Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-10-10
RicHMoNp, ocroBeR 10.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO HENRY CLAY, ESQ.

iuOU8fhg tHe WdfpedseHcc CH0 JFtcdcm ~
tGose provinces
As regards our relations with the PENN
sula, the consequences would most obyi-
ousiy be the same 10 the United States,
whether thcy were to acknowledge the IN
dependence oi the whole of Spanish Anne
RIGA. or only that of one OF its feeblesi
provinces would be deemed By Oil
Spain ample cause of war, and she would,
in all probability, be provoked by such
recognition, Immediately 10 declare war
against us. Blu, would the recognition of
the independence OF all the provinces in
which there is any il,ing like an organized
movement in favor of independence, De
attended with precisely the same good Ell
feet oil the patriot cause, as by our treat
ing singly and separately with those pro-
vlnces only where the patriot power had
been organized into the shape of free go
yernment, and was capable of being tos-
tered into permanence and stability In
rejecting upon this subject, it has APP
peared to me decidedly 10 be The most
prudent course for the United States. to
eudeavor, by her influence and conuten-
ance, 10 combine aud arm the whole pa
triot power of some ONE OF the patriot
provinces first, which This government,
might So influence and direct as 10 enable
it 10 establish an independent republic,
based on the principles of equal rights,
aided by which The royal power III each
ofihc other provinces might soon be over
thrown, ani similar government esta-
blisllcd i'll all VI them. On the other hand,
bv attempting al tie same time 10 assist
them all, our couutenance and succors
must be so dispersed rs To he OF little or
no service TO any one OF them.
In looking over tie severai great Spanish
provinces OF The Continent, and rejecting
upon the power and advantages OF each,
il has seemed to me that the choice OF
that which should lead The way III the glo-
rious work Of establishing independence
and liberty, would fall upon one of those
south of the Isthnlus on the shores of the
Pacific. The vast continent of South A
merica has many facilities of intercourse
which are "a yet uneyplored, nor have "a
nv Of the obstacles 10 an easy communl-
cation been removed or overcome by the
industry of man; we must therefore con-
slider It's present situation, in speaking OF
the contest with the existing royal power,
witiIoutanv regard 10 those great imp ose-
menis which must and will be the newt
able consequence of freedom and indie
pendence. Under present circumstances,
therefore, there appears TO me TO be no
portion OF South America In which the
patriot power could be 80 easily combin-
ed, bv our aid, and with so great certainty
of commanding every other province, as
in Chill and Peru.
Owing 10 the great distance of those
provinces, they have beenmorc neglected.
and have therefore less sympathy with the
mother country than any other they have
felt the dSspolsm more severely, and
borne II with less patience than any others.
These provinces are also more remote
from and unaffected by amy present Eu-
ropeau influence and 1t would be next
10 impossible for any European power TO
prevent, by arms or intrigue, IN OPPOSE
lion to the influence and couhtenance of
the United States, the establishment OF
republican government IN them. AIDED
BIZ tie REPUBLICS of Chill and Peru on The
south, and the United States, 1T would be
utterly impossible for Tie royal power OF
New Spain to sustain itself against the
patriot forces of that country. The want
of any thing like good harbor on the
shores of the Gulf, and the iaborlous rug
gedness OF the way thence 10 Mexico,
would render getting supplies TO tile roy
alisls very prccarious aud hazardous -.
while the communication with the United
States, over land 10 Louisiana, would be
certain and easy TO the patriots. And their
brethren Of Chill and Peru would have au
easy and safe access to New Spain tbro'
Acapulco OIL the Pacific, one of the most
cOmmudiuus aud finest haIbors III the
world whence the route 10 Mexico Is not
fifty miles farther than from Vera Cruz,
and is without d single obstacle. The
royalsts of The fine prOvin, OF New Gre
nadia would III like manner be placed be-
tween the two republics Of the Paciiicand
the Atlantic coast, and be crushed with IA
single Strickland the independence and
freedom of these provinces once establish
ed, that of all South America would inev-
itably follow in the same glorious career.
| have heard The proprleiy of beginning
by recognizing the independence of Bue-
nos Ayres frequently suggested; but IT
we recollect with what difficulty and
how slowly and feebly the patriot power
of that province has been brought To act
upon the others, | think The superior adj
vantages of first rallying aud combining
the patriot power of CIliI aud Peru, will
be at once seen and acknowledged. A pa
trioi force at Lima aided by single
ship olihe line and aiew transports, stands
within striking distance OF ST. Fe de Boz
gotta, of Mexico, of Panama, and of Car
ihagena and those strong holds of the
present despoiism would be abandon q
ut tie first onset Tile republics OF CHI
Ii and Peru, having The CordiIleras on tie
on side and the Pacific on the Other,
would find themselves absolutely beyond
the reach Of all fhe force of all the Legl-
mates oneart': and so remote from tiIeir
infrigues and articles, as TO have little TO
apprehend even on that score, when once
their government was settled down into
any thing like form and regular order.
The advantages that must inevitably
flow into the United States FROM the III