Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-19

anu a GOOD people, were suddenly betray-
ed by an army unfaithful to the prince and
its country, to honor aud its oaths :: that,
however, among the first generals Of that
army, those whose names constituted its
glory, either rallied under the colors of the
king, or at least abandoned those of the
usurper that chiefs of corps and officers
OF all ranks daily follow this example |;
that among the multitude ofsoldiers drawn
into detection unexampled in military
annals, there are many Of those whom in
experience had delivered up to seduction,
who have been led to repentance by reflec-
ton, and whose misleading must be en-
tirely laid to the charge of their seducers.
Europe knows, in fine, that with the ex-
ception of that portion Of the army become
unworthy OF its past glory, and which has
ceased to belong to the French army ;
with the exception of handful of volun-
tary accomplices, who have furnished the
usurper with men ambitious without
means, and criminal without remorse, the
whole French nation, the good citizens OF
the towns, the good inhabitants of the
country, corps and individuals, of both sex
es and of all ages, have followed and re-
called the king with all their wishes, have
imprinted on all his footsteps new hom-
age of gratitude and new oath of fidelity.
Europe knows that in Paris, in Beauyais.
in Abbeville, in that great and glorious CT
ty of Lille, of which treason occupied the
gates, and threatened to ensanguine the
walls, in theface and under the very sword
of traitors, all arms were extended to-
wards the king, all eyes offered him the
tribute of their tears, all voices cried out
to him, +" Return to us return to deliver
your subjects" Europe knows and con-
tinues to learn that these invocations are
necessarily renewed /; that they dailyreach
the king not only from all points of that
frontier SO eminently loyal, but from all
quarters of his kingdom even the most dis
tant'
60 And, indeed, how could it be other
wise than that the sentiments with which
the Kings heart is animated towards his
subjects, should secure to him a similar re-
turn on their part ? Who shall dare to
contradict the King whenhe swears before
God and before his people, that, since the
day when Providence replaced him on the
throne of his fathers, the constant object
OF his wishes, his thoughts, his Iabours,
was the happiness of all Frenchmen the
restoration of his country, more dear to
him than that of his throne, the re-estab-
llshment of external and internal peace !:
that OF religion, justice, laws, morals, Gre
dit, commence, arts the inviolability of an
existing property aoithOut any exception !;
the employment of all virtues and all Ia
Tents, ooittoat any other distinction the
present diminution of the most burthen-
some taxes, until their approaching sup
preston in fine, the establishment of pub
lie and personal liberty, the institution
and the perpetuity of a charter VIII oh qua
rantees for ever to the French nation these
invaluable blessings And if, amidst Cir
cumstances Of such difficulty, at the close
OF storms so violent and so long, amidst so
many calamities to be repaired, so many
snares to be discovered, and opposite in
terests to be conciliated, it was beyond his
power to clear all obstacles, to escape all
mistakes, to avoid all errors, the king at
least fiatters himself with the assent of all
just minds, when he says his greatest err
rOr, was one of those which proceed from
theheart ola good prince only, & which ty-
rants never commit it is their power
which they wish to be boundless ; it was
his clemency which the king wished to be
without bounds.o
The manifesto next adverts to the de-
claration of the allied powers of the 18Th
of March, declaring Bonaparte the enemy
of the civilized world, and pledging them
selves, while they engaged religiCusly to
respect the integrity of the French terrific
ry, and the independence of the French
character, never to lay down their arms,
till theirrevocable destruction of his per-
ncious power. 1t then proceeds as fol-
lows -
" The powers assembled in congress
didmore. They resolved that the accession
of the king should be demanded to the new
compact which they had just concluded. =
Their ambassadors have brought these
communications to his majesty. They
presented to him the new credentials off
their respective sovereigns, to reside
wherever the sole legitimate sovereign of
France was and their power being au-
thenticated, they offered the new treaty oil
alliance to the deliberation and signature
of the king.
{. Frenchmen, the king has deliberated
and has signed it. In these words alone
lies your whole security.
You are well aware, Frenchmen, that
your king could sign nothing that was
Srafr-f ~, - .Xou, L,nor .LnlI $500. -.