The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-10-11
IDe Gnqulrer.
RICHMOND, OCTOBER IL 1871,
Prosneefs in Snain.


skilled in arms they would sink before
nation that had successfully overwhelmed
the best troops in Europe--that war would
only waste their land, spill their best blood,
and increase the weight of their chains
The result has too welt verified our fears.
In some OF their forts. they have displayed
a spirit which does them honor /; but in the
tented field. they have shrunk in shame be-
neath their foe. Spain has not been true To
herself. The complaints of Moore, the dis
comhture of Graham at Cadz, amply
attest this melancholy fact.
In our poor opinion, Spain must fall
sooner or later--what them Britain must
return to the defence OF her own shores,
with troops considerably cut up, and her
resources much exhausted. IL is very far
indeed from Us, TO admire the conduct o. cha-
racer of Cobben bat there is something
so striking and strong in the following re-
marks that we cannot but lay them before
the reader:
HRoM GoBBETT'S WEEKLY REGISTER
AUGUST 10.
do not, and never have liked the mott
TN, that OUR safety, that our means o. de-
fence, is TO be judged of by any hing tnat
has passed, or can pass, in Spain & Porgu-
gal because, as Ihaye more than once said,
we naay ultimately fail there, and, then,
&
shocking state for any nation to be .r md,
assuredly, the fore runner o: its subj "a ,on
because, from the moment it despair Il
will, of course. take no measures iorits safe
ty--It is for this reason, that i have al
ways endeavored 20 nculCate the opin on,
thai the war in the Peninsula is mt OF such
great importance as the ministerial writer's
would fain persuade us that it is. They re-
present it as all in all /: as every thing to
us as thing for the SUCCESS of which we
ought TO grudge no sacr ices,. who her IN
men or in money. 1t is true, that unless we
do regard i, in tLis light, we Cannot casi,y
reconcile ourselves to the, enormous cost
which it occasions but Whatever hose sa-
CRITICS. may be, il is far be ter that they
should be incurred uselessy, Sei is far bet
Ger that they should be regarded as pure
waste, than that the people of this, country
should believe that the fate of Englands de
ponds. even in the smallest degree, upon
the fate of Spain and Portugal because. &
i cannot repeat it too often, if they once
imbbe that opinion. from the, hour HIT
Spain and Portugal shall be subdued, from
that hour-will England be plunged in des-
psi / d., not say, observe, that the danger
to England would not be Increased by the
snbjmgation of Spain & Portugal; for. am
convinced. THAI that danger would be great i.
ly increased; bqt / well knnw, tba there is
no danger equal o national despair IF
the war, in those countries, should End IN
The deliverance of them from the Frsnah,
and ia a complete establishment of their in
dependence, it certainly viii have greatly
contributed to the safety vt this country a :
sainst the designs of Napoleon, But, If the
war finally terminate n the subjugstinn of
the Peninsula By France, then the more that
termination is distant. the worse it will be
Tor us because, the longer the war CONT
nues, the more we shall be exhausted; and
OF course, the less aDie to, withstand the
rude assaults which we may then reasona
bly, expect. And, il should always be borne
IN mind, that these wars do not exhaust the
enemy i'll the same way they exhaust us. -.
lie has so millions OF people, from amongst
whom he draws his armies he makes
those armies find Ihe meaps of their own
support in the countries where they are
he neither gives nor talks of compensation !;
he comes amongst the people as q conque-
ror ; 10 those VINO submit ne offers pTDtec -
ton, to those who resist lie offers the swoTd
but from all he e:iac;s the means Of main
tanning his arm es !; his declared obiect is
TO destroy the old governments, ami, of
course, he sezes upon all the property of
those governments. he con6scates that Of
che church, Of the nobility, and of ali pub
lie establishments. We, on the contrary
nave 10 uTdW OuI. armies ITctn pOpulaLIOn
OF Ia or Is mlllrns f people we maatain
o ur armies. by the means of taxes levied
upon the people of England we make com =
ensation. to some extent, at least, for the
injuries we are compelled to do to the in
habitants 4; we go not as conquerors. but in
tue character of friends we profess not
TO inhict punishment on any part of the PEG.
pie, but hold them to be unanimous in our
favour our declared object is not to des
troy the old governments. but TO maintain
them, or TO establish them. aud to pre-
serve or restore, ell the former orders, ranks
and properties SO that, we contend with
most fearful odds, IN whatever way the com
parson is made. Let it BIZ Observed, too,
that time which works agaiBs, us, wo,ks
with equal force, for our enemy, who 8
daily gaining strength, by the internal ar
rangemest, and consolidation of his power.
in every part OF his doinnons. We fee
impatient at the tagging Of the war in 81
peninsula he need feel no such impalience
war IS a state, which, at present IS nect
sary to him peace wOuld ,hwart his vea
against Us 1t would give rise 10 I'd inter
c0erie aud TO discussions advetse to- hiss vas
projects to kiudle new war p.ight not Lt
~ easy a matter and, as bis chief object