Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-06

virtues than those displayed by our fathers.--
Regardless of danger, OF the ignominious fate
that awaited unsuccessful resistance, regardless
OF the apparent fearfslness of the odds against
| them, unsubdued by hardships, unseduced by
| the enemy, unmoved BY the sacrifices Of PEE
cuniary interest which they encountered, we find
them persevering through every difficulty, UNI
| til they obtained a triumph, at once complete
and glorious. II is, my Fellow citizens, on the
| contemplation of these virtues, that We should
dwell. when We meet to celebrate the birth day
OF our liberty. We should emulate the p-inci-
Piles of the heroes OF our revolution, and imi-
tate their glorious example. We SHOULD en-
deayor to inspire our souls with their contempt
OF wealth. compared to freedom; their patti
ence. their fortitude, their simplicity of man.
ners, their submission to priyation, and fnslIy
their devotion to their country, in the most adj
verse and trying scenes. to which she can be
exposed. Yes, my countrymen. cultivate these
virtues, yourselves, inculcatc them on your
offspring, impress upon their tender minds, that
next to the love OF their God, ought to be their
devotion tn their country. And you, my fair
country women, DO not honour with your
regard, nor bless with your smiles, the man
whose bosom is not warmed by the holy flame
OF patriotism. ~
In the declaration of Independence, and in
the various resolutions. and public acts Of Con-
gress, during the war. you illfnd, my fellow
citizens, the principles Of the revolution deve.
loped and declared, IN ia,guage which no Il
man pen has ever excei.ed, IN subIimIty and e
loquence. let these be your text books Let
these be the manuals of your rights, and depo-
STORIES of your political creeds. Put them in
TO the hands of your children. Come to the ce.
lebration Of this holy festival every year, with
| the full knowledge ofyour rights, which these
| sacred oracles will inspire, with resolution to
perish, rather than surrender them and le-
termination to transmit them as the; best and
most valuable legacy to your posterity. DO
these things and you will preserve & perpetuate
the principles OF that revolution which is con-
secrated by the yalor Of Washington, and by
the blood of Warren and Mercer and Siontgo-
merry. 1850
| 1t the recurrence 9th 4th of July, for the
| considerations which II have stated, shall ever
excite in the hosoms OF patriots, feelings the
| deepest interest and most holy enthusiasm.
what tongue, or what pen can do justice to the
awful importance of the day, which this morn
ling's sun has ushered in! Would to God, that
| the task of describing the momentous nature
| ofthis crisis had devolved on one more able to
do justice to the subject Would to God that
| possessed portion of that sublime elouuence
| which marked the epoch which we commence
rate would then enJeavor TO tran sfIse into
the bosoms of all who hear my voice, my con-
viction OF the awful Importance ofthe period at
which we meet. Yes, my countrynsn we are
called Upon TO decide, whether rnut independ.
ence which we boast our greatest earthly
blessing shall be permanent, or shall be sacri-
Heed TO the sroition and Injustice of that very
ration from which it WAS wrested by the yalor
and blood of our ancestors. We are called ,p.
On to decide whether We have Jegenerated from
the virtue OF our fathers; whether the same
blood runs in our veins, whether the same A..
I rhericsn feeling animstes our he arts. Our An
cestors were driven into war, by the injustice
OF Great Britain. We conquered oar liberties.
\ hey Il, iadr
: peSce and friendship. But this OF the part of
England. was the mere language OF Diplomacy.
For length OF time, The Western Posrs were
withheld. Our commerce was exposed to We <.
atoms, producing spirit of resentment in this
Country, which would have come to An open
rupture; but was suspended in its effects by the
adoption OF MIR. jays treaty; although that trea
ty was dlsaprroveI by a large port Oh Of the
American people. From that period, to the
present, the injuries and injustice on the part
| OF England have never ceased. We have been
subjected to series of orders in council which
expounded by courts, obeying the mandates of
the British Government, have swept our COM
merce from the ocean, whenever it suited the
convenience OF Great Britain to promulgate
them. And in the progress of the war with
France, England asserted and acted on as bs.
SIS for ner DEGREES pretended right to retail.
ate on US, an innocent and friendly neutral, the
wrongs She alledged She received from France
mus attempting to introduce into the code of
Bations principle abhorrent 10 every idea Of
moral rectitude; that because one nation COM
mits AN act OF injustice, the nation Injured has
right to retaiiatc that injustice not on the nation
offending, but on one entirely innocent. Be-
sides, England persisted, i'll the exercise of this
pretended right even AFTER the himsy pretext. by
which it was attempted TO be justified, had en-
| tirely tailed, and vowed her determination to
persist ~ those orders against us until the pro-
ducts OF Greaf Britain, should be ieceived into
the markets of her enemy.
BY pretended blockadss of whole coasts of
the enemy, which We're not invested by AN ade.
quate force, and which frequently were inca
pable OF beng invested by any force, she com :
united on our commerce spoliations to an i'm
mence amount. And as these blockades, were
Construed by her to be in force from the date OF
their notification, they served as SO many snares
for our trade, against which no human foresight
or vigilance could guar,l. And what tended TO
aggrayate the INF aries we cnGui ed under this
system was, its bei-g directly opposed to her
exposition OF the laws Of nations as applied TO
blockaees, repeatedly and officially announc-
/ ed.
And finally, American seamen, the pride and
boast OF the nat on, were impressed and COMPEL.
ell 10 night against and spill the blood Of their
eountrymen; or submit TO ndignities which to
a freeman, are worse than death. Such were the
causes winch produced the war; aud il they
vii! not Justify it, All incapable of conceiving
what would. IL these injuries would not rouse
q nation TO resistance, they would deserve to be
slaves. How has this war. provoked by the in