The Virginia Gazette

THE REMEMBRANCER. No. II.

What Northern patriots are, here in a glass we see,
Such once was brave Virginia—oh such forever be!

In the preceding paper we recapitulated with pleasure those memorable events, which reflected a blaze of glory on Virginia, recommended her to every Son of liberty in Europe, and highly endeared her to every sister colony in America: Every Gazette trumpeted our fame, every province on the continent echoed our praise, and applauded our conduct, spirit and firmness; and it even reverberated from Great-Britain. Virginia was toasted in every company as the land of liberty, and the healths of its Burgesses drank as the heroes of patriotism; the Northern colonies in particular were enraptured with our conduct, animated by our example, filled with the warmest affection for us, and attached in the most endearing manner to us. As the association for non-importation was a measure they in general wisely came into, they were transported with the intelligence that such a judicious plan was adopted here, and set on foot with the zeal of a Virginian spirit; and from such an accession they expected signal benefit; nor will they be disappointed if the same noble spirit which headed the front of this enterprise, brings up the rear with perseverance; but without perseverance all is lost, and the higher we have soared, the greater, the more ignominious will be our fall.

The public hath often been informed with what religious punctuality the Gentlemen at the northward adhere to the association, and with what just ignominy they stigmatize those unhappy few, who either refused to subscribe the association, or having subscribed it, basely deviated from it. So many wise precautions are taken in the capital towns and cities, that it is not in the power of many to import and vend the prohibited articles, if they are disposed to do it. The empty stores of once large importers; the numerous warehouses replete with prohibited goods, so watched with Argus' eyes, and guarded with Herculean strength, that none can vend or buy them, to the prejudice of their country: The industry of Ladies, the economy and frugality of Gentlemen of all ranks; and the visible suspension of British commerce, are striking attestations of the integrity and strictness with which they adhere to the association, and invincibly persevere in it, and are also glorious monuments of their disinterested patriotism.

The petty colony of Rhode Island, long infamous for smuggling and illicit trade, having damned itself to everlasting infamy, by refusing to unite in the glorious association with the other colonies, numbers of the Northern merchants, fired with just indignation, entered into articles to prohibit their correspondents in Great-Britain shipping goods to these public vultures, who wanted to feast on their country's bowels, or else those merchants would desist from all farther dealings with them, and seek new correspondents, and form new connections, as they could not continue commerce with any who would supply their infatuated neighbours with knives to cut their country's throat.

This displays their wisdom, and attests their spirited zeal to the common cause, in which they will succeed, or die like noble martyrs in the attempt. However their pitiful adversaries at home and abroad may appear and calumniate them, with various infractions of the association, that under shelter thereof they may screen themselves from those volleys of censure, which will ever be discharged at them by all the foes of slavery and oppression, it is demonstrable the Northern colonies, in general, gloriously persevere; and when a few dastardly individuals have not persevered, or joined the noble army of heroes, the public hath known what trifling whole—some discipline hath been administered to them.