Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-03-07


shackeed by the edicts Of usurpa,ion You
might too remind those inflated gentry, that the
profits of your labOur, though pit,ance too mi
mute to reScue you from the class OF paupers aud
vagahOmds, yet as they secure to you and to your
families the rational enjnyments OF lite it'll many
of It's rehnements, you value them as highly, as
they do stately edihces, wide domains and nurncr-
GUS slaves What, mo, cover, in the general con-
tritution, becomes of your love of country Shall
you he tod hat patriotism is to be measured by
the Surveyors chains ? that the proud foe when
approaching New Orleans, with "beauty and
booty as Incentives TO their rapacity, the high
spirit ofthe fenzed father, and the deep indigna-
ton OF the chivaious brother should have been
measured by the rood? What, though you
tribute not land! it may be safely affirmed Of ev-
cry thrifty and useful man amongst you, that his
ultimate hope is to Iepose under his own vine and
hg tree; and il he cultivate not his own land
there are lew amongst you who have not friends
and relatives that do under whose shade you have
often reposed whose hospable board has often
been spread before you, whose oppression there
fore you had rather share than inflict. Indeed
my countrymen, you have not only in res
poets been reduced to the level of slaves, but the
the attempt is made to reduce you in the scale of
social beings; Ion not only taxed by laws i'm
the enactment of which, you have had agency,
excluded from those ures which superintend the
morals and detect the vices of the community
made TO labour upon roads dragged militia
from your homes-made to appear as witnesses
out, friendship Tor your neighb0rs, affection for
YOUR families, local attac hments to the scenes of
yonr hoyhood, all of which constitute that chval.
rotis devotion {" his state, which characterize the
! Vngiuian, and denote his patriotism, ale all de.
nied you when, you are cody and supercilions-
~ told, that you can advance no sufficient evil
dence OF deep and permanent interest in the
prosperity OF the commonwealth, to entiile You TO
any representative agency in the governmental!
Let distance separate you from your home, let
an ocean roll between you and your country,
would not the recollection OF your family kndle
III your bosom warmth as genial draw from
them sigh as tendety regretnl as could be felt
or breathed 10y the owner of acres? Ii in your
homeward bound ship your passage be mpeded
by hostile flag, would you not bear down upon
1t with heart as bold, spirit valiant and
when IN the distant horizon yonr eager gaze is
greeted by the first speck Of your native shores,
would not the images arising to your view thrill
your hearts with transport as high, would you
, no, as ieelingly exclaim,
All! happy hills, all pleasing shade
All fields beloved in vain.
Where once my careless childhood struyed
I'll stranger yet to pain,
feel the gales that from We blow
momenlarv bliss bestow
How then the attachment felt by the owners
I, OF those very acres, which constitute your com
mon country he more loyal, than that cherished
: 10y you? How ask are they better patriots?
A FREEHOLDER.