Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-05-04

ccedings OF the Legislature. view With
horror the gangrenous faint in the body 90.
lite ofthat once respectable state, disfyu.
rng the fair frame of the Union--impair.
ing its strength-palsying its efforts-pro-
crastinating the war, or goading to dishon.
orab'c peace. There is sti.i. trust, a
compact and energetic body of Republicans
in that state. The cancer Of corruption
may net yet have destroyed its vitality
It may yet throw of the morbid and putrid
matter. and be happily restored to its pris-
tine tone and vigor.
Mr.. Holmes appears to possess talents oil
the first order. He has vigor Of intellect,
happy intrepidity the power of iliumina
ting truth calculated to appal the venal.
n silence the corrupt. Ee breathcs the
spirit If an Andrew Marvel. in an atmos
phere as foul and polluted as the dissipated
Court Of Charles the Second.
lnthe general detection of Massachusetts
from virtue, there is one name, enrolled un :
der the appellation of Federalism, brilliant
10 talent and eminent in honest fame.
shedding a departing iustre ON its d4iken-
ing horizon. Early in the present war, ths
voice of Dexter, the friend OF his coun-
try. was heard in the Town Hall Of Boston.
1t twas Demosthenes addressing h Athe
mans, when the gold of Philip had cUrrup-
ted the popular orators.
Whenever the will of the nation, solemn :
ly asserted through its Constitutional organs.
can be rejected by any individual state, the
confederation. as to that particular stale, is
virtually dissolved. To neutralise its ply
steal force, is to ta,e part with the enemy.
In the activity of the British force to the
south, and the forbcarance to the east, we
discover the tacit understanding between
10 ,rha
Already the Partizans of britain drpouace
Mr.. Dexter for promulga ing a erea-coiiti
cal truth, that the foundation Of social or
der, and the basis of our Republican institu,
items, is, q that the will of the majority i
the supreme law to which all must WELD"
The hollow sound Of revenge reverberates
through all the recesses of folly and dissi-
patton. With the foresight of a man who
knew his party, whilst offering the dictates
as TO tins point of enlightened wisdom. he
predicted aud anticipated his own talk
They may indeed frown OH the Aris.ides of
their party but they cannon put him down.
They would ostracise him if they had the
power, and in that event short and ignobIe
would be their triumph. Faction is of ephe
neral reign. 1t Will be the signal tina
Massachusetts has risen from her fallen
lr'smous declension, when Mr.. Dexter
Yields the government of that once homer
able state.
Foreign war is an evil of little compare
i've magnisudeto civil dissention.-The CO
hesion OF the cement which unites us is in
doubt. The wreck of the union would be to
US the convulsive throbs OF expiring nature.
What scene of desolation is presented to
the agonized eye by that dreadful prospect
The wars of the Vendee would be realized
in our hitherto peaceful retreats. Our ri
vers, like the Loire, tinctured with the blood
of civil combatants, would poilute their wa
ter by the indiscriminate destruction of the
aged and helpless, of female youth & beau
~, the mother and her offspring.
The rival beiiigerents, realizing the an
Gent Roman--the modern European and
British Indian policy, covering our shores
win their fleets and armies, invited in by
opposing chiefs, would soon apportjon the
disme mbered states, as the great powers of
Europe recently partitioned unhappy Pos
land.
The extensive powers retained by the
states, as sovereign aud independent. are
convertible by bad men. probably the crea-
lures of foreign power, in times of public
danger, into engines of terror and d:snay.
The national government has no DC nsion list.
on which to insert the members Of the res
pective state legislatures. There IS no Sc
crct service money TO purchase a venai ma
jori,y.---What i attainable by gold is the
work of foreign agents. Our government
has no lure bur the wealth consecrated nv
virtue and honor.
government composed Of distinct ant,
separate branches, although under a fetle-
raj head. requires a skilfH hand to preserve
the machine in order. Before the Scottish
act of union, and previous to that of Ireland.
In the present reign, these Coordinate pow,
crs occupied large share of the attention
OF the English administration. 1t was the
regency bill which led to the annexation of
Ireland to Britain.
The system OF our confederation is more
happily adjusted to our situation if the
blessings bestowed by our admirable fra me
OF government are not shsmegully perverted
and wickedly abused. -
secession Is the present watch word of
masked treason, There is no inherent now
err lett in any state, without the consent of
Congress, to recede. 1t has no power 70
supercede the law Of Congress constitution,
ally enacted and to prevent the execution
OF an acc OF Congress by force and intimida
tons, is high treason. The American pa.
tript need not despair of his Country. There
can be no reasonable doubt we shall pass for
the present, unhurt. through the flames of
federal discord.--But ave not without am
ptehension that the example Of Massacha.
'etts may at some future day be pernicious
to tie government.
Aoaorrencc through the union will long
laas a a..