Virginia Argus

From the Daily Compiler

VIRGINIANS TO ARMS!

The time is come, the hour of heroes is arrived—not the eleventh but the twelfth hour—the very moment of saving or losing all that is dear to the hearts of patriots and of men. Now, if there is in the character of Virginians that love of country, that pride of valour, that generous and noble disposition which towers above inferior considerations and emulates the glory of serving our country as the highest prize, the richest reward of the brave, now let it be seen, now let it be displayed to the world. The eyes of the world are upon us—not our country only, but all Europe looks on to behold the contest in which we are engaged. In our national character, we are already half disgraced by the disaster which has befallen Washington. The people of Europe will hear with astonishment that a band of ten thousand British, after sixty days notice of their design, could cross the Atlantic Ocean, sail more than one hundred miles up the Chesapeake bay, deliberately land their men and march straight forward, and almost unresisted, to the destruction of the American Metropolis. Was such a thing ever heard of? Oh shame, shame! we burn with grief and rage to record in our day such a stigma on the American name.

But is there no chance or hope of redress, no expedient left to purge off this base reproach of our national character? Yes there is one means left—Our honor as Americans is tarnished by this enterprize of the enemy, but to Virginia perhaps is reserved the glory of wiping off the foul stain that sullies the reputation of our Country, and wresting from the proud, haughty foe the temporary plume he has won.—Hasten brave countrymen, hasten gallant youths of Virginia, rush, like mountain torrents, to the standard of your country, and when the enemy approaches the Capitol of your State (which he soon will,) let him find it covered with the panoply of wisdom and talents, patriotism and valour. Let him come to see this, but never let him return to tell it—no, if the enemy ventures to the suburbs of Richmond, let him never be suffered to reach his ships again—he may repose, as captive in the shade of the rear of the Capitol, but he must never, as victor, survey from its portico the beautiful landscape that spreads beneath the pillared majesty of its front.

No, the Capitol of Virginia is the rendezvous of the brave—the remaining hope, and henceforth, we trust, the pride and glory of the nation. Once more, brave countrymen—the eyes of the world are upon us—the example of our ancestors, the praise of posterity, the safety of all that is valuable and dear, attracts, invites, commands us to arms! In every town, in every village, in every cabin of our land, let the Proclamation of the Governor be read and leaving cowards only behind, let all the brave, young and old, repair to

THE STANDARD OF VIRGINIA.

SPIRIT OF VIRGINIA!

The capture of Washington, with the destruction of the Capitol and Public buildings there, has spread like an electric stream through the land. Recovering from the first shock of astonishment, every bosom seems animated with indignation at the event—

'Revenge, revenge!' a thousand voices cry.
'Revenge, revenge!' the echoing hills reply.

One and the same sentiment actuates every mind and fires every heart in which the love of country and the sentiment of national honor are not totally extinguished. We are about to witness, perhaps, the greatest burst of patriotism & public virtue which Virginia ever exhibited. The whole country is roused, & already the generous spirits of our land are pouring by every avenue into town. The news of Washington's being burnt reached this city on Friday. On Saturday it began to spread in the country, accompanied by the Governor's proclamation and energetic appeal to the Citizens of Virginia. Early on Sunday we saw a number of patriotic individuals from the neighbouring counties hastening to the capitol to offer their services—They had mounted their horses immediately after reading the call of the Governor, and proceeded directly to the rendezvous appointed. One man had walked thirty miles to make a tender of himself. This is the temper, this the spirit which the occasion requires. A few days more, and Richmond will concentrate within it, the talents and virtues, the 'bones and nerves,' the moral energy and physical force of the principal part of the state. Such is the spirit of Virginia—a generous, a noble spirit! worthy of the sons of freedom and heirs of Independence.