Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-27
AN GRAFTON.

~~'' ~ASN Ou NSQuCsOay June <SVNs I6kf, ~ !
the request OF a number OF citizens OF New
York, in celebration the recent deiiyerance |
oil Europe from the yoke Of Military Despo- |
nsm. By the Hon. Governeur Morris, Esq
IT'S done. The long agony is over. The
boufo are restored. France reposes in
the arms OF her legitimate prince. We may
now express our attachment to her consis.
tently with the respect we owe to ourselves.
We recall to remembrance that interesting
period, when, in the fellow ship Of arms, our
souls were mingled at the conyivisl feast,
ard our blood on the 6elds,of glory. We
look, exultiDg, at the plain of York. There
French and American troops contendcd, in
generous strife, who first should reaci, the
goal of victory. There the contest for in
dependence was closed. There was sealed
our title TO be numbered among the ma :
lions.
thank God, we can, at length, avow the
sentiments of gratitude to that august famii
y, under whose sway the fleets and arr.
mics Of France and Spain were arrayed in
defence of American liberty. We then
hailed Louis XVI protector of the rights of
mankind. We loved him. We depored
his fate. We are unsullied by the embrace
of his assassins. Our wishes, our prayers,
have accompanied the loyal Spaniards in
their struggle and we blush that KneriA
caos were permitted to offer only wishes &
prayers.
How interesting, how instructive the his.
tory of the last Ave and twenty years. In
the spring of 1883, the States General of
France were convened to ward off impen
ding bankruptcy. The arrangement of their
finances was occasioned by the common ar
t'hce OF cheating people into belief that
debts may be safely incurred without impo-
sing taxes. Large lcans h been made |;
but TO funds provided. At the opening Of
that august assembly, The minister of finance
declared it would have been easy to cover
the defecit withou calling them together,
but the king wished their aid to correct a :
buses.
This hazardous experiment terminated,
as was ioreSeen Ivy intelligent observers, in
the overthrow OF ancient establishments -
The States General usurped under the
name of National Assembly unlimited pow
e., and used 1t with an equal want Of wis
dom and justice. They destroyed the righs
of property ISSUED paper money, framed an
impracticable system of Government, and
released their king from prison to place
him OH a throne whose foundation they had
undermined. Their successors overturned
IL IN less than year, aud again threw the
king into prison, whence. in less than six
months he W as led to the scaffpld.
i his yirtuous monarch, our frieRd, in the
hour OF danger was the victim of his own
goodness. Ardently DESTROYS ~ mciiorate
ths condition Of subjects. for whom hefe the
fondness Of a father. he thought no sacrifice
OF power too great if It could promote their
felicity H had been persuaded tina. his
prsrogative, useless TO him. was oppressive
To them. Dangerous error! He had been
told, and believed that in their Loyalty be
had perfect defevce, against the intrisues
OF turbulent demagogues. Fatal delusiou
This just. this merchui prince, was led, to
execution amid the Insulting shouts OF g
ferocious mob He was guarded by militia
who ielt horror at the oaice. The royal
victim, collected in himself, was occupied.
In the long procession, in beseeching Divine
Maj sly u pardon MS rebeliious subjects
Bu, the stroke which severed from the body
his innocent head, cut them of from for
givsness, until they should have expiated
the crime by Heightened years of misery.
. was crime agaspst nature aud a.
gaiast Heaven. a murder most foul and
cruel. A deed at which tlends might have
wept l was in Paris. saw tie gush OF
sorrow. heard the genera! groan Eve
ny bosom anticipated tue sentence OF an 2
venging God II was ike second fall of
man. An awful scene of afflic,ion, guilt. Il
horror. All were humbed to RE dust
seve only those who exulted. in screams of
dab lie rapture. at the,r success IN driving
an assembly over which they tyrann,zed 10
this nefarious act.
Mark here the guilt to which faction
leads That assembly, IN general, consis-
ted Of two parties those called Girondists.
at their head the representatives from Bsr.
hf, b,a for. .tSt:.