Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-13

'oe-Wtn what deep interest, what lively soli- /
cisude do we, even at this moment, view in ina |
gination, tins noble conflict. Sensible that the |
tate OF great nation depended on its issue can
scarcely realise the evidences of history and be
lieve IN cur success. How can our tongues ever
adequately express. how can orr hearts ever feel
tue gratitude We owe TO those ilustricus authors
OF our iiberty--thcse hsroes who fcugh, and bled
and died not for Memseiosy bat for MS. Yes 1T /
was Tor rs; for they expected no emolument, they
Looked iorno fame even glory Itself was too lit
tie to satisfy those whose grand and noble object
was the freedom OF their country II they e,;jed
dea'h, or disgrace and iguou,iny awaited then,
Inc igfiominy or chains & servitrde. Yes for
as they encountered the tolls md pcrils of !, sn-
and iaborious war; for US they were willing to
s'ed The last drop of their precious blood for rs
IL was mat 'hey saw TO sting in destb no yictoryI
~ me crave. Behold the immortal Washington,
chet ofthe sacred band Ills vast and co,npre
hensive genius collecting, combining and direct
ing the materials of rcsistance penetrating with
single glance, the past, the present ant. The f-
ture, and deriving from t,e resources of his ca
Psc 'ous mind the plastic powers which corll re. !.
Sniatc events and triumph over misfortune See
hun at the heal ofhs little army usr, r;ncr then,
oy nus counseis and his example, with all the no.
BE ardour and unconquerable for,itudc of his
own breast Sharing with the common Sold -I
the privaticns we'll the dangers & bartlsh;ns
OF war His beverage the chrystal fount. bisi
frugal repast little hard earned bread, his night
y peo inc frozen earth, hs canopy the sky. But,
IN the iridst OF trouble 8. danger his soul pre-
served its heaven-fraught energy Unmoved
unaisinayed he stood like some sea-beat rock a.
gainst whose deep, mistaken base the angry
waves dash their mighty volumes and sink away
III impotence; or like some rrodigious oak, tow
erng IN the strength of ages, whose stubborn
.'o's ress, tie raging tempest,-whose solid and
imnoveabie trunk the storm in vain ertleayors ,o
bend to the earth Such was Washington in al
versity What vas he in prosperity Crowned
WIN success,-covered with imperishable clorv
wherever he went tie admiration and, aft ctions
OF ms country followed him the aged and the
young, women and children, all advanced TO hal
.helriaiher, AMI benefactor, and TO offer him the
\ ho'"'Se or Their pious gratitude. The roads
were thronged with idoiizing multitudes his
entrance into cities was through trumphal ar
ches; the most beautiful virgins strewed his
path With, howers, and the acclamations of his
gra,e I'll countrymen resoundcd to the skies Yet
IN the midst OF these honours, his great soul re-
NAMED calm, undazzled and tranquil as before
Still F" unfeversd and serene wealth and MOVIE
had no temptations for him, fame had no allure
menss. Beloved by the people, worshpped by
1.-THE army, they Were almost ready to submit
their fates and their fortunes to bis will but his
only object, his only wish was their happiness &
that, he believed, could only be obtained by their
liberty In the language of an enemy proud to
N
! Washington should be cherished with rel;g;ous
veneraton, by ever friend of liberty, e err love
llf ms country and every admirer of virtue and
however some of US may condemn the political
views OF his latter years, the period of his life.
which we are this day reviewing, at least, was
oiameiess and witioutreproach /; and black must
be the heart snd infamous the tongue of thai man
who could accuse him of ever having ceased. ut
lany period, to love his own country sbove ali
Iolhers, OF having harbored sinister design A.
ganst her happness-If there be such. biS,orv
Which has preserved the name Of dog for his
ilnSratitndH, shell hold him up Co ,,,biie ha,rr,i
and execration, & his name shall be cons;oned %
leveriasting and irreclaimable infany. Yes che.
rished be his name cherished be the names rs
all the beloved band of kindred heroes yenero-
bic and revered patriots brave and mayI,.n mons
v arriors we will not dishonour YOUR ne,rn,;ae
/ by placing your names with those of an AIexan.
der, Caesar or Charles they are the pure and
spo,ess names OF AN EPaminondus, Cato, a
Wallace ora Teu, that deserve 10 be united with
yours
That coNld be no common enthusiasm which
animated w.th so much virtue and mapn,n;r,;,,
every cla@ ~ society; which extended from he
rich to ror, from the wise to the uneDlfrbt
ened, from lie general 10 tn private; and which
made even the humble expire with the intensity
lof JOY at cur success and no common enthus'
n asm should preserve Oh: recollections and warm
lNH ACh SCdJCStN stone iIiycfiD-
tInn marks the spot where those gallant men
fought and died, or where their vensrat-d ashes
Propose ltmay be- said, perhaps, that though the
tomb OF l'eonidas cannot be found among Tie ru-
ms OF Sparta, the recollection of his vaIor and The
admiration OF his heroism still survive, aud tha,
Ienshrned IN nations hearts, the remembrance
LOT Washington or a Warren Will continue tn an.
mate the bosons OF posterty, and to inclte them
To virtue, long after the mausolelrns aid mon,,.
Henis OF kingly grandeur are decayed and crum-
pleu INTO dust. IL is true; but we should seek
every means, not only ofpreserying the recolec-
Ton OF great men, but of heigh, eHlng and e.tynr
ViSor TO those sentiments which produce adoir;,.
ton and stimulate 10 imitation. Who IS there
that would not Il ell his mind elevated and ;nS,,
Ell IN travelling among the runs OF Athens and
rome, and tracing those consecrated spots where
their sages taught, their orators spoke aud tberr
heroes stood. The principle which would male
our courage gam strength ON the plains of Ma.
ramon, and cur piety grow warmer among he
runs or Iona, would animate every virtue at TIN
tomb OF Washington. The monuments of pen;-
us aud ioei y, says an eloquent German writer
4 Should be SIMPLE and majestic; by grand and
imposing aspect they should speak 10 the rn;rd
and the heart; they should inspire profound
instruction and great recolectoiis. Ti,ev are th
voice OF the present generation which should pe
neirate into future ages, and command the 70.
4 sPect and admiration of the most distant noste
rity. They are the durable witnesses of ali out
exerhons, OF the advantages we have CONQUERED
OF our nisiortunes, Of our perseverance,, ofour
Datues ana OF our victories. They contain the
faithful history of those actions ,;,bcb sbo,II