Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-13
From coS6et's Wsetly Register q, 5tas.ary 2l

PEACE being now happily concluded with
the country ofJyeedOm, it will not be necessary
tor me to occupy so large portion OF the Re-
sIster, as lately have, with observations re-
lating to 1t --Bu. still this country, now nearly
as much above nj, others in mlitary and naval
prowess as she IS, and long mas been, in civil,
religious and political liberty; still this favored
country, this assJ ium and example to the op-
pressed OF al other nations, must continue 70
be deeply interesting object with which eve
~ one, whom wish to see amongst my readers
shall, therefore, in future, write OK tue aHsira
OF America under one general ute, numbering
the several artIc es from No. J, Onwards.-Pre-
vi0us to the war, wrote several ariic IS, u,utr
tho iosm OF Letters and otherwise during the
war great many more. AND, am of epnion,
If all these were coitcted tUgetu err from the
month OF July, 1910, to the l4th Of this present
month of January, 1915, they would &c found
to contain as good history of thus important
trisg q, IS Likely to appear in any other shape
The rise, tue progress, he termination, are al
here to be found very amply detailed Tbe
views on both sides, the passions, the preju
dices the means made uoe OF 20 delude the.
people OF Eng and. The effect oftne rusuit 81
the contest on mems minds. All will here be
found TO have been faithfully recorded thht Is
60 say, as far as have da,ed Ia go; ANA for
the restraint, which have Deen under, aud for
which no human ingenuity could have compen-
stated, the judICIUus and impartial reader will
make a suitable allowance. This, however, is
only said TO our eide offh, ypgfer for, in the
country of freedom, the naked ruth VIII be told
There every man viii whte and publish what
he pieascs there, discussions wiil b. re lily
free 5-there no man will trembls while III
writes and there truth must and will nrevaiI
Il IS often observed, that hisfsry, TO be- ,y,6or,i.
at must be written long qfiey fhe date OF the {
vents o! winch 1t is n record.--Ihis is a strange
no ION It's 20 contrary o every rule OF cor,
mon life, that it naturally staggers one. II we
want 10 keep our accounts, or The records of
any proceedings ~ iJe, accurately, we never
lose momen in minuiing the iacts down as
tn y occur. fevidence IS given from written
p pr, IL must, 10 make the evidence good
nave been wrihen at the moment fhat tLs Elcts
occurred. How strange. ,hen is IL, that, Tor
history o b. uUe, It must be written a century:
or two, offer the period, to which il relates
That is to say that, to come at the real truth
Of any national occurrence, IN order TO arrive At
a Just decision upon the conduct Of a nation
you must enter upon he inquiry AFTER all tne
witHesses are dedd, and alter all the springs
hidden from common eyes, and which no man
mas dared 20 record on account Of the print. are
wholly forgotten and are SINK forever out OF
sight. H. said, that, at tire time when the
events occur, On historian is TOO near, to the
passioaf and brejudices of the times, and is
too likely TO psrtske ofthem. But, at a hun.
dred years after the events, what has he TO re-.
= to but 5grifiags Of The times and, how then,
IS he more Likely 10 get AZ The TRUTH We sup
pose tue historian to seek earHesfiy fer truth ;
and IS nc more likely to get It A. when all the
springs are forgotten and ali the witnesses dead
than when he has access 10 them all THE re
Al state OF the case is this 1.-THE historian DARES
MOI write true history Of the present events.
and frRs description OF the character Of pub.