Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-02

c0nsciences and to God, we confess we are
at loss to determine. An attachments
true, heartfelt attachment, to the sacred
solicit our country, they say, caa be found
only in the bosom of him, who owns GER
tain portion oft. Oh Heavens !if this
were the test, how many might now weep
the loss of freedom, of property, Irrational
independence mo home to shelter us
nothing our Own-our country in the hands
offoreigners-the republic might weep
might I" drown the wind in tears, The
doctrine is monstrous-it tends to sap the
firmest pillar of the state--it will prove
the death blow of freedom. We conceive
of it worse, than our respect for a Virginia
Legislature-we mean what Virginia LIE.
gislature ought to be--we conceive OF it
worse, than our respect for a Virginia Le-
gislature, will permit us here to say-We
will not, we never can give utterance to the
feelings which have long weighed heavy on
our heart--A Virginian must still love his
country, Nt}the councils of that country be
ruled by whom or what they may. He
will never desert her, even though he sees
the deadly gangrene working IN the vitals
of the state. Virginia will still be dear to
him-aye, as dear as are the ruddy drops
that visit his sad heart But as he loves
her, in thu same proportion ought true
born Virginian to desire to see the land OF
his birth, the Old Dominion FREE-happy.
And howis he to accomplish his desires 10
this respect ? He asks reform--the Lee
gislature not only refuse him, this, but tell
him they will not condescend even to take
the sense of the people upon the subject :
Suppose he were to speak to them in the
bold language of a free man. &c So help me
Hearen, aoiH neuer put hand to musket in
your defence, ,ohile you 1cithhotd from me
myrights, rights ,ohich God and nature gaze
me. Which my Father died to establish and
maintain and tchich you. men, can neuer
ta,cfaliy deprive me OFFS But you will
defend your country, will you not s''--
{" My country Tis Virginia7,-yes to the
latest breath !"-ss Then you must defend
us and ourp property, and the persons aud pro-
perty of our constituents, the land holders
lin the while that we relieve you from the
lperplexing prerogative Of choice and the
cares and burthens of government 70 And.
this is Virginia The bulwark of demo,
caacy--the cradle of epublicanism-the
firm friend and protector of freedom and
of equal rights Freedom Avaunt,
Slave degraded SLAvE-blush, hang thy
head--call upon thy native rocks to open
and hide thee, and may nights sable wing
cover thee forevera
An enemy invades-who meets him
The potent Lord of the soil The man
who owns the Land, the House and the
Slaves, and who alone possesses voice in
the State ? No such thing. He leaves that
sort of business to persons of a very differ
eut description--to men that neither own
houses, nor slaves, nor yet foot of the vile
learth ? To men that never had vote al
an election in their lives. and probahI v ne.
yer may have one These latter are the
men that meet and beat the enemy-that
meet him at the waters edge, contest ev
cry inch of ground, and either drive hin
disgracefully back to his ships, reekine
with blood, or fall themselves in the strif,
these are the men, that, reused by az
alarm at midnight from their beds, s. swift
as meditation or the thoughts oflove" swec,
TO their neighbours rescue, or to his ant
, their revenge
And why should men. who have not on
ly to fight all, but likewise TO pay ar equa
, proportion oftaxes to the state--the young
active, healthful, vigorous membership
should they be excluded from voice in tn
government while those lazy drones, VIII
i stay at home and do nothing, are -entrust
l ed with the whole power of making laws
: The laws of free country bind every bod
equal -and nothing can be more Just thai
: that every Individual freeman should hay
, an equal share in making them. " But,
i say the opponents of the convention pro
-liect, &c we dislike innOvation-our consti
: tuition has protected us in the enioymen
: of our liberties hitherto--it may be defec
q tive--but we choose rather to keep it as i
i is, than to launch our bark upon the ocea
1 of untried theory" Why need they b
4 deferred at this ? The sound of war n
longer vibrates in our ears-the mild ac
cents of peace now. from every quarter
greet us. The ocean is calm, our sky sc
rene, the sun of happiness shines full upo
, us. This is the time, if ever, to purge th
body polite. We cannot do it in time {
war. The oceanis then too boisterous.-
y The vessel of state nigh tpossiblybe wreck
I ed. Assaded from without by foreig
: force, conyulsed within by facti6us feud,
E the crew might yield her up in despair.
!, The advocates Of Legislative Reforr
have been called visionary theorists. TIL
: Ministers Of George the third so terme,
: the venerable trainers of our glorious fede
] raj constitution. Those Ministers, as wei
1 as their place-men and pensioners, endea
: vored TO make the world believe that ou
y Washingtons, JefFersons, and Madison
Y Syere roaHman and foo1s %. .s,l,o4 :