Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-19

security in the impotent deficiency of his
understanding. We owe it perhaps to the
County of providence, that the completest
tlepravity of the heart is sometimes strange
ly united with confusion of the mind
which counteracts the most favorite princi
pies, and makes the same man treacherous
without art, and ahypocrite without deceiv-
ing. But the records of the misguided credu-
iity OF human nature shew, that such corrupt
ed & corrupting miscrcants have sometimes
triumphed over the liberties of free people.
History here and there tells us, that the
people here worshipped an ungrateful idc l.,
who, while he lived the pride and bantiing
or MS country, hid the dark and gloomy
purpose OF his soul, under the clouds of in
cense iavished on him, and made the lau
rel, which was designed to ornament the
Patriot, a crown to consecratc the ryrant.
Whether the laurel Of applause shall
ever raise coroneted tyrant to preside o.
YER any portion of our Union, will require
better evidence to bestow upon the question
decided negative than is furnished in the
Legislative remonstance Of the people of
Massachusetts. That remonstrance bre athes
| spirit OF selfish opposition, OF deep. rooted
dlsc6htent, OF unfounded imputatons, min>
gled with Liberal distrust, jealousies and
fears. II commences by calling upon tie
nationa, Legisture " to allay the apprehen-
sioIS, and restore the confidence of the
Eastern and commercial states-to remove
their actual sulierings and TO replace thcm
in the happy and prosperous condition from
which they have been driven, by success
sion OF measures, hostile to the rights of
commerce, and destructive to the peace OF
the Union. I'm the first place, let me ask
these remonstants by virtue of what author.
ny they have assumed lofty tone of com
plant Tor the whole " eastern and COM
mercial states!" If any such authority
has been conhded, it ought to appear in the
Renaissance, but 1t not appearing there,
1t is fair to Conclude that no such authori-
~ wasever given. And let me ask these re-
monstrants once more, if it is not wicked
and presumptuous to present to the ma
ton the written grievances of states that
have the same materials for writing, and
faculties for speaking as they, over which
they have no confront, & which never made
them their organ Of compaintI Do they
not take upon themselves, the self conceit
ed privilege OF asserting that they, are the
undisputed head of the eastern aud COM
merclal states, and assuming this, make il
tneir exclusive province, to speak in a loud
anu daring tone OF arrogated superiority |!
Does 1t not show the genius of discord
beating up for volunteers to fill the thin
and stinted ranks of despicable faction
VIII not CANVASS the propriety of call
upon Congress-" to allay approximations"
which have been produced by gorgons, hy>
dras and chimeras dire, the gloomy COM
panlons of disturbed imaginations that har
row up tte soul with horrid presagrs of
approaching misery. These are the idle
phahtoms OF an oyerhcated fancy, that
changable chameleon of the mind that ne
YER fails TO borrow its colors FROM the OBJ {.
Jects on which it settles. To remove she
actual suferlngs" OF the people of Massa-
chusetts, SO long as she continues member
OF the Union viii be the bounden duty of
the national Councils, as far as the removal
Is practicable and consistent with the pubIic
GOOD but temporary privaions growing
out OF the war, and Common to all the
states, have been thought by the nation,
not to be such " actual Sufferines" as will
admit ofimmediate redress without defeat
Ing the objects of the war And even adj
mi! Tor theSake of argument, what is mad
mlsSlbe an point OF fact, that the privations
resulting from the war. were exclusively
confined to the people of che East, by every
principle of governmental compact, which
requires the interests OF the few to be solv-
cd aBC melted into the interests Of the whole
you ought to bear them with foItitude and
patience. BY the most solemn pledge of
mutual support, every state is bound toac-
quiesce in the lawful acts of the Cons,tu-
ted authorities and neither law, Justice,
nor morality recognises any such principle,
by which state may Violate her engages
inents, merely because she may think it to
her interest to do so. II was expected by
inc nation, that mutual privation and coli
csssion OF local advantages would be the vo
lnntary price paid by each estate, tor war
declared by the mass of the people, and
having protessedly for its object a redress of
the grievances ct the Union. IL was eX
pected and recommended by the father of
MS country. " The prevalence OF that
friendly and pacific disposition among the
people OF the u. 5. which will induce them
to forget their local prejudices and policies,
to make those mutual concessions which are
requisite to the general prosperity, and IN
some Instances, to- sacrifice their individual
advantages to the interest of the community,
IS pillar, on which the glorious fabric of our
independence and national character must
be supported."*
But the memorialists of the East have not
felt the exclusive nor the seyercst consequen.
ces Of this war the people Of Kentucky and
Ohio have lost more than the opportunity to
accumulate wealth they have lost their lives
IN the service Of their country and tie pat
rlOtc sacrifice shall be remembered forever.
Recorded honours shall gather around the
heroes OF the Wesu they are glorious fabrics,
they will support che laurels by which they
are adorned A glance through Georgia
and the CarOlinas, will shew, that the multi