Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-21
rrlvsLArrp roa rHr COLUMBIAN.

France, on the relations with Foreign armies
with respect to order and pacification-by the
minister of general police.
SIRE-The ravases of France are at their
height, the allied powers destroy and devastate
! her, as it we had neither peace nor accommodate
| ON TO hope for The inhabitants are hving be-
fore licentious troops; the forests are filed with
the wretched, who run there to seek out a last
asyium--the harvests are about TO perish on the
fields--despar will soon hearken no longer to the
voice Of AN authority---and this war, undertaken
to assure the triumph of moderation and justice,
viii equal the barbaiity os those lamentable and
most cruel invaslons whose history cannot be re-
collected without horror
The allied powers have proclaimed their doc.
trmc too loudly for us possibly to doubt their
magnanimity! What benefit can be drawn from
so many useless calamties Is there no more
bonds of faith between nations Would they
retard the reconciliation of Europe with France
One OF the views ofthe soyereigns would appear
to be to strengthen your maiesty's government,
and its authority is increasingly compromised by
the state OF impotence to which they have redu-
ced it. Its power is even rendered odious by the
evils of which it seems to be the accomplce,
because it cannot hinder them. Your majesty
signed the treaty of May 25, as an ally, and war
is waged against you in manner the most di-
rect.
The sovereigns know the state &C knowledge
in France no reasoning, no species of defect,
no Kind of inconsequence escapes the perpetrati-
on of this people--although humbled by necessi-
ty, they yield to it with courage. Has not Your
majesty performed for the interest OF the pow
ers and for peace whatever depended on your
efforts ?-Bonaparte has been not only dispossess-
ed, but is in the hands of the allies his family
too are in their power, since they are on their
territory.-The Chambers have been dissolved
| and speedily there will be none in public functi-
| ons but friends of peace and duty The Bona
ctS Gel
dangerous any more-your majesty, in the mean
time, have granted every thing this point
which the executive could require
II, having conquered France it be pretended
that it vat remains TO punish her, this language
(Which ought not to be listened to after the pro-
misses of the soveregns) should exact a serious
deliberation on all its consequences Wherefore
would they punish us Is it for us TO expiate
the ambition of single man : the evils whichn
has produced 1--we were its first victims-we
have delivered Europe from it twice. IT'S not in
foreign countries, it is in France, that terror al
ways troubled his repose, and spite of his power
he could never render the war national-instrti-
ments ar not accessories-and who is ignorant
that he who exercises despotic power, always
finds in the altitude force sufficient 10 make
him be obeyed We arc reproached with his
successes. They retaliate sufficiently by our
reverses. What image brought the news ofvic-
tory to France 1T is not that of the conscript-
ons, which the sword ofwar went to reap anew
We have saved ourselves like all Europe, by the
same woes and misfortunes.
The army has submitted to your majesty, but
If still exists. we ought to explain ourselves
with frankness on this head--while the army ex-
lists it can be attached only to pacifcation and
public tranquility. Its state of union, far from
beng an evil, prevents mischief from spreading
The return of soldiers to the bosom of the pe0-
pie, Will not be dangerous when the conclusion
cl,aH
resuming their occupations and their habits but
before that moment, whilst fermentation is not
yet eXtinguished nor obedience established, the
mixture of soldiers with citizens could not but
throw fresh combustibles into the hame-it is too
painful to reflect that such state Of things should
have no other source than the terror of some ca
binets. On the opinion they entertain of the ST.
tuation of France, depends whether all their de-
sires should beaccomplished. There is no sacr-
fee to which an enlightened people viii not sub
init, if they find! in IT the means of preventing
greater evils. Such is the disposition, such the
determination of all the French Would they
[the allies on the contrary obtain measures of
anticipationfor unknown plans 1t is to demand
| an impossibility; there is no blind obedience in
France. The powers have hitherto unfolded none
of their designs, no one can form an idea of what
is to be done, either of the government, or the
authority of your majesty, prof the future
Anxiety and doubt are at their height, and eve
ry thing appears a subject of terror in this obscu-
rity-but single word, and all the disposition of
mems minds would be changed There should
be no obstacle TO any measure, if il formed part
/ of general plan that should offer in its whole
scope some encouragement for obedience. Let
the sovereign deign then TO explain themselves
Why should they refuse this act of justice' Let
them condescend to combine all their demands
as so many conditions of the quieness of the peo-
pie, and let our accession to all their views make
part ola mutual treaty-there will then be no
more difficulty. The soyereigns perhaps do not
fully observe in what embarrassments and what
obstructons they place us and themselves. We
should have need of good order TO second them,
and of their explorations to establish this good or
der Would they have sacrifices who fequire a
pePemptory obedience FC.' that purpose the
authority of your majesty must be full and en-.
tire. Nothing is possible, nothing practicable, if
peace exist not in fact, at least Professionally -
and far from being at peace, we experience all
the scourges of war.
Let the soyerCigns ut least bestow some atten-
ton to their interests. When every thing will
be wasted around their armies, how shall these
armies find their subsistence Is there no haz-
ard in scattering the troops All the armies are
not yet taken away (from the French people,
and every man becomes mur1erous in the hands
Of despair. With respect 10 contributions of
war, what new sacrifices should they demand,
where the soldier shall have destroyed alll As
it regards the force of armies discipline once re-
20 har 10, he ,If sl.aI