Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-04-01
FROM Co66en's Weekly Reglsier, of No
yeW6er ls.
STATE OF THE NATION.

4
ed With loss and Slaughter, by a set of raga
mullins without red coats but we also lose
| our brave, our gallant, our humane and gem
erous officers. AS 20 the common men be-
| ing killed, that is nothing; they are only
numbered, rot named whereas our officers
are always the very best of their species
SO that the Americans, in shooting them, are
guilty or great presumption, besides down
right murder, and most grievous loss it is
TO Britain. The shooting a few more of our
officers, by those plaguy smock ,frocked ri.
nemen, may also prove a material protrac
ton to our recolonzing the Continent Of
america. Ishould, therefore, be of opinion,
that our officers ough to disguise them.
selves as they did duiinS the last war; for
these inpudent riHemen are so accustomed
10 shoot their wild turkeys flying, that i,
VIII be impossible Single officer escape, if
tney once recognise him. This consIdera-
uon alone is sufficient to compel Ministry to
cave America unconquered, and pa tch uD
peace; unless, indeed, our interest in the
new sitting Congress of the legitimate pro
Prietors CT the human race, be so great as
TO Cause 1t to be enacted, shat henceforward,
In warfare, 1t shall be against the law of ma.
lions TO hre at, wound or stay, any officer
bearing his Britannia Majesty's commission.
but while we thus complain of the passing
events abroad, let US endeavor to remedy
some OF the abuses a. home. Ii is an undeni-
aoie iact, that we groan under an immense
ioao OF taxes, which scarcely leave 10 the
many The means OF procuring the pecessa-
ries OF life. We EXHIBIT to the astonished
world the spec .acle Of a free nation. paving
uouole the sum In TAXES of any country,
under the most arbitrary and despotic Gov.
efhhent, and our protecting Parliament
loaus Tree born Britcns with heavier bur.
thehs than all the Ukases Of an Autocra, I'm
poses on the serVile Russian. Yet a very
S'oat proportion OF these TAXES go towards
the support OF those who govern and with
oue entering at present into Gisquisition as
10 the mode cr profusioD in wh,ch the mem
oers OF, and adherents to, Government arc
paid, we mASt insist that certain indis
pensa9ie DEFY attaches to them in return for
the large salaries they receive from the
pubic. aud that TO the public they are amen.
aole' who, at the same time, are CONNIE
tent TO Judge whether that indispensable duty
pc neglected or inadequately perfo-med.-
VIVA the public also power To remove, or
puniSh' exists; and therefore all endeayors
to recall such servants back 20 their duty.
and all infections Of punishment for deoas..
ture therefrom. are not only strictly inst.
liable and highly laudable. but, in fact, the
oouhden duty OF each individual towards his
Country. Every such individual would him
sen depart from the line OF justice, and be.
come traitor, were ne, from self interest
cd motives, tamely to submit to fragrant a.
buses IN the government, and suffer them
90 be handed down to pos,eri,y. This
rule fairly laid down, it behoves us to make
strict enquiry into our present ruinous
state, and to scru.inise the measures which
nave brought us into it. Neg, let us ex
anime whether the Constitutional AXIOM.
mat the King can do ma 7vrong. extends to
nus Caolnet, or even to Parliament, Then.
Yhethsr nation is bound to sit down con.
tented with IT'S wrongs, because a White.
Washing BIZ, Drought 10 by Members of such
~aoinet' may have been passed by Pariia-
inent, many OF whose Members, if not prin
ciphis, have been accessories TO the abuses
~ favor OF which the Indemnity Bill was
required--a Parliament, who may already
nave passed bills encroaching upon those ii.
oerges they had sworn TO de.cnd-a Parlia
ment where 1T IS probable place,neH and
pensioners aboun6sd, and where SUCH NAV
nave Had the traitorous insolence 70 advo-
cate corruption. To begin then with onr
present situation AFTER a twenty years'
murderous, and every way ruinous, war we
are at peace, for tie moment with the Com
tinent OF Europe, but we are still DIunsed in
savage and destructive hostility with Ame.
rica. During our twenty years Continental
war, much blood has been shed, while, ex.
cePting few individuals, who, by contracts
and commissions have amassed fortunes.
general ruin has ensued, an immense ma
tional debt has accumulated, and all cur
gold has left the country. The concomi-
tants OF this are. stagna;ion of trade ri
ValShip oil our manufactures, an impossible
~ OF paying taxes an enormous increase
OF paupeTs, and THiHous haher c1rTeHcy
! But peace, 1t was expected, would have re-
stored our commerce and diminished our
taxes. Instead of which more taxes will be
wanted, in whatever shape thew may be i'm.
posed, to bring up the arrears Of the war
expenditure and, IN order TO engage the
people to pay farther demands without mnr
muring, the contest with America is kept
up while peace with France, instead OF
augmentiEg tic peoples resources, has only
furnished the superior classes, and indeed
all those above daily labour, with an opp3r
tunity OF emigrating, aud retiring from this
I iand Of taxes, to various parts Of the Conti,.
nent, where they may 1--we not only REASON
| ably bot peaceaOly, without the hourly dread
! OF being murdered ~ their houses by dis.
banded soldiers and sailors. These n,arau.
| ders, however, having been tought the trade
OF murder and piuBder, we ought to bear no
hatred against them, If, when we 40 longer
| want their gallant ard, they, as their cny
means OF subsistence, set W for themselves,
and practice individually such acts as they