Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-04


extracted from that excellent work " fhe
Oiiue Bronch"-a work which oughi to be
read by cvery man in the United States, WIN
feels an interest in the safety and happiness
of his country:
ADDRESS TO THE FEDERALISTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
GENTLEMEN,
An attentive perusa, OF the preceding
pages can, hope, hardly have faiieG Ia
place inc beyond the suspicion of the des-
picab!e vice, hattery--and must give to my
commentator at least tile me rit of SINGER /,
Try.
After these introductory remarks, make
no scrupie 10 declare my decided convic
ticn, that in private life know of nc party,
in ancient or moaern history, more entitled
to respect esteem. and regard. than the A
merican federasts IN general---in ali tn
social relations Of husbands, parents, BROTH
ers, children, and friends There are ex-
ceptioHs. Bu, they are as few as apply to
any BODY equally numerous. Political pre-.
iudice, or the widest difference Of opinions,
has never, SO far obscayed my visua, ray, "a
to prevent me from discerning. or my rea-
soning facnlv from acknowledging this
Strong, this honorable trnth-the mere de
cisivc in its nature, from being pronounced
BY a political opponent
But, fellow citizens. after this frank de.
claration in YOUR praise as to private lite,
and for private virtue. let me freely disclss
your pnhlic conduct. Believe me mean
rot II offend trust shall not, Iaddress 10
you the words Of ruth. The crisis forbiG'
the use of ceremony. hope you will give
the subject serious con'ideratiop--and re-
ceive with Indulgence what emanates from
candor and friendship.
believe there is not to be found in the
widest range nf history another instance Of
party SO enlightened, so intelligent. so re-
spectacle, and in private life so virtuous,
yielding themselves u2 SO b,indiy, so sub
nissive!y; and with so complete an aban +.
donmcnt of the plainest dictates of reason
and conmoN sense, into the hands ofleaders
So undeserving of their con6dece. In and
after the DAYS of Washington, you stood on
proud emirence-on high and command
ing ground. You were The friends OF order
and good government You were trembling
iy alive to the honor ofy your country. Yon
Unidentified it with YOUR own. But it is d'.>
fcut to find 4 more lamentable change in
the conduct Of any body of men than ha'
taken place with your leaders. The mind
can hardly conceive greater contrast than
between genuine Washingtonian federal
lat OF 1890, IL, 3, 3, 5, and s. and the Bos-
tonian, who, covered with the pretended
mantle of Washiugtonian federalism, de-
stroys the credit of his own government
and collects the metallic medium OF the ma
tion to fo:,er the armies preparing to at
tack and lay waste his country. Never
were holy terms so prostituted- Washing.
ton from heaven looks down with ind'gna
tion a. such vile perversion Of the author
lily of his name.
Let me request your atten ton 60 few
facts-and to reflections and queries, resul
ting from them
]. Your proceedings and your views are
euloeized in Montreal, Quebec, and Halifax
Lsndou and Liverpool The Courier ana
the Times. and the M ,rnng Chronicle. and
the LEDGER, and the London Evening Pos.
and all the government parer, are louI a.
uniform in your praise. ~ This Ia an ayr
JHffact and ought TO make you pause in
your Career.
II. ~ Your hGrtv rises as your country
sinks. ~ Il sinks as yopr country rises
This is another awful fac. Il ough, 20
rend the heart Of every public spirited nan
among you Far he love Of the God u,
Peace-by the shade OF Washington, b.
chat Country that contains all you hold
dear, | aainre you,o weieh wei this sen.
fence, AZ" you sink as your country yises
Yes y is so. II is a terrific and appalling
truth--and u you rise az fhat desfionding,
Aceyafed, herishiHg betrayed country sinks.
" would rather be dog and bay the
moon," than stand in this odious predica-
meut.
III. Had there been two or three sur.
renders like General HulIs-had N. York
Philadelphia or Baltimore been Copenha-
ganized--or had our Constitutions and u.
nited States, and Presidents, and our Por
ters and Decaturs, and Bainoridees. and
Huils, been sunk or carried into Halifax.
your leaders would have been crowned vi, n
complete success. They would have been
waited in harboring tide to that power
which is "the god OF our idoIa,rv.
EJsry eUenf that sHeds lustre on the
arDis Of 4'nsrica Is 10 them a defeat. T.
proves to distance the prize to which
their grand efforts are directed. But e7,.
cry etTenmsfaHcc that en;oiLs digRrace or
d,Sfre5s on me country, qthefherh be bank
Hhfitcy, defeaf. freaehery, or eosvarlice is
ohsfiietous 10 their Uie7vs,
~ Never has the sun in hiselorious sntere
beheid so estimable, so respectable. 50 en-,
Ilghiened party es YOU are, in the FRIGHT.
fol situation in which the ambition If yo,,r
leaders and your own tame, thougEtIess in.
eXDlicable acquiescence have placed Won.
v. BV flIlmifatfous fr,oo a. - -, :. -