Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-18

. them. Thus, until the king shall pro
nounce, the state of war will become per
manent, and every thing will remain un-
certain until peace, of which we can no
. longer toresee the period. All this Is a
truth sOwell established, that we need
not enlarge any further or this point.
Ifin our last letter we spoke of certain
articles of your constitution, our only in
teniion was TO point out To YOU what
~you proposed to the King 10 recog-
nize, by perpctuating your independence,
and 10 show YOU that the fundamental law
of your institution bore in itself the seed
of your own destruction. 1t was certain
~ far from our intention, to make what
you call an appeal TO foreign govern
ments. France, in separating herself
from her king, suffered great mistortunes
but her honor, as nation, is Ear from
being lost--and the king is himself sutii-
cicntly powerful to defend his rights, ac-
cording.to his good pleasure and will,
wiihoufrequiring the assistance OF any o.
therpower.
1t has not been our intention, general,
to shun, nor TO avoid treating question,
the discussion of which has in il nothing
terrible to US. If, however, 1--WE think it
our duty TO assure you, general we had
followed our first impulse, we would have
ptch DOuiu, dittI ACht ictlcf, 40 take
leave of YOU and set sail, lii order tn in
form the king of The discrimination we
found you 10 support daily, and without
showing either its necessity or its advan-
tages, nor IFS reward, an independence,
which is nothing else than wish, to re-
fuse TO acknowledge his ma iesfy's rights.
But the king, who ordered us 10 carry sled
Easily into this discussion ali the moder-
alton, which is found in his breast, would
have blamed us for having hastily quilted
tins territory, without having attempted
10 show YOU the injustice OF such a per-
severance, and how dangerous the gov
ernment which YOU wish to adopt will be
for this country. IL our reflections
should lead you 10 the truth, we will
have TO praise ourselves for not having
shewn ours Ives TO be irascible. We will
have rendered to yourself signal SER
vice, and have fulfilled the intention as
well as the orders of the king
We will, then, before terminating our
mission, make some reflections which our
duty imposes on us, and whic h the inter
est ofthe colony dictates, respecting that
independence, as we have done respecting
certain articles of your constitution.
In order TO be independent, il is neces-
sary TO possess the certainty of ability at
ali times, and especially to cause that in
| dependence TO be respected. You should
have IN yourselves sufficient force to be
able 10 resist the efforts as well as the am
bitiOn OF those who NAV become Jealous
OF the prosperity you might enjoy. You
| ought 10 be able Of yourselves to defend
/ your subjects abroad as well as at home,
and to be able to revenge an injury If a
| state, that wishes to be independent, has
not these nieans within itself, ii il is obi
| ged TO nave recourse to foreign power
for aid, it ceases to be independent, and
| IFS political existence is every momentex-
| posed.
! Look now at the situation OF this colo
ny, which is weaker in population than
the smallest province in France. Trust
| ing TO your courage and your climate
you are disposed TO encounter all the
powers of Europe, if it's necessary, in or
der to sustain apretension which no reas
on can at present support. You do not
| possess within yourselves any resources OF
war-every thing must come 10 you from
abroad-and il, in consequence of any
war whatever with the principal power
your communications from without are
interrupted, the climate which DESTROYS
men will very quickly destroy your arms,
and every thing that is sangninsry in
war. The destitute state, in which YOU
will ind yourselves at the end of certair
time, In that respect, renders YOU already
| DEPENDANT upon foreigners. You are not
less SO from the wants, which new habits
have given you, the privaiion of which will
| be painful, and become even an affliction
| tor many among you--it is also very Ger.
tain, thatthe day ON viii h the king shall
declare your independence, he will leave
| you dependant on all the world.
AS TO internal means of defence, every
one acknowledges, that you have 10 9th
er, If you are threatened by a powerful
force, than toset fire to your cities, youI
| crops, to spread throughout the plains
| fire and destruction, and 10 retire with
your wives and children where YOU vii
defend yourselves till death.
This may be the consequence of grea
resolution; but If also truly evlnces area
weakness. A people that has no otheI
resources but It's own destruction, to Oh
pose to any invader, cannot exist with
out the aid of protecting power. II
your present situation, an appearance o
an attack from any power whatever, nigh
reduce you TO the most frightful extremi
ty, since, from the first hostile demonsira
ton, armed with torches which garnsl
your arsenals, YOU become the most use
tul auxiliaries ofyour enemies.
five consider all your means, we vii
soon perceive, that yourindependence cal
be still less defended abroad than OF
shore: for youcannOt, two gun-shOtS from
| shore caneo ~ e., ba ,ocu,cfoI or rc.,,.,