Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-19

rewards before the fatigues were under
gone, and in the career of danger the hap
Ply termination of the enterprise was alone
apparent.
The prosperity that we enjoyed at the
commencement of the revolution, CONVERT
Ell our firmness into tarlihood and then
| tvs that the private interest began to
| lint. rfere with the public good. The noxi-
Gus germ of the passions began to unfold
itself ia the first view of our unalienahle
right; the spirit of party was strengthen
ed by the very means that were adopted
to enfeeble it |; the lot of war varied like
the vicissitude Of opinion, and general dis
grace more than once obscured the fair
prospects Of hope. New and unexpected
sacrifices, at different epochs, preserved us
rom the Jury OF our enemies, and from to-
tai destruction. THIS was our situation at
the beginning of the last year, after the de,
feats of Velcapugis and Avouma had ZEN
dered nugatory the victories of Tucuman
and Salta. The conqueror advanced from
the west to the east, and his steps were
alone impeded, in the fullness Of his pride,
by the inoumbrance of his trophies. Mon
tie Video was reinforced with troops from
the Peninsula, and the attention of our ar
my, directed to the inisfortunes of the cas-
tern campaign, disgrace alone was to be
expected. Every enterprise, in such cir
cumstances, was deemed to be rash, merely
because it was difficult and in order to
organise naval force under the paucity
OF our means, it became necessary to van
quish prejudice before we could conquer
the foe. In this state of things It was that
the squadron left our ports on the 18th of
May. Monte Video was then no longer
an hostile colony, the oriental campaign
was uniformly successful, public credit
was restored. the armed forcewas increas-
ed, the expedition to Peru was strengthens
ed, AID 1T was only necessary that fortune
should proceed in the direction she had Ia
ken.
BUTT should appear that this course
was not to be permanent Chill submit
ted to the enemy, and this new accident
has give a fatal blow TO our success, has di-
mnIshed our,income, and has taken ano-
Their link from the chain that constituted
our security. Spain, in possession of our
resources, has prepared considerable ar
| mament against us, according to the latest
adyices, at the very time when we expect
ed that the return Of the king would avert
the hostility against America which was
meditated by The temporary government,
and when the negotiations on our part,
showed that we were worthy of peace
The eastern campaign has changed its cha
racter, and mischieynus differences pre-
vail, which neither wisdom in council, nor
valor IN the field, can remove. without dis
grace equally to the victor and the van
pushed. Thus the people are afflicted BY
the reverses of fortune, opinion runs wild
under the instability OF the powers by
which it should be restrained, counter-act-
ing parties neutralized. all exerfion in the
ardor of zeal is excha ged for the GOODNESS
OF distrust. In short, our springs are iri-
ed up, public opinion has become public
discord. our territory is threatened, and
we must fight, not TO die, but to live.
Such is the precise situation of our af-
fairs, and If it were not for the mutability
Of human concerns, the salvation Of the
country would appear almost chimerica
hope vet every agreeable view isnot dar-
kened--the revolution of the province Of
Cusco and others in Upper Peru, disclose
new scene, and flatter expectation and
ifthe army which is advancing on the
borders of Catagatia should be successful.
before long, the activity Of CONNIE rec will
be restored, the means ofconsumption will
be increased, and the productive market
WILDE opened.-The invading forces of
the Peninsula cannot fulfil the design. as
long as civil war prevails between the adj
vocates and opponents Of the Constitution
Cortes. and maritime power viii not lis
fen with Indifference to the destructive
system which characteristics the policy of
The Spanish government FisaIv. the
strength to which our armed force may be
raised, if required to be employed in our
defence, is probably greater than the enc
nv can bring in the field, if the people are
resolved to make the necessary sacrifices
to check domestic dissentions,to moderate
incorporate zeal, 70 obey the government.
70 avoid anarchy. 70 place implicit conf
denee in those authorities in which It can
be safely reposed
The General Assembly relies that the
greatness of the danger will induce the
people to make such sacrifices, accustom.
ed as they are by such means TO triumph
under the pressure of the greatest danger ::
butt has thought It to be proper, notwith-
standing this persuasion, to explain with
frankness the present situation of things.
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