Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-08

has the principle of the late war been
Forgotten Was the erii for which ii was
waged generally felt through lie coun-
try And was its practical, in,oie,ii,ite an!
Gctyci ,re,e'if SO great that it could no lon
ger be bo:nc! II the honor of the coua
try * not TO be taken into consideration,
and is fame and respectai,iiiiy among
the nations oftIc earth, | have no hcsi-
taliom in saying that the practical crits o.
the late wan are no more 10 be compared
to those for ,raich 10 waS rf9ed, than
mountain is to a mole hill.
low often have we expressed our in
disnation at tie conduct of the Allies
towards France, in their.neiarious exerti-
ons IN impose Il government upon that
great and gallant nation against its o,cn
consent, although il WAS admitted that the
one substituted might be milder than
that which had been previously over
THROWN
Bonaparte invaded Spain--torc up The
monasterIes and the illuisition--and
was preparing TO raise that country 10 her
ancient splendor, by dispeiling from her
political horizon the gloomy clouds nfre-
ligions superstition-Yet how strongly
was he denounced in this country by the
advocates OF selfgovcrnment
But, all the blessings we have enioycd
since l7T6 have been OWING TO the benign
influence of the present Constitution
therefore, IFS sacred principles are not to
be touched, although the defects in some
paris OF IL may be as glaring as the sun
At -day-GOyernme ought not 10
be changed, admit, for light and tran
silent causes-and all experience hath
shewhus, that mankind are more disposed
To suffer, whilst evils are sutferable, tran
to right themselves by abolisIiing the
forms to which they have been accustom-
ed There may be extremes in our at
taclment 10 old forms, as well as in our
love ofchanee. What but an absurd at
tachmcnt TO old forms hath kept fixed
upon the English nation, even to thismo-
mcni, many OF The stupid doctrines the
feudal system How long would the
laws OF prlmogeniture, OF entailcd estates,
and ecclesiastical tyranny have remained
among us, ifonr wise ancestors had not
boldly mnoyated "Np0n the d,icicht order
Of things" They did not take counsel
from the Barons of old, or invoke their
spirits TO preside over our destinies. They
dared To think for themselves, and to pur-
sue the course which their own reason di-
rccted them.-But, are all the blessings
we have enjoyed for the last forty years to
be attributed alone to our Constitution
The old confederation, which has been
called :" rope Of saai, carried us tri-
umphantly through the bloody scenes of
the revolutionary war. 1t was formed by
the brightest constellation of sages that
tile world ever saw. 1t is identified with
the most glorious achievement that ever
adorned the page of history. II was con-
secrated by the mingled blood of marty r
ed heroes. Its carly history recalls to the
recollection of every American the most
enrapturing events that can warm his
heart or dwell upon his tongue.-Andye yet,
the old confederation has been RACED to
Its foundation by the very men who form
ed It, and "A new government placed in IFS
stead. They attributed their success in
the revolution, not ts the benign influence
of the government under which thew
fought, but the vaiour, ji,mness and virtue
Of the people.
These, Sir, are my sentiments, which
Gas one ofthe People, have taken the Il
berty to express, upon this interesting
subject.
TELL.