Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-24

| Americans let the events which have
lately distinguished the theatre cf Europe.
be held up as a mirror, in which you may
view the fate of nations, and learn 10 pro-
| tect your own from those evils which have
befailen SO ys.Any others. Think not, because
vast ocean intervenes. the frantic ambiti.
on which has desolated the fairest portion
OF the ole world VIII look uncoucerned TO
ward the new. It was customary with chief
tans OF other days, to pause IN the high ca
reeP ofamb ton. ROme's great JuKus, when
arrived at the Ru6icon, deb ..ed With him
self whether he should pass thoge limits pre-
scrihed BIZ the laws, aud inf 'inge those Ii
bert es which hisilustrious fam!lyhaA III nd
cd, and himself sworn % prOtect (; and Phi
Ups warlike soa, when in the midst OF Sub
miss nations, listened TO counsel, and re-
traced his cOnqUering steps. But what II
mits, what barriers shall ever carb Napo
Icons ambition Think you, that he who
hath scaled the Alps, would not attempt the
Andes And that mighty genius, which
scared the chamois from the snowy heights
OF St. Bernard, would too disturb the lonely
caudor ON The cloud capt SUBMITS of the
Chimborazo.
We should have thought, tina, the mon
stes's rayenous nav must have long ere tbs
been gorged With human sacrifice bur we
should remember, thae the marked charac-
teristic OF the royal tiger is, thatit once he
tasts CT human blood lie abaudons not the
banquet while . victim remains within his
reach.
But, happy Americans, you enjoy this
| tyrant's love There was time, when a
tvrant's love would have gone hardly down
in my country-it was in The stern pure age
of the republic. He loves vou, forsauth -
| YES, as PolV phenus loved Uys>is---Yith one
| hand he beckons You to friendship, with the
other grasps stone for Your destruction.
Americans, ifin steering the national bark
through the tempestuous seas which now
surround II, but two courses are left US
the one 20 meet the embrace ofthis hungry
Soy !la-the other to combat the roaring
! Chaybdis of the main-kindred genius of
my country, seize the helm and nobly dare
the gulf. ii we perish, q ray Of glory will
geam distant on the horizon OF our fame
bnt Ii ever We permit the arms Of the. mon
ster 10 ell wine our liberties, we are ssran-
ged without struggle
Returaing from abroad. the deligted a
merican beholds rich t:iunphs at home
They seem like an Elysian dream, from
Which we fear to awaken /; but the vision
hath passed away, the glorious truth bursts
| ike the morning light upon our ravished
senses and we hail with ecstacy the r:siH5
Our noble fine fellows have so wen en-
ploycd their time, that already are taty
teachers of that very science in which their
enemy has always claimed the mastership.
and American seamen deserve patent
| right Tor the destruction of armed vessels, on
! principles and practice wholly their own.
Nay, even were great Nelson living, whose
last si5 still dwelis in glory on Trafalgar's
vase, his generous soul would have given to
his enemy the JUST eed Of praise.
| On the outermost cliff which o'erIook3 the
main, we should erect a naval trophy, a
dorned with the busts of cur heroes, that
( when the future sailor boy shall thither roam,
! his delighted eye may rest ON the monument
Of oar early fame, and his youthful heart be
| fired with q generous emulation.
! Twelve months ago, could a man have
! been found hardy enough TO assert that A
merica should meet in equal comba, the
mistress ofthe main, and that too upon Der
| usurped element, and there should deal her
| an harder measure OF battle, than she ha.n
! deit even to her m anest foe, that man wuuld
! haze been called fool. But now, my friends,
| the experiment to our country, and an adj
! mning world, the glorious fact, that we too
| can " march upon the mountain wave"-
we too can share @ in the empire Of the
deep"
And who have achieved these glories ?
| The musings who have long fed at the be-
som OF pubic BOUNTY, and gamboi!ed in the
Sunshine OF public patronage and protection
say rather-it is the neglected children of
! our Washngton-they who for long, long
time have endured their country's scurn and
! been deemed unworthy OF her confidence
or esteem Yet when dangers assail, and
miSfortuncs press hard on their native land,
/ see them. mindful Of the example Of their
| chief, forget their wrongs and slew their
generous nature. And aSe these the men,
who but the other day bore the hard names
of traitors and of toriesY And has it been
left fcr traitors and tories to strike Britannia S
flag upon the ocean My country, for shame I!
! VIII you never know your friends So when
your old soldier died, che brave, the vrtu-
Gus Linsau, these tender epithets were the
! cruel comforts Of his parting hour-They
were the tender mercies offered to soothe an
hero. at the end Of blameless life--They
were the pious blessings with which he clos
ed las eyes forever! Americans, have you
forgot this old man's wrongs! There is a
! God Of justice and humanity, who may for
get you.
Let us go back for a moment to that gloo-
my, vt Interesting period gwhen in pious as
sembagc. we paid our Mst duties to the
| memory of tho brave. You must all rcmcm.
Der that while fee5y breathed my poor
tribute Of praise 20 tie mantS OF the mar.
| tyrcd Iiugan, dared to say That the hand,
which should nail the flag Of my country
to the mast" would belong to one ofthosc,
|