Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-19
s And the whites cannot boast of perfection.
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l'RON iiiE LEAINOiON REPORJER.i
Eairact Of a letter from Intelligent 4n,erican
az baeaOS 4yreS, to a gentleman an LeriRston-
dated
. MARCH 3, 1918.
We are here al last after voyage of three
months, having stopped ten days at Rio de
JaneIro, and four at Monte Video | wish !
could give You faithful transcript OF the inn
presslohs made on my mind III the course of
TINS Interesting period of my life but regret
that The limits OF a letter will not allow me
HE snort time l have been here will not allow
me TO speak my opinion with perfect conf
dence Ola variety OF important topics there
are some, however, Oh which cannot be mis-.
taken, although must reserve for some co.
portuhitH when l can have he pleasure of
conversation with you, the account of the mod
In which my opinions are inImed.
OD our arrival here, the English and kEe-
ricans who crowded around us, (for they APP
peared al our C0iiSuPs very mnch mixed with
each other, seemed t. vie with each nthar in
giving the most uuIavOrable accounts of the
people ana government OF the country bat in
the midst OF their accounts, they let out some
Things which to me spoke in their favor On
more particular examination of the charac.
ters OF the individuals who thus spoke; found
IN every instance, that circumstances existed
winch rendered their testimony suspicious
In casting my ey e around, could very readily
see The cause of their being despised By the
BRUSH, for nothing Is TO be seen throughout
the city, but the plainness and simplicity of
rephOllcanism. III the streets none but plain
citizens, or republican soldiers are TO be seen.
Tue latter having somewhat militia appear
ancej but did net like them the less on that
account. L assure you, sir, notwithstanding
the numerous acts of this government which
may be Justly condemned, | feel myself here
IN land of freedom, and where an American
VIII ma more to remind him of his country
than in any government in tie world This is
saving much, but it is no less true
:" Our stay at Rio, has been of infinite SER
vice 10 us, by furnishing our minds with pic.
ture OF despotlsm to contrast with the state of
things a This place. Yesterday person rave
me as he thought, most appalling description
OF 'he state OF parties here, and with great
confidence told me, that portion of the peo.
pie was IN favor of this system, and another of
dlneTent one, &c. put this simple ques-
ton TO him How is the public sentiment
ascertainedi' For this he was not prepared
L then told him that at Rio de Janeiro there
we're no PARTIES; that the people neither spoke
nor thought of politics. An Englishman ex-
pecting TO RAISE contempt III my mind for
Swapping fellow who passed by with a couple
OF epauiettes-tl that fellow, said ne, little while
ago Kept grog- shep-he is how a militia
colonel told him, thai in our country il
was not uncommon to see generals feeding
hogs.
!" The proper mode of judging of these peo-
pie, IS BY looking at the past aud the future
TO sec the advancement they have made, and
what they Will probably make. tits enough
for the present, that the spirit Of libertv the
prevement, IS deeply rooted. although perhaps
badly directed. Even if they Possessed the
previous advantages that we had il Would he
unfair 10 compare them with what we are now
IL IS admitted on all hands that their progress
has beenvery considerable, and see no reason
why " willnot continue. YOu once suggested
10 me the advantages they would derive from
national songs; / find they have a number
winch are sung on all occasions their senti.
ments are purely republican,. This, together
Win the number of persons who are called
forth from the most humble aud obscure sitn-
auOnS, TO act considerable parts, surely must
tend to elevate and cnlighien. The nun Der of
persons mere or less connected with the civil
ana miiitary' rs necessarily great. Amongs.
the repToaches heaped on these people nv
strangers, what appeared to me very Curious
} heard them reproaCled with uatioral vauitvi
One OF these patriots, was told declared that
North America had produced hut one Wash.
ingtOu, while the South hgd produced hun-
dred! There is one thing 'Iiyersally admit
ted, ana that is, the great equality existing
throughout the society, an equality which has
not been forced, but exists in the same mapDer
as IN the United States. Here is certainly the
DaSis on winch 10 build republican govern.
ment As ] did not come here 10 look for
miracles, am not disappointed. With res
pect TO the administration Of the government
the stale OF finaDce, the irregularities of those
IN Once, from The want OF powets being pro.
perry Defined, The deficiency in general kEow-
ledge, &c. these are topics upon which much
may be justly said against the countrv-
Ihere IS one thug certain, that all have
heard alleged against IL. wonld have excited
no particular attention at Rio, as being of
course.
"The shortBess Of the time which has eIsns.
Cd since my arrival, will not enable me to say
any thing worth writing down on the subject
OF the government its enemies call tia mil.
tgry republic bnt assure VOa il H. uOtljuer buf
z 'P"'!i', aud believe eau be nothing else.