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

which piety had dedicated to the holy vir.
I'm, and fell down 49,. pa,u 10 her their
liberation. we're, at length. compelled to
zee andto feel. and in agony 10 own, that
here is a God.
cannot proceed. My heart sickens at
the recollection of those horrors which de-
solated France. That charming country, on
which the bounty of heaven has lavished
blessings. was the prey of monsters. To
tell the crimes, every where and every hour
perpetrated. would wound the soul Of
humanity, and shock the ear of mo.
dessy. But where, my country! o where
shall hide the blush, that these monsters
were taken oyour bosomf
j retract the charge. Nations OF the
earth !believe not the imputation. Much as
they love liberty, the name of liberty did
not drive from their hearts the great friend
OF liberty, the protector of the rights of NAM
kind. No.holy matyr, their grateful bo,oms
re'echoed tiny dying grsan. In humble SUBJ
mission they viewed evenss whose mystery
they Could not comprehend, and waited the
developement OF eternal wisdom. They be-
held the licentious crime, under the name
OF liberty, roaming over the broad sur
face OF France, seeking virtue Tor its prev.
detiiing innocence, despoiling propert, and
laying the very face Of nature waste. Thev
saw 1t voracious at home, victoriou, abroad
every where triumphant Europe was an.
pailed. Her princes trembied. The new
Matched, unfledged, Fresch republic SCARED
on eagles pinions, beyond the clouds.
sied by the lustre of her victories. the mora
eve could scarcely perceive the guilt OF
those profiigate leaders vino dictated law
to the PROSTATE world. Drnak with sue
cess, slaughtering their conntrymes, pi!las-
Ing their neighbors, seducing subjects from
their allegiance. and preceding the stora, OF
conquest by the poison OF corruption, they
revived whatever antiquity and custom had
rendered respectable. made sport Of re ision,
treated public law DIS romantic nonsense, 8,
trampied ON the decencies of private life
Yet they found admirers every where ---
What wonder that they should have found
adherents here! This country is not with
out bankrupts, both in fortune and in fame
nor hery spirits prompted by ambition.
mere are among US some who, wishing q
be great, disdain to be good; who, in the
pursuit OF riches and power, indifferent "a
right and wrong, take the nearest way -
Many too, there are, who iguoran,ly swal.
10" every idle tale. Many who, pulled NJ
with conceit, will no longer listen TO truth
when she oilers instruction. A mind bloats
ed by vanity loves to feed ON falsehOod, and
drink the iattery by which it's dropsed un
Outstanding Is drowned. Bat in that mo-
ment when crowned heads in Eurone
crouched to the French directory, an insult
a,tn.d at the honor of America was instant-
ly resented, THIS dignihed conduct of thu.
new werid astonished the old. Our. cha.
racter was raised to the highest pitch
Raised, alas ! only to be prscipirated, by che
impetuo.ity Of its fall, more deeply in
shame.
This occasion does not require, neither
Wilt permit of, a history, or even the rapid
recapitulaiion, of important events We
have seen the tumults of democracy tcrmi
nate in France, a. they have every where
ermhated. IN qespotism. What had been
toreseen and foretola arrived. The power
of usurpatiou was directed and maintained
by great talents. Gigantic schemes of con
qeesr, prepared with deep and dark in.
trgue, vast masses of force, conducted with
consummate skill, a Geld indifference 10 the
miseries OF mankind. a profound Contempt
Tor mora ties. marble hearted atheism. to
which religion was only political instru
ment, ard the stern per evering will to bend
every thing 20 his porpose. wer. the means
OF Napoleon to make himself the terror. the
wonder, and the scourse Of nations. The
CALLING OF ms iron yoke taught Frenchmen
fee'ingiy to know how much they had lost
W breaking the bands of their allegiance
ihey bad, indeed, to- amuse them, the
pomp of triumph. the shouts of victory. x
the consciousness IF force which made the
neighboring nations groan But the fruits of
their labos ~@re wrest ed from them to era-
~ Sf mir
the waste of war. Their children were
torn from their bosoDs, and marched off in
chails to the altar ofisrpious, insa.iable am.
bitiou. Aged parents. who, with trembling
step. had followed 20 bid the last of MANY
sons final. toad adieu, in returning to their
cottage sonce the scene II humble happiness.
bus now stript by remorseless Collectors of
every thing which could be sold, looking
round in vain for the little objects to which,
use and need had given value, and seeing
only the remnant of that loaf from which
they had taken their last meal, moistened
with bitter tears, turn their eyes TO heaven.
then, throwing themselves in each other's
arms. eHcla'n, my child my cbIdl Such,
France. were thy suiferings. was the
innocent blood OF thy sovereign visited upon
thee. Frencnmen by those were you ,aught
10 reel the present, the avenging God Il
wa TN. deep agony which led you to de-.
clare 10 yorr SOW reign's brother. in the laa-
gqass OF nature and truth: Sir, we
bring you our hearts the tyrsnt has left us
nothing else to give"
In the month of September, 1912. the son
Of an obscure family, IN a small island OF
the Mediterranean. vas at the head of a
greater force than WAS eysr yet command
Ell nv one man duripg fba l<,c ,..~.s