Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-31
From the National .adcocate.
BRITISH INFLUENCE.

TO make all other motives yield where il
prevails. Consistency of character is an
honour which most men prize /; but this has,
sometimes, even fallen before the powerful
inducements of money. We find, howe
yer, that where the grand Ialisman of Bril-
fish influence operates, even shame is laid
PROSTATE, the love of honest fame dies, and
ccisiDtency is neither claimed nor preten-
ded. From the similarity of effects, can il
be that money has any thing to do with this
influence ?
There are men amongst us who would
fain appear the great admirers of Washing
ton, the father of his country; men, who
have been foremost in instituting societies.
which are ostensibly land, no doubt, in the
intention of many Of the members. really)
to perpetuate the remembrance O. Ills vir-
tues, and to recommend his example and
his precepts and in which are read, at
least once year, his valeiictorY address
to his countrymen, containing the soundest
maxims of political morality and wisdom.
that any sage, in any country, had ever
produced. That little book ia worth more
than its weight in the most precious mate
rial that man ever dealt in; and so tho e
s. disciples of Washington profess to be-
lieve. 1t contains the strongest dissua-
sives against every thing which shall have
even the remotest tendency to weaken the
union of the states, or the ties which bind
together its various parts against every
tendency to sedition, or opposition 20 the
law against every invidious distinction of
atlantic or loestern, northern or southern
prejudices "a gainst all undue partiuLities
towards foreign nations aad against all
instructions to the execution of the laws.
all combinations and associations, under
whatever plausible character, with the real
designto direct, control, counteract, or awe
Sc the regular deliberation and action of the
constituted autlrorities;@ becaase sucA com
binati0ns Sc serve to organize FACTION
Ito give it an artificial and extraordinary
force; to put in the place Of the delegated
aoin Of tl,e nation, the viii ola party, often
small, but artfaL md enterprising MI
NORITY oftie community. 1t expressly
inculcates confidence in she existing gov
eminent !; &c respect for its authority com
pliance with its laws; acquiescence in It's
measures" az &C duties enioined by the fun
damental maxims of true liberty Il
gives the most solemn warning against the
deadly effects of party spirit, against 6. tie
impostures Of pretended ratriotism'' --and
against g the mischiefs offoreign intrigue
And, upon this point The father ofhis coGn-
try emphatically says, &c against the insidi-
GUS wiles Of FOREIGN INFLUENCE
(Iconju,'e yo,, to betiere me, fello,o-citi-
1ens the jealousy of a free people ought to
be constantly awake"
The men to whom we allude are the
mouth pieces of the federal party. Now.
let US compare the political conduct of these
men with those ,precepts and maxims and,
if truth can constitute libel, it is quite ANU
sing to democrats, to observe how severely
those self called federalists are libelled by
Washington. For what is it, of all that he
hath forbidden, that they have not attempt
ed; and what, of all he recommends, that
they have observed ? In the Evening Post
of the 18th inst. was short editorial arti-
Gle, which contained the following renec-
ton, brought in neck and shoulders, as if il
were sinful to suffer the patrons of that
shaste Ue'ticIe to enjoy the peace concluded
by our vi(e administration, without the pro.
per alloy, arising from a lively display OF
their misdeeds. This is the expression -
SC How forcibly do these facts overthrow
the refinement of Philosophic VIRGINIA
POLITICIANS, who are never easy, un,
less they are meddling, and regulating, &
restricting our commerce P"
This is so moderate sample of the arti.
eles frequently displayed in that paper
that some may wonder that we notice It al
all. We do so, BECAUSE that article means
more than meets the eye.n Ii is but a
part of system fixed and settled plan
formed at the head quarters of federalism
to pour contempt and obloquy upon SIS
TER STATE. Why is this Do thew
envy or hate that state for her conspicuous
merits Is it because she bore such dis.
tinguished part IN the great affairs Of our
Revolution, which called, from her shades
efpeaceful retirement, men who distin.
suished themselves IN times tchtch tratL,
sried mems souls, both in the cabinet and in
the field, by a devotion to " the common
eause,o which hath been no where surpas-
sed Is it, that she has never held back
her quota Of supplies for the public service
never murmured at her just proportion Of
the public burthens--nor ever raised,
throughout her extensive domain, single
arm against the constituted authorities p
Isft, thatin the recent struggle for national
rights and honor, she has still maintained
her former character, amidstlosses and pri.