Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-23
RICHMOND, SEprEMBER "a
M - FOR THE ENQUIRER.
10 HENRY CLAY, ESQ.
No. 8.

NV. -.
lThethace tie Umted States to ap,yehe,d
flo@ tie Pcwers of Continental Euyope.
on tier ope7,tq declaring an fauo, of tie
,Sosth dneircGs,S
In answering this question, If will not
De expected that should enter at large
iiito the views, pciicy, or thoughts OF the
several puwers which it may be necessary
To speak of-nor indeed can believe lhat
such a detailed exposition would be al All
required to enable my fellow citizens TO
form correct opinion OH this question.
when recolieci the very inouisitive and
continued attention with which they have
always regarded the late struggles for Ii
berty IN the European world, and the
decp interest they have manifested for
the rishts OF man IN every Stage of that
great contest. have seen 1t some where
SAID that the people oftte Ualted States
were prodiglously talking, flowing
peQnle. believeit TO be trait i'm our
national character, and ferventlv hope
ihdi inqulsitive temper NAV always CONT
nue, and never be checked; because. if
Is OWING 10 such a propensity that the
people oil tins country are more generally
ara accurately informed, upon all pohti-
calsubIects, than any other people who
ever existed, ancient or modern. In En-
rope, to he well acquainted witt, the
history OF ones own times, is consid
cred as one OF the accomplishments of
scholar. In the United States. il is an
acquisition common 10 all ranks. shalt
therefore consider this important ques-
licn amply and concluSiyelv answered be-
tore my feiiow-cItlzens, if merely recall
ibeii recollection to the history of our
own times, by touching on some Of The
pnhcipa' events, so as to sIew, that lie
powers OF the Continent have neither the
disposition or the abil ty to interfere with
us, because OF any part we NAV take in
the affairs of the South Americans.
Washington, in his iareu ell address
which IS IN the hands, and recolle tion'
but unfortunately for some wears pasi
does not appear 10 have been i'm the hearts
OF all us; tells us that " Europe has
se'oi primary interests which to us have
none, or a very remote relation'-and
ihat our detached and distant situation
WU'teS ana enables us to pursue different
course these political axioms, lave al
al lines and every where been maintain
ca as me fundamental principles both IN
theory and practice, of the democratic re-
pubiicans OF The United States-and the
great body OF the people ofthis couptry
are now fully convinced llat the int
rests and policy of tire Emropean uaijors
are essentially hostile 10 those of The A
merlcan Continent
The. French Revolution is certainly
one ct the most wonderful epochs IN the
annals OF the human race Events aud
q yeiopementS which seem 10 be sufiici.
emily numerous and vast 10 cover whole
centuries, have been crowded into the
compass OF the short life ofan individual.
oh lie Attn OF July, i176, we took our
stand among the nations ofthe earth. nof
as one slowly rising from insigniicance
ana infancy, but as nation born all
once like Minerva, starting III complete
adult vigor from the head OF Jove. The
STATE lessons OF antiquity, however excel
lehi IN then KIND, seemed to he insult
co. or inadequate III many respects to
Our situation and rising greatnesS-audI
Providence laid before us the events tb,.
warns gs, the precepts and the EXAMPLES
of the French Revolution. We saw ge.
nerous and enlightened people rise a.
ganSt their opprcssors, and Instantly ev
cry arIStoCrai, every king, and every
priest, laying aside all private animosi-
lies, rallied with all their force. and raisedI
The standard Of despoiism and iana,icism
ID opposition 10 That OF the rights of man.
mere are some men even Of uninpeacI,-
e,d integrity, and who are by no means
destitute or dI&ernment, who have alto
getiier refused 10 believe that any snch
compact as that called the treaty of Pill
hliz, ever waS entered into by the kings
OF Europe; whereby they bound them
selves each TO the other, before France
mai given the least umbrage to anv one
OF them, to crush her spirit of reform and
oilibyrty, to destroy her, and TO divide
her territory among them. Whether
such solemn league and covenant was
then and there formally entered into. Is
not as yet positively ascerfained he
cause no treaty as having been made af
that place has yet been published verha-
tim, with all the usual fornalifies aud
s'gSatures of a treaty. But TO insist nm.
on Tic truth of the existence oftbe treaiv
OF Pllnitl, would be rather 10 cayil about
f0m, aud TO overlook substance: for mo
one can now doubt, or will have the brass
TO deny, that the European contest las
been from the beginning conflict of
com0'Hed Kings against people who were
endeavorm9 improve their condition
ana to establish then rights upon clear
and sure foundation.
That people have been vanauished az
ter asirnggle of more than ihirfy wears
continuance, andby thecongrcg aiionand
combined efforts on the side of despo- !
ism of more Than a million of men in
arms. But although the people have
been overcome, and The spirit at liberty |
Frustrated aud pinioned down-yet II IS |
not altogether inanimtie for the despois |
have not dared as yet 10 dsband asinele |
troop oftlcir vast armament. The peo- |
pie are no where trusted 10 themselves, or |
suffered to recruit and renew their own |
energies; and many parts Of Europe ex-
Inbli tic singular spectacle Of more than
one fourth tie male population being ar
med with bayonels, and employed TO
keep the rest quiet aud in or1,l.
10 talk Therefore of any ofibe powers