Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-06-01
Political.
From, the -Natisnal hnselsgencer.
pEsuLToRY THOUGHTS.


There are many OF our citizens, honest men
and good members Of society, who have been
or are powerfully attached. from motive, a. va
rious as our relations with that country, to the
british nation. OF those, lew who had enter
tanned this prediction, offered it UP az a sa-
critice on the shrine of patriotism, as the mo-
ment ofthe declarat on If war, and regard her
government ard people now, as Washington
says, We ought to regard ali nations, 4" enem!es
in war, IN peace friends" There are Others
who cannot dwest themselves Of an attachment,
10 British institutions, which they imbibed in
the course of their collegiate educ alton, and
early associations, and which has closely en-
twined Itself round their hearts We tn nix
that such persons deceive themselves, in sup.
posing they can at once serve both God and
Mammui that they can at the same time love
their country, and re joice at the successes OF
the enemy, in the war which he has excited,
and is now waging on the European continent.
But, 20 ling as shcy act conscientiously, ana
Violate no duty to their country. however we
CHER from them, and endeavor 10 shew their
error, we entertain for their opinions, that res
pect which every freeman ought to feel for the
honest convictions of his neighhor.
But those men who have recently obtruded
themselves OH the public at ention, as the most
vnciferous Anti Galcans and partizans of Bii-
tain, are not entitled to the same indulgence
as because our country is at war with her. They
call 1T indeed the war Of the administration
out thisis contemplate eq,iiyoque; mere
play upon words, not worthy an exposure. The
ncrest Ounce Can see, that rs respects foreign
power, in time of war, no distinction can be
drawn between the government, and the per-
sons who administer it. Nay more, the Con-
gress, the main spring Of our government, ema.
mates directly from the people--it is the peopl.
themse VIII, hav. derI tI,a -,
the people, We repeat, between whom and the
country, the sophists of faction draw distinc
ton, which, wien drawn with the utmost skill,
IS so FAINT and indefinite as to be invisible 10 the
most microscopic eye.
This class Of Politicians, whose energy was
psraIized by the victorious termination Of the
New York Spring Election, which like bleak
north wind nipped IN the bud their embryo
prospects and aspiring hopes, have gathered
fresh v'gor, and renovated strength from the
reyiving news OF the triumph Of British art,
vhich are daily waited to our shores. Their
government prospers, and they sicken and grow
liant. Britain triumPhs, and they revive.
We have though there could not breathe this
air OF genuine freedom, and perfect civil liber-
ty, human being, owing allegiance to this go
vsrhment, but would look to the recent events in
Europe, with single eye to heir effect on our
own prosperity, and rejoice or grieve as they
perceive general nationality of feeling, exh-
biting itself ON this occasion, which on the part
of tie Opposition writer's, is the more beautiful
from The glarng exceptions among them, which
form contrast to it. Real Federalists and
commercial men begin to look thoughtfully in.
to futurity, and seriously TO enquire what will
be their situation, what will be the condition OF
our whole navigating interest, should o itain
succeed in bribing or oragooning all the powers
III Europe, into an acquiescence in that mNri-
time tyranny which forced reluct antly into
war. When the winds and waves IRE admitted
TO be Rritair's sole domain, when not flag
but her own floats a freight on the ocean,
IT will be too late for our merchants TO discover
their fatal error in opposing, instead Of aiding
their gnvernme nj 10 les msgpanimous ex. rtions,
in behalf OF their rights. It is very natural,
therefore, that the news from Europe should
have excited such sentiments as we have en-
expressed by rational and rejecting men in tie
Fedora! party, who deprecate, wisel, as We
think, the total overthrow Of the power of
France.
But what shall we say, on tho other hand, Of
those parsgI aphIsts, who seize the occasion to
exut at the ideal aud prospe Give triumph of
he enemy over us, and over neutral principle =,
WI en- appears, Wi st ii dazzies the. inlsgins
ton, to blind their understanding OF those
who in the madness of their idiotic Joy exuit al
the possibility Of our enemy, being so situated
as 10 act mere efficiently against US who call
upon their reade,s, to rejoice at the annlhiati-
on OF power which, no matter what It's imper
iections (atrocities, II you wili) alone e6cctu-
ally checks the insatIate ambition aid rapacious