The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-02-03


pie, except in the ancient history of the
kings OF barbarian Asia these events, which
have never, heretofore, obliged civilized Eu.
rope to blush tor its cabinets, to affiict her.
self for her people, have had consequences,
which few weeks since could not be pres
cnt 20 your views.
Nevertheless, gentlemen, and our enemies
themselves acknowledge it. while Counting
their defeats and their losses, the French
armies have sustained their ancient & inn
perlshable renown in spite of every occur
renee.
But by the force of circumstances, glori-
Gus victories have been rendered sterile,
reiterated triuinphs have become insuffici-
ent and the unexpected and deplorable
catastrophe ut the bridge of Leipsic has
added to the enemy's advantages, still for
tunate once more to obtain a victory with
out battle, trophies without danger, and
success without glory.
At this new misfortune, every one Of you
must have perceived it, gentlemen, an uni
versal sentiment of devotion, of generosity
has been manifested from all quarters.-In
the midst of public grief, & even of private
mourning, the, hearts of the French have
throbbed with indignation at the mere tho't
o. hehepe the enemy has conceived that he
will triumph over France, deVastate our
soil, and subject us to his laws.
Ihe shout OF alarm and of suCcour, ut
tered by our children, by our brethren,
stu under arms, still fighting gloriously on
the banks of the Rhine, has resounded to
the borders of the Seine and the Rhone, of
the Doubs and the Gironde, of the Moselle
and the Loire, on the mountains of Ina and
Vosger, OF the Alps and the Pyrennees.--
All the ancieHt French have anticipated
their country's wants in their wars, have
anticipated the dangers and the sacrifices
which must prevent dangers and sacrifices
otherwise so frightful in their extent, and
the humihations with which they must be
accompanied. -,
What. indeed, would be our situation,
| gentlemen, if the enemies, who are already
! on some points of our frontiers, and who me-
mace them elsewhere, should pene rate our
territory WhGt feace 4vouid be left for us
bur the ifeace Of slavery, or. che fteaee Of
the grave BY what insolent, contumelious
conditions would those powers, who are di-
Vided In their interests, and held together
only by their resentnents, revenge them
selves on the splendor of our successes,
the humiliation of their defeats the neces-
slty which forced them to submit to treaties
they have violated, and even on that gene
rosity which accorded them IT,,
Judge then, and let France Judge with
you, gentlemen, by what they dared at Drcs-
den, in the face of our armies united, impo-
sing and victorious.
That Congress, the worlds hope, provo
l'ked, desired by the Emperor, which like
| that OF Westphalia in 1913, could alone ba .
| lance and regulate the interests of Europe,
twas rejected. notwithstanding the pefsever-
ing instances of the French cabinet.
It's apparent preparations were but the
I.deceitful means under which were hidden
the eHectual steps of general confedera-
eion.
The pretended plenipotentiaries were in
tact but agents charged to continue the
scheme already in contemplation for the
campaign, and not ambassadors preparing
plans OF wished for peace impassioned
men appealing to arms and TO force, instead
OF Justice and reason men predetermined
to discuss nothing. and affecting to dictate a
capltuiatien instead of debating treaty.
From that period they relied on those de-
fectlons, OF WHICH we leave to a Just pos
terity, to impartial history, the task Of APP
preciating them they trusted to those vio-
lations of treaties for which British gold
had previously paid, which were prepared
by threats, promised by fear, and which
weakness permitted to be hoped for. They
had not then arrived under the walls of
Dresdens where soon after they experienced
such striking reverses and yet they were
determined to dictate laws.
What would they do had they crossed
the Rhine or the Scheldt, the Alps or the
Pyrennees do not enquire what Justice,
ask what management France might ex-
pect, what repose Europe might hope, from
theme
The answer, gentlemen, is "a the docu-
ment of history At the end of Louis the
hfteenth's reign Europe thought herself ba
lanced, crowns deemed themselves guaran.
teed, civilization supposed IL had bounda-
ry-the throne of Poland existed
An impions coalition was formed. A tri-
umvirate of kings ventured to confide their
ambition to each othsr, to mark their VIC
TINS, to allot every portion of the common
! prey; and Poland, first dismembered, dis
appeared entirely some lustrums afterwards
1 from among the crowns of Europe.
/ What bitter regrets has not France ex-
perienced what shameful reproaches has not
France endured France. whose political
weakness suffered this preparation. which
has given rise since to results so great, So
remarkable.
Well then, gentlemen, my question is an
swered by those reprOaches, by those re-
gre,s.
Poland deossed, divided, distracted. op-
pressed, is an awful and living lesson for
France, menaced as she is, by the same
powers who coutended with each other for
the shreds of the Polish monarchy.
the names Of the Poniatowskies. the
names of the last of the kings of the Poles
so inhumaaly thrust from his throne, the
l"ames of the last Polish commanders. 90