Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-04-08


obvious and essential right ! Is it ba,riotisn
20 cetame, Systematically, in this time of con
nict, the rulers who in behalf OF th, nation
conduct it Aud is it eat,ioas,s 20 pass tn,
iim'ts ct the grave, to SANDER great and H.
iustrious man, for the simple, single crime O
oeing friendly to the government l. it 5atyi
'0fiSn to make show OF rejoicing, at triurnphs
ON One element claiming, at the same time
IA monopoly ofthe credit of such victories and
sheerinS at disasters on the other, produce,
ny treachcry, or the novel nature of warlik,
operations, after long, luxurious interval o
peace In one comprehensive question, is il
pafrio'iSns to adopt every measure, and use
every modification of language, which cain i'm
pcde, embarrass or injure the operations OIL
ones own government and to lacquer over
win apology aud extcnuation the base and rot.
ten pretexts OF the foe lift be, we relinuuisl
the title OF our paper as a ntisnon,er ]; fer we
were never educated in such school.
May we be permitted TO give our ideas OF
pHriotisAs ? We believe it firm and aficnt
attachment to our country; displayed IN efforts
TO secure ITS rights, to vndicate its honor, 10
cherish its happiness, and to increase its glo.
ry We believe it unacceptable ofthe slight.
est alloy of foreign influence, or of submission
TO foreign injury. 1t is a single and entire
regard To that political community, with which
our all is embarked an ardent and feeling
attachment to that political family which com
prises all our interests which protects and
cherishes the minor divisions of society, en-.
sures their safety, and guarantees their hopes.
Can 1T ever coalesce, or be connected with a
foreign government, or a part of the political
body attempting to SOW discord in the political
household No! Can it ever sneer or re-
Joice at the injuries sustained by part of
the united confederation! No Can it, ever
wish 10 injure the community, that it may cast
blame on the rulers No Does it ever wish
to sink the vessel, that it may disgrace the
commander and the pilot No Then the
leaders of the opposition, We are sure cannot
be patriots.
But, asks heated partizan, ara we not to
exercise the right OF private judgment and
when that dictates, to condemn the conduct Of
our rulers No doubt of il. IL is the very
essence OF a free republican government But
does the right of private judgment, imply -
rlght to disobey and thwart the laws Of your
country and plot against their arms, when
they assume the attitude of war; You have a
right to contest the pending necessity OF war
YOU have a right to find fault with the mode
OF wagmg it but when you go farther, that
would oppose and impede the operations o
your country; strain open opposition to the
last verge of constitutional indulgence and
plead, with animation, the cause OF the foe
do not, We beseech you, in the name OF consiS
tency, do not call yourselves parrots. Ii you
must be factionists, we must cefsure, Or pity,
or condemn you, as your conduct may deserve.
We must expose your Inconsistencies, and
blame your perversious with all the severity,
which the occasion and the times may require
and when we see a marked forei ign partially,
indignant feeling will and ought to promptth the
most severe and cutting reprehenslons
We are willing to place the question on the
simplest and most obvious ground. Is 1t pGtri
otisnl TO dissuade from engagements in the
cause of the country, and TO defeat the loans,
which are to support necessary contest Is
it patriotism to withhold, like STRONG, the
militia from the public service, and to SCI one
portion of the community at variance with the
other j. it patyionsm to laud, with uncea.
sing and boisterous emulation, the enemy at
our door Is itPariotiSm TO abandon class,
who have fully earned the protection OF their
nation, by useful services, and unriyailed bg:t'
very and 10 whose enterprise, the ciamoring
and gold devoted merchants owe their stand
ing and their wealth Is i, patriotism, to show
courage only in abusing our own government,
and quietness, only in submitting to and court
ing foreign degradation I'VE have not
learned the constitution, or the code CT PAM.
oisnl. 1t is not thus that the sages OF the nc
volution Taught us. 1t was not thus that this
nation was severed from its parent stock--and
planted in the soil of freedom, TO grow and
hourIsh, beyond the widest dreams of san
guine expectation. Such fdt,iotism never con-
secrated to endless renown the founders OF our
republic. Suck tatriotispl cannot, aud will not
ensure stability TO our free constitutions, re
sPect to our national name, or safety and peace
in our borders No the dictates OF duty are
always plain nor did Heaven ever perpiex tie
path of patrietism. The sc 10 Here's and +" Lo
There's" of faction must be disrcgarded, and
the right-onward course persey.ringly pursu-
ed. we cannot serve God and DIammon. We
cannot be faithful to the American, ard yet
enamoured of the British government With
all the necessary evils of war, our country is
yet undergoing most useful publication
The evil humors, en.ratcd by avarice, or dis
affection, or fear, will be Grad cated in the pro-.
cess and our nation restored to pristine health
and vigor. Yet the incidental remedy was not
sought, but forced onus We have the good
which accompanies necessary evil TO console
us; and the hope, that the accordance OF JUS
tice, By our enemy, will close, ere long, the
temple OF .fd,lus. But, if the conflict be con-
tinuad, we have, ct least found a fair criterion
ofpdyistism. The real and pretended lovers
Of their county have separated on marked
ground.
IMpURcSMEN'r