Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-15
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Richmond, Mlg Is, 1915.
FOR THE VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Mr.. M0NROE'S GRAFTON,
delivered at HoPEFUL JRrLLs, ai5en,a,l
County, on the 4th Of july.


pendence, and elevated our country to an honor,-
bic rank, among the Sovereign powers of the
earth. To commemorate an occasion like this
should call forth the feelings of orr warmest
patriots and ablest orators. I did, therefore,
hope that this task would have devolved upon
my honorable and enlightened friend, who repre-
presents this district, in CONGRESS-. to whom have
always listened with pleasure, and from whose
sage precepts and eloquent appeals, have never
failed to deriveboth gratificato on and instruction.
But 1T seems that other cares and unavoidable
avocations, have engaged his attention, and pre-
vented him from appearing before -ou TODAY, in
character, ne is so well qualified to fill and
which from his skilfll pencil would have receiv.
ed such chaste 2r;, delicate touches as would
have thrile 20 thesoul of every one present.
This bong the case, although exhausted bv ia
tiguing journey, and Just recovered from short
but violent illness, Twill undertake the duties
assigned to me, and in ende ivorng to scquit NY
self II them, shall repose on that lberality be-
nevoence and candor, for which my co,iatryInen.
on all occasions are SO enliuentiy conspicuous-
In lI1oour countrymen slrool; off the woke Of
treat Britain, and intrepidly asserted theirr;ght
to free government, to maintain which. they
plunged into long and bloody war, under every
disadvantage that can possibly be imarined-
Diring this war all the energies ofthe American
character are elected and evolved. Warren. dis.
tngulshed for every manly virtue, commences
the career OF glory, and offers himself porp;t;.
atory sacrifice for his country on the heights of
Boston. Mercer emulates the brilliant example.
and bieeds and dies in the cause of liberty and
OF man. Montgomery, in the bloom O. youth, and
adorned with every establishment oewhich human
nature is susceptible, tore himself from the
tond embraces oflove and beauty, TO meet death
IN the cold and frozen regions of the north R,lt
to recount the many deeds of valor of SUFFERING
and privation sustained in this mighty conflict.
would exceed the limits within which must con.
hne myself. The presence however of nv friend
reminds me OF the heroism and magnanimous sa
critics. of his llustrious father What Vrp;ni.
an has not heard of the gallantry, and losses of
Gen. Nelson's In the field of danger he was fear-
less. Ofhs fortune he was profuse. The com
mencement of the war found him IN possession of
prncely estate-it closed upon him Door I'm
competition with liberty, and his countrv's veal.
after which his ardent soul painted, wealth and
ITS giittering pageants were as dust in the bal
ance-" Its altar and its God sunk beneath him -
snail not here be charged with unmeaning aelu-
lation, when Isay that the son inherits the feel.
ngs and fire which glowed and burned in the bo
som of the father.
But we meet, not to weep over disasters but
to rejoice that they have passed away and ike a
morning cloud have left no trace behind. At
length, under Washington as under tutelarv d :
Vinity we pass through the blood red sea of revo
luton and reach the haven of Liberty, Peace and
Happiness. Here in the enioymentof every bles.
sing bountiul providence could bestow, lone
we prospered. Agriculture and commerce -four.
isIied he arts and sciences repair to their belov.
| ed hallnts, the groves consecrated to liberty
But IT is not permitted to nation to enjoy eter.
nal repose, Let a people cherish peace, cult
Vate justice and regulate its course by the prin-
cipies OF immutable truth still the demon ofds-
cord VIII raise up armies to interrupt and annoy
| IT'S tranquility. Thus it was with us Our first
zoe envious OF our growing prosperity, violates &
| rehche5upon our sovereign rights as a nation At
ems IN feeling power and forgetting right" in
uie Climax OF his ayaTice, and the acme of his
PRIDE, he dared even TO exact tribute from us for
navigating the high seas and in every instance
ne contumehousiy trampled in the dust ourn
tral rights. Descended from those heroes who
had achieved our independence, and who had of
tered mp hecatombs on the altar of liberty, the
congress of1Sl2 emulated the example of thei
ancestors OF l776, and declared war against that
naughty, imperious aud arrogant nation. Twelve
months ago, my fellow citizens, had the honor of
addressing you at this place. At that period, on
me East we were invested by fleet, from whose
hostile mcurslons, resembling more the acts of
the maraudlng hordes of Barbary or those of the
Pirates who infested the shores ITALY IN thedays
OF Pompey, than the usage of civilized nations at
war, we experienced every scourge thata ruthless
| zoe COuIu inlet The scenes OF Hampton, of
tiayrc-de.Grace, snd of Tappahannock, will be
an eternal reprOach TO the character of our enemy
! what species OF violence was here npractised :
| Neither age or sex escaped the rude and unhal-
lowed touch OF the barbarian The sanctuary ofthe
dead, the catacombs ofdeparted worth afford no
oarrier to British cupidity. They are Impotisly
violated That people heretofore holding such
distinguished rank among nations, should lose
sgIit tc OF IT'S ancient fame, and plunge from It's
| digniled emnence into the abyss of human de-
praVatlon and imfamy, exctes aston sbment, and
inilicts pam. QHem Deus 1UR beyolere byius de-.
mental. On our Western frontier at the period
alluded to, the storm Of war ragged with redoubled
fury Ourraw and uiidsciplined TROOPS meet the
experienced veterans of Britain, and their sayage
| allies, and every where triumph over them
Chippewa, thy plains strewed with the slain, bear
honorable trophies Of American valor. Bridge.
| water, and Erie too, contain proud monuments
| OF me proves offeemen contcnding with the We
nal and mercenary slaves Of despotism Brown,
and scott, spilled uottheir patriotic blood in van
Ripley and Games, too, DISPLAYED their might IN
wnr and hurled the bolts fdeafh among the
RANKS OF the embattled foe They plucked with.
| ering lairels from vauquished heroes 10 bloom
airesh on their honored brows Yes, and histo
rs While It transmits 10 distant ages, the gallant
! exploits OF QUE sons, shall record also their
cienency TO those whom victory had placed in
ulef power. We came, we saw and we cO1duer-
| Ell ana TO those whom the sword hid reduc-
Ell, we not only displayed humanity but OK .
tended even the sacred rites of hospitality. At
Plattsbulg, too, under tic gallant NIcComb, our
foe iet the energies Of the sons Of liberty. con-
tending for the rich Inheritance, derived from
| theT aDcesiOrs5lle heroes of1776 Our little M