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

ing evil, and to ere9 the ramparts which were
to guard us againtt the invaiions of tyranny.
They formed a contribution on the mott iuf and
rational principles, and organized a government
for recurring and defending the rights Oft the natl
on. An unexampled fpccimen of political and
egillative wiidom wound up the terrible drama
which had been 70 long acting on the continent,
and leaves the mind in fate of doubt whether
to admire mott the heroiin or the wifdon,, the
military valour or the legislative Kill of the CO.
lonies. Thus terminated this great event which
fer 10 long time held the world in anxious ex-
peStauon----and thus America received 4" i re-
" ward too fpleIdid for wealth to purchafe, for
sc monarchs TO poliefs, or for prosperous vice to
6 attain"
When we calt our eyes, fellow citizens, over
the hlitories of nations, no objects appear more
prominent or more confpicuous than the late po-
iitical revolutions which have taken place in the
world. They are events whole magnitude and
iplendor mat attract and fix the attention of
ages. The American revolution preients itfelf
as the ait and highef grade in the fcale of poll
teal advancement. Whether we regard it as
to Its origin, to its consequences, as to the
energy neceilary to its execution, rs to the
univerial blefings which are to flow from it, we
may iultly file it the &c mott virtuous and the
mott luxurious revolution" that ever graced the
hiitory of mankind. Other revolutions have orr
ginated IN caprice, been generated by ambition,
| and have produced no important and radical
changes in government. But that of America
fprang from purer iource. The great object
OF our revolution was to refcue numerous
people from flavery, and to fecure to them in
dependence and hapPineis. 1t was not tenn
porary expedient to remove any particular griev-
ances, or to refcind any fpeci6c acts of tyranny.
There was no particular family to be fet up or
pulled down, " there was nothing of perfonality
in the caufe." The oppreffion exercifsd over
the colonies was fuch as was capable of" reach
ing the whole foul of man, and arming it with
perpetual energy" In the cafe of James the
| lift and James the Cd of England, the revolt was
againft the defpotifm of the men, but we aimed
our dreadful blow at the general fyftem of op-
prefIion.
To comprehend, tho, fully, the importance
of our late revolution, we mutt reflect on its ne
cefiity we mutt conGder what would have been
the iituation of this country had no political
change eqerfakeHb place. HadAmerica ftillremain-
ed united to G.. Britain, fhe would have been rem
dered atheatrc ofcivil diiientions, wretchedvic-
tim of ambition or of military execution. She
would have been drawn into all the wars of Bril-
tain, involved in all her political diforders, and
have been compelled to "dip her hand in the
bloody work ofEurope." She would have been
drained of her wealth, and of her inhabitants, to
lupport the Britiih arms in the different quarters
of the. world, and have become the &c make
weight in the fcale" of Britifh politics.--Had
on the contrary America dropped quietly from
Britain, no important change would have Ia
ken place in the condition of the world. The
fame old, etabliihed order of things would have
remained, and men would fill have purified the
common mode ofthlnking. But this was not
defined to be the fate of our country regular
fucce6ion of moral caufes, iilently prepared the
way for revolution, which dethroned the
proud defpotc power of Europe, and RATED A
merica TO the grade of independence. An aw-
fui experience diicioied 10 our parent-country
the important truth, that &c courageous people
may be driven TO defpair, and that an unanimous
and united nation can never REBEL"
10 be concluded in or next.