Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-01-28

TINS event. Already do the people of France
feel the need OF their exiled monarch to con"
duct their affairs and perhaps ere another re-
volying season, we shall see him rensated on
| the throne, and leading on its armies to victory
| and glory.
In reviewing the occurrences of the past year,
| the mind is irresistibly led to a contemplation
| fthe important events which will render it me.
| morahle in the annals flour own country. II is
not our design, however, to give a detail of all
the minor occurrences OF the year we have
| neither tiRe nor inclination to do it nor have
we data before Us. from which to deduce facts
necessary TO render such statement complete.
On cursory view of the past, We discover
much cause for emulation and triumph and
mud much to detest and contenn. In the pros
| secution OF the war, rich harvest of glory has
| crowned our efforts. 1.-The unexample success
which il has pleased the ALMIGHTY TO give to
our arms, both by land and sea, and the signal
discontinue which has attended every move
ment ofthe enemy, cannet fail to excite the
gratitude and admiration of every patriot and
| friend OF his country.
Never has the pride ofthe naughty Briton
been 30 humbied and debased as in the past
year and at no period has the American ella
racter shone SO resplendenty glorious. We
have seen their veteran troops, tutored and dis
ciplined uader the auspices Of the most re
| nownad Generals IN Europe and sent hther in
| the sanguine expectation that they would Con.
OUR and subdue, beaten and discomfite d in in
nnmerable instances. Yes, where the disparity
! has been greatly in their favor, they have been
compelled to yield the palm to the unconquer.
abe ardour and superior prowess of the Anne
rican Soldiery We have seen their whole fleet
on Lake Champia.n, superior in men and guns
and commanded by experienced officers, sur
rendering TO our gallant tars whilst a stimuli.
taneous attack by land has been repellad by
much inferior force consisting mostly of raw
undiscipilned militia, with that intrepid firm.
ness which forms proud trait in the character
| OF the American SOLDIER. In single combat,
We have seen their flag yelled in the resplen,
dent glory OF our stars and stripes; and in no
| one instance have their ships come in contact
VIA ours, but their defeat and disgrace has in
evitaoiy ensued.-Loay will the names of those
| who achieved these glorious feats live in the
| recoilec ION OF their countrymen. The memo
| ry OF BROWN, ScoTF, GAINES, RILEY, PEA
! rY, MDoNoVCH, HULL, DECATUR, JONES.
BAIN2RIDGE, Porter, BLAKKLKY, and the
long last OF worihies which constitute the pride
| and boast OF our country, will be perpetuated.
and their names handed down to the remotest
generations, as the firm defenders of their coun
try's rights and liberties
The past will also be memorable rs the wear
| in which barbarous enemy entered the CAM
! tai Of our country, and disregsrding the rules
@! civilized warfare, wantoniy destroyed IN.
no relation in their structure, to the operat ions
| OF war. In all ages, the public edihces of a
Country have been scrupnlously respected when
| ia possession OF an enemy and the annals OF
| history do not furnish precedent fer the bar
| barous and wanton waste committed by the e.
| nemy while IN possession OF our capital. The
aatIon, who in this instance, violated the es-
| 1ablished usages of war, has only added a new
| item to the long catalouge of crimes which be-
fore rendered her character odious. The his.
tory OF the most baroarous ages do not furnish
parallel tor the brutal acts which mark ed the
progress of their troops 10 the capital In their
mad career of plumber and devastation, not even
| the ashes of the dead were left undisturbed -.
Fhs sacred repositories, where We're moulder-
| ing the last remains of worthy families, were
| forcibly entered the winding sheets torn from
| the bodies OF the defunct and deeds commit.
ted, IN comparison with which even Canniba
ATROCITIES would whiten into virtues.
What will also render the past year memora
| BILE i'll our history, is tn. organization of fac
| ton, under the DToNIrIEo" title Of" NEW
ENGLAND CONVENTION" to oppose and
discomfort the measures of the General Governs
ment. 1t is notifying reflection that peo
ole, best by an indulgent Heaven with con
sttution Of government admirably calculated
as OURS is, to promote the happiness of all and
well adapted to the eficacious management
| OF its concerns, should be so lost 10 a sense of
duty, and SO swayed by selfish views, as to lose
| sight OF the public veal, and sacrifice on the
| altar of party, the dearest interests of their
| country. But such alas is the fart with the
| experience of near two thousand years before
| them, and well acquainted with the causes
which have wrought the wonderful revolutions
| in Europe, and changed its Republics to tue
| most frighttul DespOtisms, we see faction
which has long rent and distracted our soun
| try, moving on in steady progression TO the
same ultimate object. Their systematic and
! determined opposition To- the measures of go-
yernment, and the zeal with which they engage
| in the cause o. the enemy, furnish desstiye e.
videBce Of their determination to exAh them
selves to place and power, though the event
should involve in it the liberties Of their eouu-
\ try. So strong is their propensity for office,
that we are led 20 belieYe, should the Al
| mighty place Gabriel at the head Of affairs, and
endov him with the attributes of the Deity,
they would find fault with his administration,
especially IL il was strictly just, and strive to
wrangle him from Office. Though they may
Affect 10 love their country, and profess to be
the friends fthe people, yet they care not a
straw for either, further than to promote their
own views Interest is the grand pivot ON
which all their affections vibrste and they
would willingly see their country debased, that
they might be exalted.
The present is crisis frnught with events
which, while they astonish the world, will fix
an epoch which the lapse of time, with all its
changes, will be unable to subyert. But whe-
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