The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-11

OF me colonies planted IN America. a bOunslefS
profpe6t of happineis was offered to their view.
Prosrefiing daily in opulence and improve
ment, the colonies attracted the attention of the
eait. Thofe countries whole inhabitants had
euigrated TO America, now ailumed the tender
name ofmofber country, (' that name which adj
dreGes ittelf peculiarly to the frt feelings of the
heart, and arrogated to themfc.ves the direc-
ton, juritddion and legislative controul of the
colonies. Great Britain for io,ne time manfeit-
ed towards her colonies all the tenderness of
maternal affection. But her ambition would
net tutfer her long to view with calmnefs that
encreahng Rrength which indicated rapid APP
proach to period when they ihould throw off
the ihackles OF infancy, and rife into indepen-
dent nation. Her avarice could not but regard
with an uneaiy, malicious eye, that auglnenta-
ton OF wealth which was not poured into her
own Golfers. The fertile fields and prosperous
infancy of America were beheld with pleafure
by Great Britain, only becaufe they might be
converted into " mines of tributary wealth."
With this difpofition it was not to be fuppoied
that the endearing name of mother country,
would long be retained by Great Britain. She
attended itep by ftep to the very fummit ofty-
ranny. She declared her right of unlimited tax
alton her right of leg1ating for the colonies,
without fufering them to be represented, and
wiihed us to acknowledge the unverial fupre-
macy of parliament. She revived an OBJ
folete act of the reign of Henry the Eighth,
which enabled her, by &c the arbitrary
"power of parliament, TO tear every A
merican from his family and frieads,
and drag him to dreary and diftant dunse-
ons." Theie were the feps of Great Britain
TO uiurpaton, theie the odious acts which rou-
fed American indignation, and blew up the fame
of American freedom. A daring and ambitious
monarch, corrupt and abandoned miniitry in
paifing thefe detected acts, blindly iGucd the de-
| cree of their own deftru6tion, the decree which
was defined to overturn and Z" daih in pieces"
the colofius oftheir power. The falfc fpirit of
domination, the deluiive dream of conqueft, was
not confined to the cabinet of Great Britain it
gradually extended itfelf over a whole people,
and urged them on to "gain deffrudion as the
wages of nation" In vain were they told that
the native independence of the American charac-
ter would ill-brook the arbitrary fpirit of their
mehures, that the 60 high democratical mind of
America would not fubmit to their infolence
and ufurpation, they till purified their unguard-
ed policy, they were already bewildered in the
abarynth of ambitious folly, and no wifdom or
virtue could extricate them. Nothing remained
TOR them but to hurry down the precpice, the
very brink of which they had already approach
ed.
Humiliation, patience and fortitude at firn
characterized the colonies; they kept fheathed
the fword of deftru6tion, and held forth the
| olive-branch to Britain. Petition was heaped
on petition, and remembrance on remembrance,
but all was Intellectual. Reconclement could
never grow, where wounds of deadly hate had
pierced 10 Deep" Great Britain, blind TO her
ntereit, deaf TO the voice of reafon, and to the
mild perfuaiions of fufferng innocence, fill re-
NAMED ultimately firm in her rllinous plan, till
America was forced to rebel, till the 4" mott I'M
offending humility was tortured into rage, and
the infancy of exitence made to weep.'' After
many iii;iiiiwcred and ruiticfs petitions after
repeated indignities, outrases and infults, which
could nave been offered only by the mott fla
grant injuitice, and borne with only by virtu-
Gus and manly fortitude, the colonies rofe in all
the maleity of an offended, an injured, but an
independent and noble people, to maintain their
rights and deftroy the ambitious claims of Bri-
tam. Sentiments of independence ran with
electrical rapidity from mind to mind That
glow or thought and that energy of feeling
which the profpeet even of difant good inipires,
mpeiled the votaries of liberty from every part
OF America, to the ftandard which had been
erected in her caufe. Then was feen the mott
Intcrefting fpe6tacle the world ever beheld-
that of a powerful and afpiring nation contend
ing for dominion and ftrugglng for conqueR,
and OF nation young, uniTnproved, uncorrupt-
ed by luxury and wealth, taking every thing in
defence Gifts rights. The admiring world be-
held raw, undiciplined and unprovided nation,
Handing in the attitude of defence aganf
the united force and difcipline of Great Britain.
Then enfued a confii6t on the iffue of which the
fate of America and of the world hung for
while in fufpenfe. In cafe of defeat, America
was threatened with the humbleft ilbie6tion, the
loweft degradation, and all the horrors of mill
tary defpotifln. -Bnt triumph over the injuf-
tice of Europe, was defined to beitow on her
independence, aud to open the profpeet to uni
yerta emancipation. Animated by thefe reflec-
tons, all clafles of men were feen to tear them
ielves from the fweet enjoyment of domefic
and of focal intercourse, to direct the tumult,
and to undergo the feverities of bloody con-
HIct. The dark clouds of war then BURT on our
country our liberties, our lives, and our pof-
feilions were the fport of mercilefs foe. Our
towns, villages, hamlets and even our fields did
not efcape their barbarous rage. The once fini-
ling icenes of plenty prefented now only hide
Gus fpectacles of poverty, and fightful pictures
OF deiolation and mifery."-But the time was
rapidly approaching when triumph fhoud be
proclaimed to the caufe of freedom. Soon were
to fucceed happier times and fcenes ofreft when
the " war-worn foldier," and the " fublime pa
triot' beneath. the facred ihelter of freedom
mould enjoy the full reward of their virtuous g.
iucceisful tolls. Soon was to arrive the period
when England, compelled to acknowledge A.
merica tepdrate and independent nation, was
defined to be thorn of her frength, and to fhrink