Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-10-05
GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.
From the New-York National Advoc.,e


! The inaugural discourse before the His.
torical Society of New-York, delivered by
me honorable G"Verneur Morris, which we
iotlCe" some days since, with appreciation
la' been printed. We shall not pronounce
tiis as the most splendid of tits .entle.
mans performances, but it gives US Plea
sure to express our opinion of the correct
PRINCIPLES and the American feelings it in
cu!oates and convcy.. AS this gentleman
! mas been prominent mark for critical an
tause and censure aver since the delivery
lni ms Grafton on the restoration Of The
Bourbons and As we joined the list of ,hoss
VINO condemned tho.s:otiments which were.
at that day promulgated, we consider il
out an act of justice to dcclMe our salts
'actI"n on reading the temperate and, div
ntiied language which marks the latter pro.
| luctiun
Ir!s gentleman's maDuer Of writing i.
ocular 10 himself, aud well adaute1 70
diiplay the pJwers OF oratory. In the ors.
tInn now before US, we find, however less
! u That pause aud start which mark bia a.
ther productions, while there is flow oe
wen connected argument, pc tectIy adapt-
I'D TO the OCCASION on which he WAS called
to address the society,".
we are sorry that the limits of our ps-
per do not allow us tn make mare ee,er-
al survey OF this grafton than we nnwAds
we cannot however, leave the subi,c,
without making one or two quotations. Mr..
Morris Speaking of the versatility of nv.
man institutions, which IT one dsv NAV
produce good, and at another evil. expresS.
es himself IN manner which couyevs I.
great deal in few w,rds. and O.; The fruth
III which the histrry of the world will fur.
nisb abundant proof.
Sc The lapse of ages and the cbanpe oe
manuers, 0ircligiUu, Of government, OF Gus
toms and of character. Frequently ,eudc-
examples Of one age and country inappIica.
cable 20 the circumstances Of oi;er. corn.
tries and other times +" As little can
lie Stern severity of Roman yiriue. thouvtp
it swell the youthful bosom with enthus;as.
&c a'imirati0n, teach tie conduct which
Dents Christian people" &" Every man
therefore, viii lind the history of his owa
country the most acknowledgements Ha
me state OF society," is changed by time and
Cnahce, me td'cS too must chahge. New
disorders require new corrections-an9
"hen the re- son Of ancient ordinances no
I'ngar exist they fail irto oblivion. Hi,tn-.
ry "nd i'w a;e iisse, scIences-they sun
port and eniighten each other."
In sp"akiA2 Of the late war, Mr.. Morris.
Tar from dSathenatising it, and asscr,;,,S
las ia the federal pfTuls) that ithas been
and car be .iy productive nf misery: tast
= " 6egaii IN 9ly end en1ed in aisSrace,''
&C. sc. thus remarks 90 it:
" Permit me also, to cherish belief. that
the partial distress and general incouyepi.,
ence produced among ~, by late events.
viii have a sanitary inilrence ON publ;s
manners. War, fruitful IS it is of misery.
and wo: is, nevertheless. neI;cnIt To mr.
ton, infected by lie breaiao. n,Gtt,yn mol.
t"tio''. ehgrGsspa Ny tie pursuit. Of illicit
gam, Immersed ia The jun uf ia. 1,aL irays
Fc, 1r unnerved by the succcss of selfish
enjoyment. It draws mere cloia the bos6
OF national sentiment, crr.ec's dagradin-
proPensltles, and inyigOratgs iba ucJ.r ,es-
lingS OF our naute."
The concluding paragraph If tic orator.
is strikineIy elegant, aud nnpregSiyclv NJ.
Gus, and breathcs the prayer Of cvsr,.t rro
American in n strain of elyqucacc LIZ
rarely equallcd if ever excited
Hail Columbia, clild Of science. M
rent ot useful acts; dear country, lair
lie 1t thine to meiUrate tie condition a.
man. Too many thrones have been reared
by arms, cemented BY blood, ard reduces
again to dust by the ssrguinary conflicts Of
arms. Let mankind enjoy atlast the con.
solatory spectacle Of thy throne, built BIZ
industry, on the solid basis of peace, and
sheltered under The wings of justice. Nav
i be secured By piOus obedience 10 1T
llyine viii, which pIescribes the moral or.
ut Of empire with the same prccision thae
MS wisdom and power have displayed in
millions of planets round millions
ot suns thGugh tbs ys.tnsas If infuiia
space"