any section OF the Republic.
You cannot Consequently, be ignorant, that
the present Constitution Of the Union is al
most altogether the work of your own hands.
You have certainly attentiveiy perused the
very important Debates IL the Virginia
conven on be ore the adoption, by them, OF
the present Constitution. You will know
then, that it was with great reluctance a
dopted by tie southern States. g Some
thing of the kind must sc adopted" IS II is
the best that can be got at this time" 1t
is, perhaps, the best, Il at can be framed for
a people like ours" These sentiments were
the attendants Of the adoption OF this g-eai
National Compact. Yet it was finally a.
dopted, andbits result has been an unexam I
pied prosperity of the American people, in
Comparison with any nation ON earth. 1t
illustrious France down to the infant state of
Texas it has been the mother of liberty to
all, who dared to become free and happy.
la some Of its minute parts. it may appear
Inconsistent or defective but, like master
pice OF Correccio, when exam ned at pro
per distance, and in proper point of view,
1t is an astonishingly- majestic work Now
the result ofeahis majestic workmanship,
THE UNION, the offspring OF mutual con-
cessions, engendered by warm desire of
promoting the general welfare of young
empire OF law and reason; the work OF your
own hands--you want 10 destroy why ?
list. Because the Embargo was laid-by
Jefferson. Was not the Embargo CON-
STITUIIONALLY lail
cd. Because of the No Intercourse. Was
not this also perfectly CONSTITUTIONS
ALP
Sd. Because war has been declared a.
gainst England. Was not this declaration
ike wise CONS CITUTIONAL
4th. Because you suffer by the measures
of the government OF the United States.
Does any section of the Union suffer less
But you say these measures are unjust,
impoitical and might and tught to have
been avoided Yet great majority of the
people fthis Republic have declared, that
these very measures are just, political, and
could not have been avoided, without MAJ
tional degradation, even below that, from
which TO emerge, you first blew up the
flame Of Revolution. Did you not, in a..
DOPING the present constitution of the Uni
tedStates, pledge yourselves TO conform TO
the will of the MAJORIrYs You say fur
ther government is established for the be
neht of the governed. Now we think, we
suffer instead of gaining by our government
consequently we have a right to separate
from it.-Stop, gentlemen this right you
have given up by adopting this Constitution.
BY il you have declared separation TO be
REBELLION you have invested the ma
jority with the power to force you to obedi
ence. This is the very article which con
stitutcs the difference between the old con
federation OF Independent states and the
present Constitution the very article, which
was So strongly urged by the friends Of the
present Union, aud by you in part cular, and
which went down 50 roughly with the elo-
quent Patrick Henry. And now because
Il has not quite answ cred your expectations.
you are the FIRST TO take umbrage at II +!
Lett us suppose, if you please. THAI the New
England states with majority of the other
states of the Union had declared this var.
OF any other war and that Kentucky, Ohio
and Tennessee, thinking themselves peculi
arly aggrieved by it, would refuse to pay or
to tight far the common cause, nay would
even threaten to overturn .he sacred law
Of the confederation ;--what would you say
what would you do -" They are rebels
4sorganisers who ought to be made 70