Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-06

tuation, that persons should be found in some
or our sister states, who, ut such time, should
celebrate events having such effects, with illt-
| limitations, with festivals, and even with the &C.
remonies of religion 7 At the very time when
these ceremonies were performing. the blazing
ships. and condagrated houses on the shores Of
massachusetts,. attested the malignant Joy of
our enemy, and were 80 many offerings made
on the affairs Of the demons ofdscord and hos.
Utility. But we are told. these reioicia.-s were
at the emancipation o. Europe from the power
Of des2otism. It is the duty Of patriotism, as I
conceive, in the first place to view the effects of
events on our own country. We have no oh
lection 10 the people Of France changing their
Government wh>n they please, they have RICH,
to do so. But surely there exists cause ORC.
jocing even at q favorable change in a foreign
Government whiciis to be attended with injury
TO ourselves 1t is of little importance as
an abstract question to us, whether Bourbon
or Bonapar.ean dynasty sways the sceptre of
France. But it vitality affects our interests that
England should bcenabed TO burn our towns,
and destroy our people. Besides, could we di-
vest ourselves OF all attachment to our native
land land Heaven forgive tle supposition) and
view the subjsct as mere citizens of the
world, are We sure the cause of humanity has
been advanced, by the destruction Of u power,
which however ambitious, and unjust in its own
dispositions, formed some counterpoisc to the
power OF England, and who (no matter to the
argument. whether FOR selfish or disinterested
motves) resisted her tyranny on the ocean Is
the world much interested to put down 4 pow
er on the land, merely to increase thereby a
power on the sea already overwhelming, a
power so much more destructive, because eve.
ry people. may on the great high way of natl.
ons, experience its injustice, and feel its OPP
pressionl Resides. the idea OF France regaining
her ascendancy on the continent, which she
had lost, was chimerical. The allies were in
the heart OF her country and the question was
not whether she should annihilate other nati-
ons, but whether she herself should be subju-
gated. But we were oound to look at these e.
vents, as Americans, and viewing them in that
aspect, could not see in them any causes of re-
|joicings. Others may be differently impressed,
aud my views may be fallacious, but they are
certainly sincere, and the ayowal Of them is not
| intended to encroach on like freedom of OPT
| Mon, in those who differ from me.
| Ihave said the crisis is important. believe
it to be awfuily so but do not see any reason
for dependence or despair. Coniding inHeaven
| and the justice of our cause, believe If we are
true to yourselves, we have nothisg to fear forthe
| issue of the contest in which we arc engaged.-
Our ancestors by their reliance on these sacred
| supports we're carried triumphantly thro' the
revelation. BY them they obtained our indepen.
dence, and by the same means, we shall defend
| aud maintain it. e scA
| What though many of the nations of
Europe are allied to England. For what was
| their alliance formed they declared to guar
antec their liberties, and the INDEPENDENCE of
nations. Can it be believed that nations who
have protested to fight for such a cause, can be
so false to their own principles, can stain their
| triumphs, BY countenancing one of those very
allies to establish tyranny on the sea, which
they so much deprecate on the iand,' Will the
nations OF the continent consent, that their
banners. which now wave in triumph. should
| oAwcr befure the flag of England on that ocean
| which tioj and nature declared free, but which
the pride OF man ensleavofs7t to enslaves
Besides. are not the continental powers. is not
every nation on the globe, who has commerce
| or chips, except England, interested, deeply in
terested, in the maintainance of neutral rights
and an unshackled tr del Will Alexander .ban-
4 don the interests of his great empire will he
allow England to fatten on her spoils by pre-
scribing the channels in which her commerce
shall fowl Will Sweden, who was bent on The
acquisition of colonies, as means ofgivingyig.
or to her commerce, suffer that commerce To be
made tributary to Englandl Will Spain and
Portugal, SO soon as they recover from the ca.
Iamities Of long and desolatng war, suffer
their wealth. instead OF being employed in re-
| newing their exhausted resources, to be sunk
in the abyss of British rap cit Can Alexan-
der, possessing rs believe he does, love of
true glory, forget that his ancestor Cathsrine
/ the d, was the author and promoter ofthat ar
med neutrality, which bound the nations en-
| gagged in it, to make common cause at sea, a.
gainst any of the belligerent powers who
| should violate with respect to neutral nations,
| the principles of maritime lawi Can Sweden,
| can Denmark. can the States General forget that
! they were parties to this compactl DEPEND,
upon it, that the principles, for which The u
nited States contend, founded as they are on the
| rights of nature and nations, will be espoused
I by the continental powers. That sooner or
! later they will make common cause with us.
i That they will do so, we have that security
which is the best for the conduct of States as
well as individuals; that thereby they will de.
| fend their own rights and their own interests.
| They will discover that though we occupy the
| van of the contest, We are fighting their battles
This is my belief But whether we are sup
ported by other nations or stand alone let us
be true to our country,true to ourselves Let all
party distinctions cease, on this subject. We
nre not now contcndi7g whether this or that
| party shall predominant We are contending
| whether we shall retain our rights Of self go
| vernment, our independence; whether we shall
| resume yoke, which our ancestors found
| grievous and oppressive and which they scor.
/ ned 10 wear.
may be told by some, that in their judg-
ment the war is impolitic & unjust. To such
persons would reply. it is your country aud
not party which calls on you. 1t were
inpiety, it were sacriIege in you, not TO iy
| to her succour. Initiate the example OF
Aristides, who, banishe6 by the Ostracism,
| but having intelligence of the DESIGNS of the