Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-25

many of yonr readers; and therefore.
saaii rather confine myself to those which
we're most remarkable.
| OBSERVATION.
When we take in view the jarrins inter.
esss and mutual jealousies which snbsisted
i between the then colonies. it must be con
| ie2sed, that their union ef sentiment, and
I concurrence of action as to the pretentions OF
tne British government. must have been the
erect OF an overriding providence. The
period at which the attempt to subjugate
these colonies was made, was favorable TO
their resistance. The state of society was
propitious to public as we'll as private virtue
4 -~Learnng was sufficiently cultivated, and
lasorma'tun so generally diffnsed, that the
tifr.Sss >;seS', ;gs.,, wsrc d;spUsca 70 assert,
4 uisir rights. The degree of civilization. ex
sting at saat time, had not polluted her ;
Out wise, modest aud vrtpous, she scarcely
knew foreign nations but by name. when She
offered their euiigrants an asylum; and e.
ven the growing corruptions of the mother
| country had not reached her. rs ~.
May We not also impute il to the appoint
ment OF divine wisdom, that the COLONY, at
| that time, the most popuious, and whose
sons ranked among the hardest and most
| enterprising of Americans. should be singled
cut for the first attempt, TO enforce by mi.
itary power, the unconstitutional designs Of
the British Court?
The determined opposition ofthe enemy,
and their want OF success in New England,
certainly encouraged the other colonies in
| their resistance, and in their resolution to
prosecute the war.
No less conspicuous was the watchful
care Of Heaven over the .destiflies If this
country, IN raising up so many excellent
commanders, who NAV, with great proprie-
ty, be called Heaven born Generais.' Men,
snatched as it it were from the plough, whn
acquired SO speedily and iRtuitivelY such a
knowledge OF the military art, as 10 be q
match for the skill and experience OF vete-
rams, educated for, and o! no small reptAe
IN their professions. Ofthese, our country
men Shall hazard no dispute when place
~ the torep,o3t rank George Washington, so
properly called the shield as well as the
sword of his country Bnt can my feeble &
nuskilful pen ealogize Washngtons will
not attemp. it The lives in the hearts and
memories OF his countrynlen. 0i
lconsider as IN instance Of divine inter.
position OF no ordinary nature, the facility
Peiceable manner in which regular gov
erumenis were established upon tie over,
throw OF the old one.
total change in the very principle. fron
iieFedi'vry royalty To representative aemo
'{ 49, ~, - = sytsesi q r>aasiSss !. 81 -s.s
was eitced without ininrrec.ion OF n,assa-
ores. The ccol operations OF reason and
the po~ers OF argument. were the only weas
pons employed in this rnomentous criss.
The temporary government, by com nit
tees and conventions, was submitted to with
readiness by people represented as facts
OTIS and ungovernable !; and their re-com.
meEdations met with cheerful obedience.
But for the interposilon of Heaven, how
proaabls is it, that the perioa between
the overthrow OF one government &c the es-
tsbiishmeut OF another, whopld have been a
tine OF confusion and bloocshed. Too Of
ten are these dreadful evenis the conconir
tsrns OF such changes. Money, which is SO
empha,icaliy called the ssinews Of war was
wanting. But men, resolved 20 be free,
will be at loss paper money was
issued without any other fund for its redemp-
ton than the Pubic faith. BY means Of it,
armies were raised, fed, clothed, and paid
---Navies built--and civil governmene sus.
tanned during most critical part of the re
yclbtion. What other than that influence
WHICH he deity exercises o0er the mind of
nen, could have kept embodied during one
period, an army of brave soldiers suffering
every pFIvation, neither paid. nor clothed.
and after enduring staryationl i'm the midst
OF winter, exposed TO intense cold, their feet
uushoti, scarcely a blanket 10 cover them,
yet did ,ney endure with patience and for
| tltutle, all these havdships-- Nay--tho' temp
| ted, during period Of irritation by the grea-
test promises of the enemy, we see them
turning deaf car to the Voice of corruption
and even delivering up to the laws of their
/ country, the agents of seduction. The coun.
rls.1 ~. a.
| BY the continental nations Of Europe gener
ally, and particularly by Louis XvI Kipe
! of France, whose treasury, fleets aud armies
afforded an efficient and timely aid was a.
fiosFs,T proof Of Interrogation OF Divine Provi
derce. By the movements ct these forces
the enemy's attention was distracted, their
| schemes disconceited. and the vigor of theii
| operations weakened aud, thus, p9wcr-
| tut iiveTsicn made in our favor. and nc
! less efficient was the loan OF money for the
| revival Of public credit, for feeding and
! cioathiug our armies, and enabling them e
| make the necessary movements. When y
large naval force and army bad invaded this
| State g. Carolina in l776, and attacked
Fort Mouitrie, Providence so ordered IT,
| that Of three mea vt War, destined 70 Ike
position so as TO enhIade the fort where
it happened TO be unfinished. one went on
shore on the middle ground --ano.her los,
her bowsprit, aud the third declined the en-,
terprize aione--Whilst a bomb vessel, il
throwing shells. was rendered useless 10y the
bursting of the mortar had not these events
taken place, the result would certainly have
been different.
After the disastrous defeat Of large DO
dy Of Americans on Long Island, New
York; Gen. Washington found il necessar,
to evacuate that Island. This operation
was committed 10 ecu M'Dougal, and wa
to have Commenced IN the evening. Blu