Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-29


ceeding republics have iouniSrel
Bat, ! am contm ,sily shErcssug. The pre-.
sent SUBJECT produces so many, collateral renec.
tons, such ceRtrif,e.l notion oS thourht.
to il. - -
BonaParte found the Rnyalists opposed TO him.
the Republicans indecisive, AMI waitir- 10 see
what events might happen, to enable them TO be
ifeed from all tyrants; and had TO rest his sue
cess upon the strength of his own party, consist
ms chiefly OF the army, which was Insufficient.
without some signal advantage, to- stop the pro.
gress OF his enemies. After many foolish acts, he
commenced lns last campaign, with bpldncss,
and with skiitul ingenuity which would reflect
honor upon any commander. Unable to face the
Allies combined, he conceived the desira of heat.
ing them, in detail. lie succeeded in Gripping
the Prusslan Army, and was upon the point OF
destroying Wellington's when the Prussians fell
upon his Hank and rear The second victory was
gained, when Bulow snatched it from him. Had
ne not been deficient IN wisdom, or military con-
duct, he should have retired, ii tiae, FROM con-
test WIN the two armies united, one OF which.
was fresh He might have, thus, preserved his
army, after having crippled each of the other
Two; This would have discouraged the Allies.
gwen credit to his party, and raised the spirit of
france; When he left Paris, he knew That it
wouid be useless for him to return TO il, unless
VICTORIOUS. he professed to act for the honour
and glory of France Now was the tine ther.
ior hlIn TO offer up his life, and die like hero.
N :, 2 country which he had long governed, and
called his own Ifhe had consulted his otvn no. /.
nour, or the glory of France, he should mot have
surrendered himself TO his, and the most impia-
oaose enemies OF his country; he should not have
tlsisrreu me, IN prison and in exile, to "a ho-
noarable death. He should have rather chosen
20 nave his bones entombed in France, than in ST.
Helena. lie should have recollected that the
ancient heroes chosedeath, rather than falI into
.ile HANGS OF their enemies. would not remind
MN ut the examples of many no5le Roman, /, bn,
o .. . tie 'yrant Nero, who caused himself to be
sill'' oy one OF his followers, rather than be Ia
Ken, alive, by those whom he had wantonly on
pressed After lie had abdicated the second
tme, he sent to inform the provisional govern.
ment ti:at he knew the position of the enenv's
&C vanced columns; that they were not numerous.
ana he could beat them, If trusted again with
the command" He should, then, have remained
VII sIe Sry, instead OF running away to PARIS.
Before, proceed 10 the iastpart oftb;s suh.
Jeet contrast of Napoeon's military and r,ol;ti.
cal talents, with those oftle immortal yyasb;no-
ton, must be indulged with a few other re.
marks.
1t IS SAID OF Oliver Cromwell, that he cornnenc.
ed a af"pe to has principles, and, afterwards turn
e Gu i'sIPer-a Many sincere patriots have tiena
themselves and their country an injury by endea-
vorlnS TO carry te0retcat principles to an iutrac
Heaofe length. To this cause the French reyol,It;
on IN great meastire, owed its failure. To this
cause the wrtuous Marquis de Valady, Roland.
orssot' and many other genuine republicans.
owed their destruction. Those auiable and un.
ioItu''aIe men were mistak en- i'll thinking that n
government which would answer purposesof a
society composed entirely of such men az them
serves, would be sufficient to prevent the Robes.
pierres and Marats from oyerturninp liberty. and
tfannlzing over their species. Let US enieavor
10 pursue the wise course Which PharbtIs marked
ote Ior ms son Pheton when he entrusted him
Win tne guidance OF his chariot, In medic tnsis-
s'nlts i6is-The middle course is best
When Cromwell and Bonaparte commenced
their career, they Tsigit have been sincere lt -
not rational to believe that, in their first set out
tney had sovereign power in their view. They.
more probably, were acttIated bv a restless spirit
and by desire of raising their fortunes and con.
dIton, which last impulse is too common to most
OF us. Their view extended, as the feel opened
before them, 'hlat last they got sight ola crown.
Power and riches produce, upon the rnjnds and
hearts OF men, the same effect; the more we get,
me more we want. And the more we acullire
the easier they are gained.
II Bonaparte ddnot, at first aim at sovereign
much less cauld he then have dreamed Of ny,iver.
sal empire to which, am convinced. his sue.
cess q d at last, prompt his wild and evil ambition
to sspire.-Before he had well seated himself nm
the throne, England raised new coalitions arainyt
him, otherwise it isprobabIe- he would have been
glad to repose hinselfin his ill-gotten power Ae
this period his career, believe he desired
peace, tor the safety Of his crown but ENGLAND
thought it . favourable time to renew her assigna
against France, when he had grossly Offended The
best men IN the nation. Now, he was forced to-
the held he was compelled in various greati,st.
tlesto stake his all. The loss Of one. might have
been his ruin. Obliged to lose all, or win an. every
coalition which threatened hiDiwitlr destruction.
lsHt his enemies PROSTATE at his feet Thus. he
became master Of the continent, without previous
design and, by means, TO which he d d not con.
sent that IS, BY necessity, and not BY choice
Thus fayouPed by Fortune, and growing in
strengti, By adventtous success, he lost sight Of
all human prudence, and conceived such an ex-
opinion Of himself ami such contem-
ptuous opinion Of al who dared 10 oppose h,m.
that lis deemed nothing 20 he impracticable He
thought that success was Obliged 10 crown the mad
les undertakings - because he itadfreqnentjv saw
ed himself, when compelled 10 fight aH, he might
continue TO stake al FOR a TINT more. Whist
Fortune attended hm, he was bold, oyerbeapinr.
and PresumptIous. How was he when his Eoliv
occasioned an indssoluble divorce week. wa.
yering, mean, cowarlly, and c6utemptible lis
conduct, thfn'ighlfe, sginces the coward tvrsn-
nicai, ~ prosperity abirct IN adversely. Geeat
minds, although % the abyss Of iaMf,yti0e, wiz.
IKE real diamonds, sparkle in The dark let me
rot be told ofhis fR'e act aud savings which ara
90 particularly noted do,rn. and rnagaifed. be-