The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-02-28
[crative as the ftizn-e ~ its riches.


Ifthe defen of Miranda be really what 4
Iprofef1es to b., fo,ne have gone ON TO doubt his
Qualifications for the Accomplishment of his
projects. They have called him, an arrant adj
venturer they have ,cointed him out, in the
h'tory OF the wars Of France as a tiifgraced and
Gathered general they have ilIuftrated the
incapac,sy of his foul by the repeated mifcar-
rage OF his plans. Few like our communication
nave ventured to extoi his intelligence AID
capacity for the mon important affairs.'
But let his plan be ever fo noble, or his qua
nncations ever 70 great; many have doubted
tne probability of his fucceeding in the eman-
c'pation OF his country. We know nor, and
our eo'nmsn,cator carefully avoids 10 touch
upon, the point Of his deftination whether it
DC mex'co, New Grenada, Peru, or Buenos
nyres: But IN all tbofe countries, difficulties
would i'irronnd him.. The people are the
devoted laves of the Clergy in all the Sp,nif,
colonies, and the Clergy are bound by their
rIch benetices to the prefent order of things.
ahelr political prciudces are lcarceIy lefs OBJ
innate than their eccIeGatica: they have no
Preis among them I; their oppre(iions may I've
great but they have learned TO be contented.
ne very monopoly of commerce which pre-
walls among them, has the effect of fhu.ting out
another of the great means of Improvement.
rev ttrangers vift their country and the mi(e-
raoe Mcftee of Mexico and Peru has no oppor-
tun,ty to profit by the difcoveries of more CT
vilifed countries. 49,
But why may not the Spaniih colonies b..
come as independent as the Brtiih colonies for
merry Did! We may reply, that their conditi-
on is different in two irnpurtan, circumftapc.s.
NOT only was our people f.eer than the Spanifl,
colonies are at prcftnt; IA much freer at leait,
IN proportion as the Biitf'i government is more
enlighted than the SpaniIh; hut The government
~hich was eftab'iihed in our cnloniee was much
better calculated to give fiIccefs to a revolution.
/ ne iegiilatures, which were previoufiy eltab-
Mined IN our own colonies, furv;ved the down
fall OF the Britifh Sovereignty, and weie mira.
bly Tilted for collecting together the force of
tee nation: Bat in the Spaniih colonies, no
iuch organization exits for the concentration of
the public force. The whole bulinels of IeeiE
iatIon IS in the hands of Viceroys or other fu
coordinate agents of the crown. Electors and
eleetcd, commitments and representatives are
names without a meaning inthe Spanifh vo-
cabulary.
Thefe circumstances are Rroneiy calculated
to produce doubt refpeaing the fuccrfs
OF Miranda's profefed enterprife, under the
Prefent fate of the Spanih colonies. On
TINS iuoJect, however, we are bound to
peak with all the humility of doubt. we
Know but little of the prefer. fa,e of the
Spaniih colonies (; the ftrensth of The govern.
ment, the character of its preient officers. or
its military refources We know Nill lefs of
h1'randa's means or The refotirces of his adbr.
rents. If" tire provinces" are already " or
gan'Ssd = If Miranda is af1iited, if not hy the
lreafury, at leaft as i is f,id by the ad,u;rsh,
OF England if three millions of dollars ba4,e
neen turnithed by his American afociates or
Engiih ipecuators If fuccefs fhouId crown
ap,ft hat r.. 4
OF Spain fhould fall iato his hands if the mil.
tary force of that country be feeble or its diff
cipl'ne Imperfect; it is certainly probable that
Miranda may become the Warrington of his
country. What we mean TO alIert is, that even
II " miracle does" moi come" fill Mi.
randa may not +" fucceed."
We are happy to inform our readers tina. le,,e,
from JAMES Monaco to gentleman in thi. nei ., !.
bourhood dated in November, declares his intention
OF returning to his native country, this prny High
ly may value his fervices in Europe we eanpo
but think tha, hi, prefence in his own country. a,
this particular aneure of our affairs, is dill more to
| he wilhed for. We nial. lofe a great diplomatic
but we ihail gain hill greater itatefnan
view James Monroe i'll every relation, which he ha.
hIled; whether in the ades of retirement or in tb.
full blaz- of public life; whether as a governor Of
virginia. or IS an officer under the federal govern
men as ienator of the United States, or as a TO-
reign n,iner; the hiory of his life win prove the
belt euogium upon his virtues. IF an iuteyrity in
private lite which refulcs to mix with every thing DIFF
honorable and mean; if Z" an eye that never wink.
| and wing that never tires" when the intereh OF
his country demands vigilance and activity; il :
Judgment originally hrong nlatured BY e*6erienee and
It'll more extended by the eooLuef which ever proceeds
Its deeions; ifthefe be uIicen, paports to the "a
YOUR at republican people, IBIS nun ,all TO, recev,
a nggardly tribute. Who was it that in times wher
the inolt exorbtant entertainments upon our liberties
were juit fleming in the infancy of federal admin
itraton, that faw the young vampire in its nea ant
| pointed out its growing and volumiDous folds Il
was JAMEs MONROE, a Senator of the Untec
States Who was IL, that by the enlightened yea
with which he administered its duties caa luftr,
even upon the obcure and contracted Office of 90
vernon OF Virgini1. and at the very time when I'll,
perfecntion again hi, had reached It's hiehef poin,
commanded the refpea Of the Federans NOT b,
hatter but by his frmnefsl twas lanes Mon
ROE. Who was it that whR WHITING the corrup
courts Of Europe in capacity which recommended
! him to the highet grades If focety, ard expofet
the republican, implicitly Of his MANNERS to the fevereG
temptations; who was IT. that in this fedn9ive fi,ua
ton dfphyed as much pure and incorruptble
virtue in his private relations, he did fuccefsfu!
bility IN his diplomatic fuuaionsi AK all the V;r
gipians who have been 10 Paris and to London and
with one voice they will auis~er; JAMES MONROE
de gave no iplendd dinners, no Pr5 loap.,s to dc
Il L., u