Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-07

cry CuIZen may, DN Ills merit, OBTAIN the
highest trust recognized by the constitu-
ton which contains within it 10 cause
of discord /: none 10 put at variance one
portion of the community with another; "a
government which projects every citizen
in the full enjoyment of his rights, and is
able TO protect the nation against imjus-
tice from foreign powers.
Other considerations of Tie highest I'M
portance admonish us to cherish our uni
on, and TO cling 10 the government which
supports it. Fortunate as we are IN our
political Institutions, we have not been
ess soin other circumstances, on which
ourprosperity * happiness essentially de-
pend. Situated within the temperate
zoDe, and extending through many de-
grces of latitude alorg the Atlantic. the
United States ENJOY all the varieties of
climate, aud every production incident
10 that portion of the globe. Penctra-
ling, internally, TO the great lakes, and
beyond The sources of the great rivers
which communicate through our whole
interior, no country was ever happier
with rc8bectto its domain. Blessed, too,
with afertle soil, ourproduce has always
beenvery abundant, leaving, even i'll years
the least favorable, asurplus for the wants
OF our fel!0w-men i'll other countries.
Such is our peculiar felicity, that there is
not "a part of our union that is not pa.ti-
cu,arly interested in preserving it, The
great agricultural interest of the nation
prospers under IFS protection. Local in
terests are not less fosfered by it, Our
fellow citizens OF the nortl, engaged in
navigation. find great encouragement in
being made the favored carriers of the
vast productions of the other portions of
the United States, while the inhabitants
of these are amply recompensed, in their
turn, by the nursery for scamcn and ma
val force, thus formed and reared MP for
the support of our common rights. Our
manufactures find generous encourage
ment by the policy which patronizes do
nestle industry; and the surplus of our
produce. steady and profitable market
by local wants, in less favored parts, at
home.
Snch, then, being The highly favored
condition oi ourcouhtry, ii is the interest
OF every citizen 10 maintain it. What are
the dangers WI Ii menace us ifany ex-
list, they ought 10 be ascertained and
guarded against.
In explaining my sentiments on this
subject, it may be asked, what raised us
60 tile present happy state? How did we
accomplish The revolution How rene
dvt defects of the first instrument of
our union, bv intusing into the national
government sufficient power for national
purposes, withoutimpairing the Just rights
of the states, or affecting those of indivi-
duais! How sustain and pass with glory
through the late war? The government
has been in the hands of the people To
the people, therefore, and 10 the faithful
and able Repositories of their trust, is the
credit due. Had the people ofthe o. S.
been educated in different principles
had they been less inte lli"ent, less indie
pendent, or less virtuous, can If be belle
we'd t1at we should have maintained the
same steady and consistent career, or
been blessed with the same success 3
While, then, the constituent body retains
its present sound and heaIthful state, ev-
cry thing will be safe. They will choose
competent and faithful representatives
for every department. 1t is only when
the people become ignorant and corrupt;
when they degenerate into populace,
that they are incapable of exercising the
sovereignty. Usurpation is then an ca
syattalnment, and an Usurper soon found.
Thepeople themselves becomethe willing
instruments of their own debasement and
ruin. Let usthen look TO the great cause,
and endeavor to preserve II III full force.
Letus, By all wise aud constitutional mea-
sures, promote intelligence among the
people, as the best means of preserving
our libertics.
Dangers from abroad are not less de-
servin. of attention. Experiencing the
fortune of other nations, the United States
NAV be again involved in war, and il NAV,
in that event, be the object ofthe adverse
party to oversei our government, TO break
olTuniOn, q demOlish us as a nation. Our
distance from Europe, and the JUST, mode
rate and pacliicpolicy of our government,
may form some security against these dan
gers, but they ought 10 be anticipated and
guarded against. M3ny of our citizens
are engaged III commerce and navigation,
and ali OF them are in certain degree
dependent on their prosperous state. Ma
NY are engaged in The fisheries. These
wars between other powers, andwe should
disregard the faithful admonlion Of ex-
perlence if we did not expectit Wemust
support our rights, or lose our character,
and with If, perhaps our liberties. A
people who fail to do it, can scarcely be
SAID TO mold place among independent
nations. National honoris national pro-
pertN ofthe highestvalue. The sentiment
in tbe mind OF every citizen, is national
strength. 1t ought, therefore, TO be che
rished.
To secure us against these dangers, our
coast and inland frontiers should he for
tilted, our army and navy regulated upon
i ust principles as 10 the force of each, be
kent i'm perfect order. and our militia he