Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-21

we olsP1He- aldnnS, ef soHpeH u9setcH.
Richmond. February 81, 1916.
WASHINGTON.
ALL, through the land, hail him with loud
THE FATHER oFHIs coUNrRy-glorious
name~
Posthunious honors rendered to great men
have in them this striking circumstance. that
e',ey evidently flow from considerate, unwarped :,
and lasting sense of their merits Even in Re.
publics, the living hero, or Che living statesman
may ne either extoled above, or depressed be-
low, his level. Certain partialities may operate
On one side, while certain jealousies are at work
on the other. The elfervescence of popular gra.
titude may exaggerate, or the rancor of faction
detract. Time alone rectifes every mistake,
removes every cloud, and presents every thing
under proper aspect,-We are well aware that
the fame OF the illustrious Washington stood in
no need of the decisive ordeal which rolling
years thus administer TO regulations, in any de-,
gree, predetermined. His renown is pure gold.
and whenever subjected to the crucib,e. it will
come out more refulgens, and, of course, more
admired. We rejoice, howcver-Yes--we sim
cerely rejoice, at the distinguished honors which,
sixteen years after his death, several parts of the
Union spontaneously offer to his venerable and
Venerated name. We do not f,igidly enquire
whether his shade be sensible to such honors--
Credis et hocDanes caJ,lre sebultos !?
Welove, indeed, TO think that the spirits ofrreat
and good men, after they have re.ascended to
Their native heaven, are still concerned in scenes
which the Deity himself deems not unworthy Of
his atteniion-we mean scenes ofnoral rectitude
exalted feeling-and digniied action in this
subl'Inary world But our satisfaction at what has
been done in Baltimore-at what is to be done in
Massachusetts, in Virginia, and we trust, in ma
ny more places, has another source.--It flows
from the consciousness that great duty has
been pertorrned--a duty, the neglect of which
may have injured our national character in the
eyes of the civilized worltl-os those parts of
IT, at least, where the circumstances ofour social
condition are not fully known---where the fancy
IS warmed by the sight Of the numerous statues
and other monuments, which consecrate the mem
ory OF illustrious characters, and adorn a clas-
sicai soli--where the fine arts flourish, and are
ever at hand to execute what the gratitude OF
nations may suggest, or their munifcence die.
tate 1t is allowed, on all sides, that Congress,
by neglecting to carry into effect the resolves
which they once adopted in respect to the re-
mains of General Washington, which his vencra.
Die consort expressed herself willing, npon their
solemn request, to consgn 10 the public care.
nave brought merited reproach upon the Unit
ed States We rejoice that Mr. MERGERS reso.
lutions VIII ettectnaly remove that reproach, Ell
tnef oy inducing Congress to comply, though at
Ter the body of the iliustrious and beloved WASH
inngton into some splendid monument in the CITY
that bears his name; or by rendering Richmond
the depository of the earthly remains of" Him
VINO was first in war, first in peace, and first in
the hearts of his counsrymen''
Ihere Is another important light in which It
AFFORDS us considerable pleasure to view this sub.
Ject Inc Kings OF Europe are not altogether in.
attentive TO what passes on this side of the At
laiitic. 1t is to be presumed that ignorant as
most OF them arc, yet they have heard of our
washington Some of them have, indeed, very
strong reasons to recollect both his name and his
Schleyements.- Should this spontaneous homage
0trepubiican respect and gratitude to his memo,
ry' ever reach their ears, wehope that il will pro-
nuce IN Their bosomS a salutary feeling.--In the
Efst place, 1t will convince them that republics
are not always ungrateful. In the second place.
II Will turn their attention to their own bosthrmous
tdse-We are greatly mistaken, If amid thecom.
ptacent retrospect of their late triumphs over the
Liberties and prosperity of France, and we might
say, OF all Europe, the allied soveregns may not
envy the fate of Washington. Nothing is so dis
qnetng TO the minds of royal oppressors as the
anticipation OF the awful sentence of posterity re-
specting themselves. Their unlimited authority.
ana the shackes with which they restrain opinion,
Al least, within their own states place them above
all tear OF censure from their cotemporaries but.
intoxicated as they are with the fumes of pre-.
sent onplPsie"ee, they cannot Aatter Themselves
that the same power which enables them 70 COM
NIT great crimes, will forever secure them from
reproach. They fear nothing so much as bosihit.
mons REPUTATION, which or them is t,os,,u,noas in
JGTg. In the prophetic whispers OF their alarm
Ell consciences, they already hear the condemn
ing DEGREES of posierty and the effect resulting
nom TINS inward operation of principle which
kings themselves cannot annihilate, we mean.
the moral sense, must derive additional force
from the contrast to which we have alluded In
respect to Tyrants, enslayed nations pass from
mean adulation to fierce hatred and bitter ours.
ss-in respect to Patriots and Sages, the Bene.
factors OF Their country, free nations pass from ST.
lent admiration and love, to splcnd;d man;Csta.
tons OF lasting gratitude and imperishable re.
SPAIN.
or There Is rumor Of rupture between
Spain and England--but it appears 10 us a Dere
rmor, indeed !