Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-11-05

Ter and murder prevailed, and It has cooi
inued toprevail. until British soldier is
to an lnhuman and 'unfee ing
rufhan. and the nation has resrogated TO
nation Of barbariaRs. Is it true Chat their |
barbarities cannot be restraineds Then |
why are they employeds--Butt the manner
the war has been conducted by our Indians,
which selfdefence has brought into our EN-
ploy, proves that Britain encourages, instead
OF restraining their cruelties.
But distinction IS attempted in this Re-
port, between an offensive and a defensive
war. If, as you say, the war is unjust. and
y"u have right to refuse your aid in its
prosecution. how happens it that you have a
right 10 defend the coil IL the enemy is
the injured party. tits his right to chastisc
rs and aveage the injury. And what AN
therizes you tn screen yourself from his
righteous indignation, by fleeing to your own
territory ; Sir, the law of nature affords no
man refugefr from justice. II the municipal
law authorizes man to defend his castle it
| Is for the furrherance of feace, but not of
justice. Upon your hypothesis, therefore,
you have no right to defend your own or
your neighbours property. The erroneous
ground you have takea viii lead yoa into
thousand such absurdities. Your Govern
responsible for its justice. The people are
justified. aud it is their duty to prosecute it
In such wdy and manner as the constitution
al managers of the war shall direct. 1t is
often prudent and proper, and the best means
OF defence. to carry the war into the ene>
my's country. Will any one undertake to
say that the invasion Of Canada by General
hrown was not the most effectual plan Of
defensive operation which could have been
adopted Pillow could this band of heroes,
who have acquired such never.fading re-.
nown, have better defended eur territory :
And, sir. had we an army Of sixty thousand
men in Canada at this time. II would effec-
tually draw the enemy from our Atlantic
frontier, and we should be. no rtore exposed
to their depredaticns
You Complain that Massachusetts Is left
deferceless. At the commencement Of the
war, forry-me companies of militia "a force
at that time adequate to the defence of the
S tate. was required by she President and
refused by the Governor; and upoh the un.
precedented and alarming ground, that the
Governors of the States have the exclusive
right 10 decide srhen and to sohaf ezfeaf the
militia shalt be placed IN the service of the
general government. A more direct infraer
ton of the constitution has never been made
since-hs adoftfion. Ain Part too which
goes To the destruction of the strength and
energv of the system. You took the defence
of the State ont uf the hands of the genera!
government. You would not permit them to
decide on the danger. You refused them
the means to repel il. and now. forsooth, you
complain that you are left defenceiess But
the regular troops enlisted within your state,
you claim for its defence. What, sir, those
enlistnents which you have labored nces
sanity to prevent? Those soldiers whom
YOU have scandalizeG, insulted and abused
Those officers, whom you have degraded.
caricatured. neglected and despisedf Sure
ly yous would have none of these to defend
you. Would you have troops of other states
These, YOU would say, were sent to dragon
you into submission. to trample upon your
liberties. ---And you would say, as one of
your pulpit incendiaries has said, !" rather
lay your bones by the side of your fathers
than 10 suffer southern troops to enter the
borders of Nc1p England"
: The truth is, you expected the su5nis
St'n would tempt the enemy to forbearanoe
and discrimination. Disappointed in this, you
Gce u6oAf. The Governor lays aside his
constitutional scruples. and in contempt of
the solemn opinion Of his learned ridges.
plaaes'the militia under an officer Of the u.
States. Wozv Boston must be defended
togv other seaports like Boston must be de
Tended The pence parry will be patri-
otto, very patriotic, when the danger threat
ems their property or their sacred persons.
The wantcn barbartty at Hampton and o.
ther places. which gentlemen made the
theme Of SO sluch pleasantly, wear much
more serious aspect when likely to be brot'
nearer home.
Under these approximations, the commit
tee state IN their report, that Great Britain
threatens us with desolation. Gentlemen
tco who hnve hitherto placed great reliance
ON the magnaminity of Great Britain. And
will they BOW doubt her magnanimity -
What, afscr she has gloricusly emancipatcd
Europef After she has given freedom to
France by imposing on her master at the
point OF the bsyonetf After she has esiab-
iished the freedom of the seas. by placing all
maritime rights under her exclusive controll
What after having given liberty to Spain.
by re>estsblishing the inVitisftisn? And a.
bove all, after having taken Sheriffs Cooher
and adams under her kind projection and
made them her friends, is it possible that she
can be SO barbarous, as to threaten the
friends of peace with desoiationi There
is, however, one part Of the British conduct
which confess liked. If there is any
bondrnble feeling still Remaining 10 an En-.
glishma1, II is love of cnuntfy--A And he res
poets that virtue even in an enemy. Instead
of its being source Of complaint therefore,
that the British have not Disseminated in IA.
vor Of, but against their professed friends, il
is very honorable TO cur enemy and caIcuia.
ted to unite tire people. The British have
probably learnt, that as in the revolution,
their prefessed friends are their real enc..
inies--That they have been deceived ard
brought Into this war by The professions and
declarations Of these very friends.
Eat, sir, do not believe THAI the glorious
emancipation OF Europe, has either increa,