Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-01

political, civil, and religious liberty, had,
at last, come TO their senses had acknow-
lodged that their old despotism was the
best OF the two; that they had called back
the Bourbons with unanimous acclaim {;
and that all that appertained to the revo-
luton was now held in adherence. The
conclusion drawn from these, premises by
the base and infamous traffickefst in bo-
roughs, and by their no less base and in
famous literary partizans, was this that
political, civil, and religious liberty were
worth nothing that they were a mere
dream, and that all endeavors to preserve,
or to recover them, by any sort Of reform,
were not only useless, but tended to mis-
chief, and proceeded from factious, if not
sedltiOus aud reasonable motives.
Seeing the wicked ends to which this
conclusion so directly pointed, the friends
OF freedom deeply Ianented, that the
question In France was involved in a guotl
deal OF confusion sand that though all the
world saw, that the Bourbons were carri-
ed back, surrounded by forests of foreign
bayonets though all the world saw, that
the king was put upon the throne, while
immense foreign armies garri- oned the
capital or France; though all the world
saw, that these immense armies remained
IN France till the restored family had had
time toput itselfin possession of all.the
powers and all the treasures of the nation /:
though these facts were notorious. still II
was not proved, that the people of France
would not have received the Bnurbons
back without the presence of those for
eign armies. There could, indeed, be no
doubt that the people of France, if left t.
themselves, would not have received them
back there could have been no such
doubt in the mind of any sensible man.
But still the fact was not proved t,le peo-
pie OF France had not had the power to
choose between the old and new order of
things. Ii was manifest to the whole
world. that compulsion was ready at hand.
but still there was no positive proof, thai
the bourbons would not have been receiv-
ell back without resort to that compulsion.
And thus this great and most interesting
OF all questions was left undecided the
trends OF freedom contending, that the
bourbons were forced back upon the
french, and the friends of bribery and cor
ruptlon contending, that they were receiy-
ed back by people, tired of revolutionary
principles. and signing for the return OF
that family and that order of things. which
had been prescribed by the revoIution.-
Hence Louis was hailed by the parasites
otdespotism and of priestcraft, the dcsir-
ed.
Thanks to Napoleon Bonaparte this
question has now been decided. Thanks
to his bravery; thanks to his fortitude ;
thanks to his unsubdued soul and his re-
sources of mind, this great question has
now been decided in favor of those princi-
pies, without the operation of which. man
IS the most despicable Of all the animals of
the creation, none of whom besides him
self, with knowledge of their strength
and OF their means. voluntarily submit to
the trammel or the lash.
The Bourbons were seated on the
throne of France they had taken posses
son, in virtue of what they called divine
right, Ofthe throne, the country, the re-
sources, the powers of France. The for
eign armies, seeing them, as they Thought.
thus safely in possession, Withdrew lei
surely and cautiously from the scene thr
paternal government Of the Bourbons roes
into execution the ancient desDotism is
not, however, restored feudaI ard eccle-
siastlcal tyranny are not re-estab!isIed !:
tie must essential changes worked by the
revolution, are confirmed, by promises. at
least the mass OF laws eracted chiefly by
the republicans and embodied into n code
by Napoleon. remain, and The upholdinp of
them is soemnly promised: the blessings
which the French are ENJOYING under the
bourbon family. compared with the mise
RES they suffered under the new order of
things, are cbaunted from the lips of every
slave from one end of Europe to the other.
" Here" said they to the friends of free
dom, " look here, and l.,hold a great ma
ton, full Of wise and brave men, who have
discovered, after twenty-five years trial of
what they called freedom of one sort or
another, down, at lest, upon their bare
knees. ASKING PARDON OF Con
AND NAN, for their past foIIies and
crimes, and putting up most fervent
thanksgiving, that Providence had vouch-
saied to restore unto them their ancient
masters and their ancient teachers, and
praying that, in future, they may never be
deprived Of the blessings Rowing from the
Bourbons and the priests.
| am sure, that your Lordship will not
deny, that this was the language in the
month of February last, / am sure that Won
will not deny, that have by no means
over-charged that language. Very mort.
Tying was It indeed, for the enemies Of
hrihorxy anil -or.,,,.t:e.. . r.. AZ