The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-15

passing htalirs II Napoleon, and the record
oi his conduct and sentiments whicb is q.
sen to thu world ~ Las Cases and
Oaieara, aiiori iatalaahle lessons 10 ill.,.
powerful, The regal and the hurry. IfMs
tory. as BolingbroSe says, be - Philosophy
teaching by example, kpvFHslrY Is tn.
great tonehsinne. The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by
which I'VE discover true greatness. ~.
fnd by this severe aud untiriag test that
bonaparle was great. not FROM his siatiun
ou HIMSELF. a prisnner, his mind still
awed the munarehs of Europe alone aud
ut Their mrrcy, he sliil arrests their fears,
ahd conituls Heir councils - ilhonf a
throne, he Is ,i,ll a monarch without an
army, he Is sill conqucfor.
"iefi animus quascunque vices."
II, then, we sce this extraordinary char
aeler more Iamiliarly, more truly, aud IN
lights not Ia be mistaken if the reycrses Of
fortune have only presented 10 us those
amlable traits which receded from the vi
sion amidst fields of battle. and the cab.
neis of Europe -1how thongh,less must be
that sense of the beau-i9ed-how absurd
that philosophy, which supposcs that had
Bonapare persisted at Waterloo, or rush
ed, unbiddcn into the presence Of his Gre
"tor, he would have exhibited finer aud
more magnificent picture oi grepter NOR
al symmetry, and IN hnppier keeping with
the brilliant passages OF his lie
No. 'fis the pale sophist over his mid.
night lamp--'lis the base soul that knows
ITS baseness lis the weak and fevcrsh
hfain-the timid heart that ponders ON, or
perpeilales tie act of suicide. There was
It time when Caro- liycd--and Cato died
by his owu hand. But the influence of
opinion aud the examples Of the age are
sufficient Ia render the Romans self
slaughter congruous 10 the principles ola
elevated and patriotic soul. Without its
awe, because Of more common occurrence,
the Japanese will rip up then own bowels,
aud die by sword of poison, rs the point Of
honor. Nations like individuals la,e their
traits of madness. But different are The
feelings and opinions of enlightened Eu-
rope and America, IN the present times.
Religion aud civilization have unsealcd our
eyes, and illuminated the path before u.s.
Religion held back the hand If the tempt.
ed Scott and though a feed in the shape
of woman urged him on, still lie exchims
ia the subin.ity Of virtue,
dare do MI that may become MAN,
Who dhrcs do more---is HOHt."
This, then, seems to us The great point,
the moral Rubieon nrnever should pass-
or once past, destruction must follow. -
There are ft'fs and even crimes, for which
time and pcnitenea may atone there are
deeds Of guilt which society must punish
for It's own preservation, but which carry
with them no o,mdaiy faint Murder aud
cruelty, and treason, are the objects Of hu-
man aud divine vengeance, they excite our
horror, bat il is only when they are accom-
panied with coteardicf, that they excite our
contempt.
The treason of COrioanus was the off
spring of anger and revenge The crlltl-
ties, murders aud prescriptions HAT pre-
coded the Augustan age, where the results
OF political struggles and coutending ambl-
tion. Berlram, in fcasling on the wounds
Of Aldobrand, or Xanga when he beytlides
Alon2o, we've cruel, bat their passions were
not moan, nor did they avoid dangers and
death. Bat what moic unnanly, what
greater coward upon earth, than he who
fears his own reflections and moanly SKULL,
rs it were, from existence, TO seek taDd
probably not To find aunihllation OF thought
and beiug.
Bonaparte was not remarkable as re.
hgioaS man, bar his opinions and practice
shew in what deep respect lie regarded
truth and religion.
:" AS soon as had power, (says hc) !
immediately re-estabilohnd religion
made it the ground work aud foundation
upon whichs built CONSIDERED il as til,
support Of sound principles aud good NOR.
atty, both in doctrine and in practier.--
Besides, such Is the rcsilcssness of man, lhaI
his mind requires that something underlined
and marvellous which religion offers and
il is better for him TO Gnd il there, than IN
seek it of Gag liosiro, Madenloiselle Ienor.
mand, or of The other soGthsayers dnd ina
posters" When il was observed 10 him
that he might possibly, ia the cud, become
de,out, the Emperor, says Las Cases, ans
wered, With an air of con, lcilon, that he
feared not, and that it was, with regret,
he said, for il was, no doubt, a great source
u consolation. 81 am assuTediy, very far
from being AN atheist but cannot believe
all that am taught in spite of my reason,
without being false aud llypocFiic. Nhen
| became Emperor, & particularly after my
marriage with Maria Louisa, every effort
WIS made to induce me To 10 with great
pomp, according to The custpms Of the
kings of Flance, to take tie sacrament at
The church of Solre Dame; but this POI
sitiveIy refused to do. did not believe ia
the act sufficiently ~ derive any benefit
from it, aud set | believe too much in il
TO expose myself to commit proiana-
ton"
He that could thus feel and thus reflect,
possessed too Wei regulated a mind, too ole
vailed Il sense of human dignity and duty,
to have ever contemplated au act Of t.io ne
Sc. What he might have done, had he
fourished in the time OF julius Cesar, j.
another question. Although ri thai period