Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-01-08

Atu euCudlituk iudScs VI tuC au'uS.
be Martyrs, and OF the Genius Of Chr''t''
anity? 1t is crime that valiant youth,
in whose hands shOne the arms OF bis coun.
.ry-ibat country which he had traVeIsed
from Cape Finisterre TO the columns OF
Hercules, from the Bidassoa to the la
gus. hearing the cries Of discomfort and
seeing the misery, disorder, and degrade.
lion, INTO which the immortality and the
unsuitable avarice OF the evil cOunsellors
OF Ferdinand had unbappIly sunk hers
it an incapable crime, | say, that he
should have raised his voice on the banks
of the GuadaIete, and exclaimed 10 bis
compslriois, Ferdinand IS your King
Ferdinand is not tyraDt Fear not to re-
peat the echo OF Las Cabezas, let that
sound reach bis ears and SPAN will be
happy. and Ferdinand behold himself sur
rounded by his children !" Oh! shall
deeds OF valori OF numsni'y, OF suffering,
of conslancy. and the sacrifice OF health
and OF life, offered up On the affairs OF his
country to ameiorate the condition Of his
fellow citizens-actions which constitute
the prominent feature OF heroism, be blot:
ted cot from among the names Of the so.
u
lOgue OF crimes!
The sword winch became national tro-
ply. which vas nnly decretd t. Re.
long 10 lhe people alone. The hymns
which were heard by joyful Andalusia,
and resounded on the banks OF the Ebro
and the Mimic, afterwards repeated with
appreciation on those of the Seine, the
Thames, The Danube, and the Elbe--the
patriot soldier, who thrice refused TO be
girded with the sash of the General, with
which it pleased his Monarch 10 remune.
rate him, as well as to nominate him his
Aid -de-Camp.-the head, which was de-
coraled with the civic crowns OF the olive
and the rose, presented 10 him by an en-
raptured people filled with enthusiasm OF
the purest peasure;-wilIt this sword, |
ask. be converted las now so madly and
audaciousIy some pretend in the pages
ofsevere history, into the bloody dagger
of a man destroying rebel? Will these
p tiot hymn be changed into be bitter
sarcasms of ironicaI songs; and will the
serene forehead Of a virtuous man, who
deserved of his King and country the title
of their best servant, be uaduced as vile
and lreacherous?
Let, Sir, his destiny be whatever Heav.
en- may pIease--let il be such that he may
draw upon his devoted head all the un.
bridled passions of a perniCious policy
OF bloodtbirsty vengeance, and OF the IN
satiabIe hatred OF ianatIcism-yet never
shall the virtues of Riego be converted
into crimes, and never will the govern.
meDt of France be able to wash away the
stain, which shall tovever cover il, should
they allow a general, whom the French
arms had defeated in that field in which
be fought under the orders Of bis King,
denying to him the rights OF prisoner OF
war, to tall sacrifice 10 maniac passions
passions which if not repressed, will
terminate in shaking even TO their iounda-
lions, the legitimate thrones OF all exist,
ing dynasties.
BE- pen of Canon Riego. not accustom.
nn IN wrrre upon matters OF srsrr, uefI
neates upon paper, the sentiments which
animate bis bosom in favor OF a brother,
without fearing to dispease Minister
whom be cannot look upon in any other
light than as man OF sense, an enlighten-
ed philosopher, and a profound writer -
Were he, however, allowed, in adyoca-
ting cause which be is so much interest.
ed IN pleading, 10 mix some political con.
sideratIons, how many could be not pre-
sent TO the superior understanding OF the
sagaCiOus Minister, calculated 10 prevail
upon him TO exert all his influence in the
cabinet OF his Most Christian Majesty to
save the French government from such an
enormous disgrace. snd 10 acquire to him
self the glory Of an action as just as it is
humane
What greater punishment--what more
cruel sutferings can be Inflicted on Riego
than the spirit.destroying reflections which
must now agitate bis bosom, at seeing the
conduct OF those very men upon whose
virtues, experience, knowledge and poIl-
teal foresight, he bad ilounded the hope
Of seeing the throne OF his king establish.
ed and respected, and Inc prosperity of
all his fellow citizens secured and promo.
ted? And bow have his companions in
arms, who on SO many occasions. mixed
the sacred names OF religion, country, liz
berty, and king, with his own celebrated
one, behaved? How havetbey defended q
may be allowed the expression) the work
OF RIego? Then what greater punishment
what more cruel suffering Where,
then, is the political reason for consider.
ing the existence OF Riego as terrible?
But it so many powerful reasons should
not be sufficient TO move your excelleHcy
to the performance of the action of saving
Riego IAN action as noble as it is glorIous),
let The bitter tears of his distracted, exled,
heart.sunken wife, fading away in the
flower of her age with consump!ive dis.
ease, excite in your heart the feelings Of
and urge you TO do deed for
which your name shall be blessed by ge-
oeralions yet unborn. Oh why was she
ever separated from her mothers womb
Why did the light OF heaven ever shine
,pon her pale cheek Surely not that she