Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-25

not md the same facts staring us in the fac
from the days Of Nimrod to those of George tn
third from the period Of the Assyrian empir
TO that of the paramount dominion of Great Bri
tain from the page OF IIerodotus to the psg
of Hume Surely, II is not necessary for Mr
Goblet to send his son hither to inform us tina
vice and misery increase with the populousness
ofnations that crimes augment incorporation to
the density of communities thqt cunning men
govern the ignorant and that established po v.
er will preserve itself by strong or vicious means,
If II cannot do so by weak or vIrtuods ones.
When Mr.. C,bbett has descanted upon all
| these points, in his prolix manner, in what way
| are the citizens of the United States TO be bet
tered by has lucubrations ! Does he wish he
Americans to draw the conclusion, that, the En-
gish people being in very wretched condi, on,
As he asserts, and their rulers very corrup',
we, IN this country, ought to be satisfied and
happy That our happiness is to be measured
by contrast with hat ola foreign people And,
until we reach he alIedged miserable condition
ct that people, thai we ought to regard our
selves as the most enlighte ed, the freest, and
the most yIrtuous inhabitants of his globe -
Now, in our judgment, this would be very
silly conclusion There are many degrees of SIN
before man comes to be as bad as the devil
and many shades of wretchedness before nation
reaches the dark night of despotism. By thel
way, we by no means consider the British mo-
narchy as despo,ism. On the contrary, we be-
lieve that, where the crown the government,
snot Immediately concerned, there is as much
Justice, and almos as much freedom of the press,
IN England as. in America In this respec,
we need only appeal to the adjudcations of the
British tribunals, forming; in many cases. prece
dents for our own ard to the many liberal, and
even licentious, productions in that kingdom
Witness the republication in that country of Mr..
pannhIet nm nf Lott uar
embracing an enumeration of facts highly ineui-
pative OF the political justice and honor of the
British government; Witness Mr.. Cobbetts own
Reg ster, than which there is no publication in
the United States more audacous or scurrilous
In reality, il is not essential for us to know e.
ther the vices of the English ministry or the
sutferings of the English people, in order
To eniighten us, IS to our own welfare
let mS match Our rulers. Let not our
tention be attracted abroad. To have it perpc
tuaiiy rung IN our ears that the people cfEtgland
are slaves and their king tyrant, is to fall pre-
sely into the error into Which the English them
selves have, to Their cost and sorrow, fallen with
respect TO France. II always the ar,ifice of
the British government TO impress il on the minds
frs subjects that they were infinitely more hap
Ply than the French, and superior to them aud
hence have arisen endless quarrels and wars, re.
presslve OF the peace and p, osperty of the world
and OF the progress of the arts and SC ences. If
we listen to MIR Cobbett, ne will ins,il The same
IDEAS INTO our heads, foment discord between The
TWO countries, enrich has familyh,and iaug at A.
merican credultty,
As foreigners emigrating to the U. States
md devoting themselves to an honest voca'iol,
we nave not the least objection 20 the pur ut f
Mr. Cobbetts son and his coadjntor But it
would be reproach to the national understand
ing, five were TO suffer ourselves to be cozened
ov 'he numerous eulogies bestowed upon the
Americans by that writer. For two ear past ne
mas showered upon the people of this country
the grossest batteries. He may play the part OF
the s'arveillng Spauiard in Gil Bias & expect
a good supper; but he may depend on IL that
our fellow citizens have sense enough not to he
reve nm when he virtually assures them that
lhey are the eighth wonder oftbe world"