Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-10

Nos pafriG,n. fnginris. virg.
There is, perhaps, no more bitter satire on the
tyranny and imbecilty Of Government. than the
~recessty for any portion of its subjects to aban-
don the country OF their birth-the country to
which, nature, education, and n thousand endear
ing sentiments, bind them by ties stronger than
chains of adamant. The man who has grown up
in particular section of the globe, to that age
in which, both the mind and the heart, assume
their proper vigor, energies and expansion, can
not be indifferent to the objects around him he
cannot be stranger to the soil Of his native land
Every fibre and nerve within him, every affection.
every passion OF ms nature are, more or less, in
terwoven with those objects and with that belov.
ed land. Whatever renders life pleasing and
valuable, lies there for him speak not of pro-
perty--that may be transferred with ease from
one quarter ofthe globe to another-we speak of
other and better blessings-of parents, friends,
similarity ofhabits, manners, and language, com.
munon Of views, of happiness or adversity-in
short Of all those mysterious and inetfable sen.
abilities of the human character, which unques-
Sionably, constitute its brightest side How
dreadful, then, must be the avulson, the irrevo-
cable avulsion ofintelligent and feeling beings,
from the land of their birth And how strong,
nay, how violent, the centrifugal force, which o.
vercomes that secret and incessant gravitation
by which individuals are so powerfully drawn to
the bosom OF their native country !? These dis
ultory reflections are suggested TO US by what we
read in almost every newspaper of the constant
tide of emigration from France, in consequence
of the late Sinister events. Surely, if the mill
tary despot, who, in his phrenzy for what is so
absurdly termed glory and Immortality, sacrifi-
ces myriads of human beings on bloody field
of battle, is entitled to bad eminence," and
deserves the contempt and execration of man.
kihd-the bigoted and narrow minded king, whose
lmpolitic mandates and iron.sw.ly either violently
compel or remotely induce, thousands of his SUBJ
and the long loved objects which it presented to
them, is scarcely less detestable. Exile is, in
many cases. worse than death itself, and the bra.
zen bull of Phalaris would be preferred by some
to the rocks of the Mediterranean, which the in
genous cruelty of Tiberius, or Domitian. peo-
Piled with the most illustrious characters of en-
shaved Italy There is, too, in this system Of
prescription snd Punishment degree of ruinous
folly, which causes us to hesitate between pity,
and laughter That great number ofindustr-
Gus, aifcctionate, and faithful subjects addicted
TO agriculture, commerce, manufactures, the arts
and the sciences, and emulously improving ard
adjoining civilized life, constitute the chief
strength and power of Kingdom, is maxim no
less true than it is old and trite. Whence, then,
that incurable blindness which so often possesses
monurchs, and leads them to political or reli-
gious persecution The wise and liberal policy
of Henry the WITH of France, had granted to the
Protestant portion of his subjects the free eSer-
else of their reformed mode of worship. A su-
perannuated female devotee, Jesuit, and fl
natical chancellor, urged the revocation of
that grant-and the weak and intolerant Louis
XIV lost myriads of useful subjects. Holland,
England, the petty States of GERMANY and these
Ulited States then British colonies, cheerfully
and Hospitality received those interesting exlles,
and profted by the errors and preposteros cruelt,
of the French monarch. The taking of Constan.
tinople by Mahomet the second was scarcely
more beneficial to the west of Europe, by diffus.
ing over it the precious reGgHas DarGu,n, the
surviving arts, industry and science of Greece.
than the revocation ofthe edict of Nantz to the
Protestant countries just named, and their Colo
MES. Many distinguished characters I of the
present day in the United States trace their ORR
gin to -ome of the Exiles, whom the mistak en-
zeal of Louis XIV thus forced TO say with the dis
tressed shepherd in Virgil
-.Nos dulcia Enqlamus ARIA,
Nos patr1am fugimus.
Louis XVIII unfortunately chooses to initiate
the narrow minded policy of Louis the great
Chow little in mary things :; rather than the no.
bic, liberal, and wise liberation of Henry w.
His will be the loss-or, to speak more correct
Iy, that loss will fall entire ON France, already
enfeebled by so many wounds. Good heaven -
That Frenchmen should ever have been brough.
10 ask, U6i Patr1a 2 On est la patrie !? WIer,
IS Our country 2 Alas They had country for
a moment only--we mean during the dawn fthe
revolution--and even then many of that unfortI,.
nate nation, whose eyes wereffxed solely upon the
King, who saw in his person the whole body OF
the people, and the aggregate majesty of France
forgot their country as soon as it ceased to obey
The laws Of an absolute monarch. The DAYS OF
terror soon came, and alienated another class OF
citizens from the land of their flthers--The re
evolutionary tempest tore them from the parent
tree, and scattered them about the world-Bona
parte, and his strong sword succeeded-Artif
cial sentiments were substituted for the amor pa
frie--We mean military enthusasm--devotion tC
n bold and successful leader-selfsh ambition
love of fame and ofrank-To day, it is still worse
the French look in vain for France in France IL
self-Its rich plains, smiling wales, and luxuri
ant vineyards, its opulent cites, its splendid
uonuments--all, ali, has been at the mercy OF
a foreign invader, OF barbarous conqueror -
What must be the feelings, we shall not say Of
such men as Eey, La Bedoyere and others were
or are, but of such men as La Fayette, whose ex
allied and pure patriotism is acknowledged and
reYerea by men of all parties and all countries
of men, who contributed to the revolution o.
1889, because they possessed hearts too noble
and minds too enlightened, for the shackles and
degradation of absolute monarchy, who opposed
and fought the factionists of 1884, because
they hated anarchy, the worst Of all despotisms-
who could neither be dazzled by the sple dor of
military tyrant, nor acquesce in his grand fedora
five scheme his frantic projects and eternal wars
we ask itagain-what must be their feelings p
Brave Kosciusko Gallant Lafayette! Defender,
oflberty in both bemispheres, and its martyrs ir
vour respective countries, the synpathes Of
freemen and Of good men are with you........ -.
Won participated in the varying fortunes of the
American struggle for DISQUALIFICATION felt foi
American Patriots--and for the fate OF a caus,
which you had sincerely and warmly espoused-
Il IS but right that your generous sensbiiitie:
should now be reciprocated.
we have been led farther than we intended
from our point ofdeparture We had meant &c