Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-10-14

NchSiNc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lndt Tue people
ought, through that system, TO participate
IN the government. we have to con.iude
that the cauSe Of ii5ertu has been eminent
ly victorious. l. has obtained, pera as
much as it is possible for it to obtain. in the
present circumstances oS mankind. Know
ledge, though widely tliffused, has not vet
removed some of the strongest prejudices.
Men still revere the most debasing institu-
tons the sanctity OF antiquity still gives
an awe 70 ignorancc and to error the
splendor OF conquest, and the enthusiasm
oil military renown reduced thousands in
France, at the moment that her freedom
was making itself felt in every corner of
Europe, to the .servile admiration OF
successful general, and drew to an imperi-
a, throne, that honor which was due to the
energies of republic. The trevalence of
liberty is therefore limited By tile gvant Of
universal knowledge even knowledge it
self, from the very impcrfcCtions of human
nature, must be always tluctuaiing it may
sometimes recede as welt as increase /; but
the political improvements that accompany
that increase are so many fixed and per-
manent advantages gained by niank;nd.-
They are the strong holds, the forJresses OF
human welfare, and it is the business of all
those who comprehend their value to de-
iShN IliSu- against the IN
roads or ignorance. In this point of view,
the establishment of the representative sys-
TEN in so many of the Kingdoms of the con-
tinent s truly important. Let the advo-
Gates for the ancient family claim of mon
archs rejoice at the restoration of the Boui'-
bons in France, but the friends of liberty
have much more reason to rejoice, that tic
great f,rincjt(e, Tvhich is the foundation of
Ill justice, is admitted in those states
where the ancient families reigned hither-
to, only to Cypress.
But while we congra tulate mankind ON
this great victory over feudalism, in what
situation is the representative system in
Britain Here, where it may almost be
said to have had its birth, and whence o.
Their nations derive the example, on which
they frame the outline OF their new institu-
tons, have we preserved that fabric in its
purity, which they so eagerly erdeavor to
initiate or surpass The nations of the
continent have taken up this pr nciple of
legislature, 1T a time when the interests of
mankird are better understood, ard when
the prejudices of superstition, prevalent as
they are, have Certainly less sway than du-
ring any former era of English history
Does tnot therefore behove us to watch
at'endvely the notifications with which
to attend to all the improvements that it is
found capable of receiving? In most of
the plans into which these nations have en-
tered, we find that the deputies will be
sent, not by towns, but either by districts,
Or by certain numerical proportion of in
haoitants. This eXpedient will prevent
all the evils we experience from the bo-
rough system. And shall we, who have
set the example of a representative body
of the legislature to the rest of the world,
continue to behold that legislature with re-
gard to ourselves, divided by turbulent
factions, while people who are just emery
| ing from despot sm, are to enjoy it in
state of comparative perfection With
| us, it is continually made a tool of cor
| ruption or contention a portion of it is
directed by manager appointed by the adj
! ministratlon, while another portion is in the
hands of those who are ever demanding the
possession of places held ~ their OPP
po'ents.
The representation 9ffhe heohle has in
this country been repeatedly proved to be
the property of an oligarchy the absolute
inheritance of a few wealthy men and
there are instances of its sale and purchase
| recorded on the journals Of that very as
sembly, which is supposed to consist of
the representatives of the people Of the
Kingdom.
Shall We, then, after having paid most
literally for the maintenance of a war,
which with all its calamitics, has been in
strumental to the progress Of freedom, not
participate III the greatest of the benefits
that are to ensue from its close We
have on our shores that man, iliustrious as
a warrior, and beneficial in his institutions
as an emperor, but who perverted the vic
tories of liberty to his own aggrandize-
ment we have been greatly instrumental
in oveIthrowing that man and shall VIC
gain no advantage from the high position
which we have attained ? Shall We not
show the world, that we have really had
the liberation of Europe at heart" and
that having seen, with pleasure, the repre-
sentative system extending itself through
every state, we are now actuated by the
generous spirit of emulation in the cause of
Liberty, by Immediately endeavoring to i'm
prove that example, which we have alrea-
dy successfully given to mankind
The .fol2owing is an extract ofa letter. from
the Prussian Gen. Ri66enthroh, to tie
PrScct Of Paris, reSfeeting me Pru8-
sian acquisitions.
This measure has been dictated to me
by the commander in Chief You and your
fellow cit zers cannot tax it with Injustice,
when remind you Of the overtures which
have several times made you respecting
the demands Of Prince Butcher.
g You know that in 1906, : and g, Prug-
STA, under the administration Of NJ Daru,
n pnly loat itc r,,.0ct,e~,f,r l.,,t ,,,o.