The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-07
ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, MAf 7, 1905.

ANhmoNOs MTf Z, 1903.
We are not tine only people on earth, who
are able to Ultimate and wiling to appiaud, the
. freedom and Gmpcity Of the American Inilitu-
tions. The inhabitants of the freef Gate in Eu-
rops, are fometines compelled to can long
ing and admirng look upon our di,tinyiiihcd
advantages. Il is even doubt whether the adj
niration of the enlightened men of Europe is
not frequently more dcvout, even han our own.
With us, habit may have weakened the imprct-
fons of our political fituaton. We may re-
ienblc too much the luxurious epcurs, whole
tate has become lefs acute from the frequency
| Of his enioyments. No doubt there are many
! of the inhabitants of Europe, upon whom cuff
tom has produced the fime effects, and who
| are rsconcled to their fyitems of dcf,otifn by
| frequently behoding their effects. Yet, when
! an active mind appears, that can pats from its
own to another and brighter horizon: that is
able to bring within its fcope the condition of
| man at other times and in other countries that
can compare together the burthens, the reftric-
tons, the whole machinery of force and fraud,
which are at work upon himfelf, with the mo-
derate taxes, the immunities, and the fimple,
unofentatiOus operations of the American 60
vcrnncnt fuch a mind muft feel, from the
contrift, an uncommon degree of admiration,
perhaps even greater than we are accuftomed to
|
mated exprefiions may not efcape from their bo-
foms. The jealous vigilance of their govern
ment may prevent them from uttSring, or cir
culating them through the medium of the pref.
Prudence may induce them to think it " IN
Reasonable TO ditcufs the itructure" of their own
government. Yet even thefe reftrietions are
fometimes difrcgarded. Their OVERLOOKING bo-
foms will now and then exprefs their I" thanks
to heaven, that there is at leaf one fpot on the
| globe, where man is true to himfelf, and where
he fuccefsfulIv vndcates his rights, his dignity
and his high dettination." Witnefs the follow
| ing animated and eloquent view of the advanta-
ges ofeur 6tuation, as we find it in the &c half
yearly retrofpett of American literature,'' in
the London Monthly Magazine of lat January,
corresponding in many of its prominent fea-
lures with the laft inaugural fpeech of Mr.. JEFF
ferfon, which has been 70 ridcuouny rdicul-
ed and cenfurcd by the federal prints
POLITICS.
| THE people of the United States of America
poGefs, or, at leaf, fuppofe that they pofieis,
| iome political beffings peculiar ~ themi-lves.
NOT TO mention the fthicture of their go1,srunenf
which will be varoufly efimated among poll
! teal theorns. and which ii would be unf,.a CON
able now to difcufs, they coniitler ther1ftves as
iinguarly fortunate in their territorial ooliron.
and in The administrator Of their public af7airs
IN addition to the kindncfs oe nature, in frveri y
them, by wide ocean, from the everlaGiug A.
citations and hofilities of tie old continent,
they find themfc!ves fcated in a region which
li!pplics them, directly or indirectly, with all
the neceaaries and Injuries of life in the greai 1T
profuion, and which provides for TIE extent
on and permanently of their happinefs by an al
NOT Indefinite incrcafe of their numbers. They
find therfevcs At peace with al the world Tex
ce?t the feeblef and uoH contemplate of the
pratical itates OF Barbary) With The profpeet Of
its long continuance. With the great powers
OF EUROPE they Rand connected by relations
which likely long to preferve the prefert
tate of anity an! beneficial mterou2c. No
thing but necefiity will drive the United States
into war; and there is good ground to believe,
that every enlightened nation will paufe and
corhder maturely the points of variance, before
they provoke this necefiity into action. The
acqm;ftion of Louiliana confers the fovereignty
of valtiy extended territory, and the executive
commerce Of the greateft river of North Ameri-
ca. Spain has wifeIy withdrawn her objections
to the cefiion of this country, and has now only
to adult gueftions concerning limits which the
government of the United States will always be
difpofcd to difcufs on liberal & amicable terms.
The wifdom Of contracting for the purchafc of
this immenfe country, particularly when the
previous extent of the United States is coniidcr-
ed, has indeed been denied by many perfons
whole opinions are entitled to great rcfped.
But the evils to he apprehended from this mea-
fare are diR0nt contingent, and by judieions ma
nasement may probably be ob1iated; while
thoie which were to be feared from Louiliana
remaining in the hands Of France, or being
wrelted from her by eonqueR, were numerous,
! great, imminent and unavoidable.
| Beiides the circumstances of national profoe-
rity already mentioned, the United States have
done and are now doing much towards concili-
ating and FIGURING the friendfhip of the tribes
of Indians fettlcd and occupying territories Of
great extent within their jurfdiaon. BY treat
ing theie people with juftice and mildnefs by
ref1ettng their cunoms and prejudiccs, by &C.
commodating their wants, and Especially Ivy in
Producing among them the arts Of civilized life,
from natural enemies they are converted into
| friends and are rapidly laying alte the feroci-
onine's which belongs to the. favses fate. The
triumph ofjuffice and humanity ~oyeN. violence
and fraud is now become 70 eonfpicuous, as TO
be Meteorological by evsry obferver of public.
ataifS. What was formerly too often obtained
from the Indians by war bioodl,ed and raDine
is now amicably yielded through the medium
of negotiation, and all parties participate in the
h'.ghs& Sf the improvement
! TheNpPuence,. powy and rApurces, of
the people Of the'Qpited StateA incrAafe as ra-
pidly as their Members. Comparatively only
a imal portion Of their territory is cleared of
he focal .