Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-03-19
er to the Commonwealth, near the Beii-Ia,eIn
be bias closed the crater Of that Volcano, which

-
he has closed the crater ofthat Volcano, which
menaced all.
| We must not disguise. that, in some res.
poets, that extraordinary manifesto is in q
moderate tone. Thatproves that coalitions,
by experience. have become more perfect.
1t Is not forgotten, perhaps, that the mani.
festo Of the Duke of Brunswick irritatetl>the
kpride of a great people. Those who, in eff
ect, did not even participate in the prevails
ing opinion, at that epoch, in reading tins
injurious manifesto, felt their national honor
wounded. They have therefore adopted am
other language. Europe, fatigued, rather
requires repose than excitement.
But 1t there be SO much moderation in the
councils of the enemy, why, white shey are
talking of peace, do they menace the from
tiers. which they promised to respect when
the Rhine should be our barrier If our en-
emies were so moderate, why have they VII.
olated tho capitulation of Dresden Why
have they not attended to the noble remon-
strances of the general, who commanded
that place! If they are SO moderate, why
[ have they not established q cartel of exs
change, conformable to the usages of war !;
and lastly, If they areso moderate, those pro-
tectors of the rights of the people, why have
they not respected those of the Swiss Can
tonse Why does this wise and free govern
ment, which declared itself neutral in the
| face of Europe, see in a moment its peace.
able yaiiies and mountains ravaged by all
the horrors of war
Moderation is sometimes but diplomatic
| trick. If we wished to employ the same ar,
tifice, in processing also justice and good
faith, how easy would it be to confound our
accusers with their own arms.
[ That Queen, who escaped from Sicily /;
w no has rif-1 he
| 0ttomans, from exile to exile; does she prove
to the world, that our enemies have so much
respect for royal majesty
Ihe sovereign OF Saxony has placed him>
self the power of the coalesced potentates
Has he found their actions to accord with
their professions Black rumours are spread
in Europe-Wouldth that they were not rea-
iized Do they wish to punish the faith Of
oaths, upon that forehead, whitened with
age and grief, and crowned with so many
! virtues.
1t is not from the height of this tribunal
that governments are TO be outraged, not e.
ven those that permit themselves to Outrage
| US but 1t is allowed to appreciate justly
those repFoaches so ancient and well known,
showered so abundantly on all those powers
| which have taken great part from the
time OF Charles the fifth to Louis the four-
teenth, and since that of Louis the fourteenth
to the present that system of preponder.
ance OF universal monarchy was always the
/ rallying cry for all Coalitions; and from the
centre even of those Coalitions, astonished
with thrir imprndsnce, has often arisen 2
/ powersncreaa bilious thantho whose ambt
on has been denounced. The abuse ofpow-
i er has been marked in characters of blood
throughout all the pages of history. All ma
| tons have been misled-ali governments
j hav mir Cd ~, -
forgive the other. If, as we desire to be-
| ieve, the coalesced powers have sincere
wishes for peace, nothing opposes its esta-
blishment.-We have shown, by the display.
| ing of official papers. that the emperor wish
es for peace, and will purchase it even by
sacrifices, in which his great soul seems to
forget his personal glory, that he may satis>
fly the wants of the nation. . ~
! When we cast cur eyes on that convent.
on, formed OF Earring elements when we
see that strange and fortuitous mixture of
many people whom nature has made rivals;
when werefiect that many, by thoughtless
| alliances, expose themselves to dangers,
| which are not cllimerical; we cannot think
that such an assembage Of opposing inter.
ests should have long duration. Do we net
/ perceive in the centre of the enemy's ranks,
that Prince born with all his French feel
/ ings, in that country where those feelings
/ have the mos. aCtiye influence That war;
rior, 'who so long defended France, cannot
4 long remain armed against her. We can
not yet forget that monarch of the north
and the most powerful Of al, formerly placed
in the number of his glorious titles, his enioy-
ing the friendship Of the great man against
whom he now fights We turn our regard,
; with confidence, on that emperor, who join d
so many ties to US who gave us the most
precious gift from beloved sovereign, and
who sees in his grand son the heir of the
French Empire,
With so many motives. for mutual under
standing aSd reu-nion can peace be fficulti
Let them fix a place of conference.-the
the plenipotsntiaries advance from one part
and the other, with the noble disposition To
I, give peace TO the worid--let moderation be
in their councils as well in their language
, They have them selves said in that declara
tiOn, which is attributed to them, " great
. nation should not be partitioned. because il
has experienced in its turns. reverses, in
that painful and bloody conflict, in which she
has fought with her accustomed bravery"
Senator's, we should not have fulfilled the
duties which we expected from our commits
sion, il in showing with such full conviction
the paci6cintcntious Of the emperor, our lasr
words did not remind the people, what they
owe tn themselves and to their monarch.
The moment is dccisive; oar enemies hold
. pacific language; but some OF our frontier,
are invaded, and war Is at our doors. rhir
,y-six millions OF men cannot betray theil
glorv or their destiny. llustrous nations
in this great contest have experienced bu
nercus rcverses--more than once they hav,
seen themselves placed hors de com6af -
Their wounds still bleed. France also ha
received some injuries. but she is farfrom be
ing humbled Size can be as proud of heI