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


without detaching ones self from tbs c;r-
placed. ''0A
His majesty had for long time been re-.
moved from his kingdom. That retreat.
which always appeared to me contrary to
the true interest of the king, had damDed
tne courage OF the royalists.s The Cant
tuiation OF the Duke of An-puleme de-
priyed them of their last hope. The acts
oi resistance were every where succeeded
by acts of Submission. A great number of
frenchmen, doubtless, regretted their lie.
gltlmate king and belcld The new soyer-
!elSn with terror, but all yielded to the
'mperIons law of necessity. All France
submitted, and the government of the u
supper was established in fact. Ifthere
be any incontestble point, this is without
contradiction one.
Things were in this state when the in.
vas'on OF the foreign powers became immi-
heht Numerous Prussian. English, and
austrian battalions had already raised on
our frontiers the cry of hatred and venge-
ance. The foreign cabinets at first de-
clared that they only took up arms to re-
establish the dynasty of the Bpurbons on
the Throne, but they soon retracted that
solemn engagement, by u new declara-
ton and besides, has the sequel proved
ihat these promises ought to have INSPIRED
blind confidence /?
AT the approach Of this torrent, cnmpos-
Ell OF numerous nations which had iono
been conquered and trampled upon by our
armies, and amidst which there did not an
pear single Frenchman, the only pros
pect which seemed to present itself to citi-
Zens 0iali opinions was the ruin of Frame.
should she be reduced to see her plains
inundated, and her strong places seized
by million of foreigners, itnDelled bv so
many motives to her destruction.
Surrounded by my family and nv
friends, | lamented the situation If nv
country, when learned my nomination.
to the place of Major General, and receiv.
ed orders tojoin the army Immediately.
oDeyed--nct as a creature Of Bona
parte would have done in defence ola pow
er whence he had received or expected
fortune. is well known to the whole
army that always had reason to complain
OF that man: and though served him
with fidelity, no one more sincerely de.
tested his tyranny.
o6eeyed-not as an enemy of the king
would have done. | had received from
him only marks ofesteem and confidence
and am incapable of being ungrateful.
But as citizen, as soldier, | obeyed
him who then was at the head of the go-
vernment.
My heart may have deceived me but
it told me that French Marshal could not
allow his sword to remain in the scabbard
when the whole army was taking 10 arms
lorthe defence of the country. History
does not censure Admiral Blake, who,
white commanding the English fleet under
another usurper, whose power he also de-
tested, did not the less yaliantly combat in
support OF the glory & freedom of his coun.s
Try. lie cousecrated these words, in
Shich he addressed bis saiIors---ss It is or
dMfy TO fight for our country, into aohate-
yer hands tic g0reramem may fall"
But why seek abroad for examples p
During the first years of the revolution,
when France, the victim of the most fero-
cIous usurpers, languished under govern
ment abhorred by the good citizens. and
meteorological by all foreign powers,
did public opinion fix stain upon the
names OF those brave men who FASTENED at
the call OF The chiefs of the State, to sacri-
ice their lives in repelling the enemies of
iheir country ? Was it not in speaking
Of these times so painful in recollection,
that history has already said-French no.
nor tooe refuge IN the canp2
Ii submission to the government esfab-
llshed in Fra ce after the Goth of March
be regarded as crime, let it be recollect-
ed, that the whole nation must be guilty.
for small indeed is the number of those
VIVA left the country, to place themselves
out OF the power of the Usurper.
This theory would involve in It another
consequence of a very extraordinary ua-
ture. According to it, the establishment
BY force ofan iliegtimate authority. must
cause the total destruction of n people.
The usurper would not fail to punish those
who should refuse to submit to him, while
the Legitimate prince, in bis turn. would
strike those who had submitted to the usur-
patton.
The English Legislature, foreseeing this
violent situation, provided for the public
safety by statute passed in the reign OF
Henry VII which declares, that no one
shall be held guilty for obeying sovereign
actually reigning. This law, according
to publicists, is founded ON these consi.
derdtions, that prince who is reduced
by force to leave his states, cannot exact
Ohpdiepcp ,yi,;ta IL -, ,,r.ti. a