Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-10-12

and pr0brions aprellations bestowed on,
the government and nation of their prisoo-i
erS. |
The advantage is not common one of
having iainutc account oi the treatment
OF our prisoners, contained in a Journal,
narratiag the facts as they. occur, by orc of
the prisoners, aai! having alnust tran slusedI
intoit the feelings of. hope, despondencyl
aud solicitude which agitate the sufferers Il
but the opportunity is still more rare of ha.
wing SUCH an account in 4 vigorous and an-
mated style, and accompanied with much
acute and accurate discrimination of ma
tional character. These objects are ex-
ceed'nsly well accomplished in the journal
OF the Prisoner at War; but those who
have strong American altar .,nents, wilrbe
| still farther gratifie.l in iinting the influ
euce OF foreign oppression, in alIaying
those unhappy party aninositics, and what
to us appear anti-na lional prciudices, but
too much in,lulgea in by federalists at
home. Americans abroad, constitute but
one party, and that party is for their coun.
try. There the cold apathy, the freezing
indifference to national misfortune. is TeIf
oy no person OF whatever party he may be,
under the tallacious pretence that it is the
! administrative that suffers, aud not the
country. The. young American finds g.
broad that the admin istration ia identified
with the governments, and the gnyer,anent
with the conntry; that fiis degradation of
his rulers involves an iheiisiiity to himself /:
and the natiooat pride which ne feels eyciss
ted IN his breast is equally gratifej with
the success OF his government. asif. ID had
been administered by the party VI which
ne Is MISUNDERSTANDING the Americans in
Europe there are no advocates of Hartford
Conventions; no worshipper OF Strong for
advocating the cause OF our c0untry's en-
enIy; naturalization which surrounds with
! the mantle of Washington man Of veryor-
| binary talents, whose patriotism was never
displayed but in embarrassing his own pov
eminent, & in eulogiKing theavowei enemy
OF his country. In foreign prisons, the ma
tive American feelings prompt the true ex
pressions of indignation which such con-
duct excites. Federalists and democrats
are lost IN the broader character of An,eri
cans, and Hartford conventionists, Massa-
chusetts iedera!ists, aud the red allie. of
England, are grouped and execrated in the
same breath, which shouted for Madison
| and American triumph.
But some persons whose natural at
tachments were never suffered to slumber.
to promote the selfish objects of party. dis
approve OF republication witch ma. iGnden-
cy to excite indignation against powe,
WIN whom we are at peace, and whose
friendship we are disposed to cultivate
They think it better the sponge of oblivion
sh0nid be drawn across the records of mr.
injuries. with one hand. when the other ac.
cepts the proffered emblem of peace. We.
however, think this sentiment not onIy nm
wise, but unjust. Not that we are desi.
rous OF exciting any feelings incompatbIe
WITH scbsiStlng amicai reatiois.-But that
the people should understand the true cha
racter OF foreign nations, not onlyas means
OF regulating The confidence we should
pace IN tneT AMIGA! pretensions. but also
10 prepare against the repetition Of surh i'm
proper usages IN renewed belligerent re-
iation. It's unjust 10 our countrymen who
have been made the victims of barbarity.
when the usages of civilized states have
been disresarded to their injury: when a
foreign nauon has used their power over
prisoners IN manner that makes humabi
ty sioken-the victims cherish one senti-
ment That breaks like ray of heaven on
the darkness OF their despair--that their
countrymen will cOmmisserate their mis-
fortunes, and if possible, aveaee their iniu-
RES. Ii vengeance be precluded by the
sudden intervention Of peace. 1t is Meth
er political nor moral virtue. that we
should be iGsensible to their wrongs. and
shut cur ears TO the mnrmurs of their com
plants. The record of such transactions
should be imperishable they should be
imprinted on our hearts while our country
has name, and awaken feelings of com |
hnsseratlon so much the more acute, as The
Complaints were unavaiiing, < their sur |
ferinss unavenged. According to such |
men, the story Of the Jersey pr,son ahin
should be obIiterated from the annals OIL
the revolution and future Americans
should never know that the liberties. which
descend to them as the first of earthly bes-
sings, we're achieved against the oppressi
on OF our mother country, and were the
price of sufierings that history cannot re-
cord without the language of commissers.
ton, nor humanity peruse, without a senti-
ment of vengeance.
ORLEANS, Sent. II.
A" SPECK OF WARP WIrH THE