Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-27

his whole career those noble principle.
which distinguished him in its commence
ment--whicll influenced him at AN early
period OF his life TO leave his country and
his friends, and in another hemisphere to
fight for the rights OF humanity.
Kosciusko Was born and educated in
Poland, OLA noble and distinguished fam
ily-a country where the distinctions in
society are perhaps carried 10 greater
lengths than III any other. His Creator
had, however, enGoWed him with soul
capable ot rising above the narrow prciu-
diceS ola cast, aud breaking the shackles
which vicious education had imposed
on his mind.
When very young. he was informed by
the voice OF fame that the standard of H.
berry had been erected in America that
aninsuied and oppressed people had de-
iernined TO be free or perish lii The at
tempt Ills ardent and generous mind
caught, with enthusiasm, the holy flame,
and from that moment he became the de-
voted soldier of liberty.
His rank IN the American army afford
ed him no opportunity greatly 10 distin-
guSh himself. Bat he was remarked
throughout Iiis service, for all the quail
ties which adorn the human Character
HIS heroic vaior III the field, could only
be eQualed by his moderation and alta
bility III the walks of private life. He was
idoiiZed by the soldiers for his bravery,
and believe and respected by the officers
for the goodness of his heart, and the
great qualities of his mind.
Contributing greatly, by his excrlions,
To the establishment of.the independence
OF America, he mi I'll, have remained, and
shared the blessings it dispensed, under
The protection ot chief who loved and
honored him, and IN the bosom oia CRATE
tui aud aifeciionate people.
kost iusko had, however, other views.
Ii Is not known that, until the period
am Speaking OF, he had formed amy dis
iinct idea of what could, or indeed what
ought, 10 be done for his own. But in
the revolutionary war lie drank deeply OF
the principles which produced ii. III his
conversations with the intelligent men OF
our country, he acquired new views Of
the science of government and the rights
of man. lie had seen too that To be free
1t was only necessary HAT ii nation slould
VIII IT, and 10 b" happy II was only neces-
sary thai "a nation should be free. And
was II not possible TO procure these bless
ngs for Poland! For Poland the coun-
Try of his birth, which bad claim to ali
his efforts, 10 all his services That uh-
happy nation groaned under COM
p!lcatlon of evils which has scarcely a
parallel i'll history. The mass of the peo-
pie were the abject slaves Of the mobiles
the mobiles, torn into factions, were al
iernately the instruments and the victims
of their powerful and ambitious neighbors.
BY intrigue, corruption and force, some
of lis ialrest provinces had been separated
from the Republic, and the people, like
beasts, transferred to foreign despots, who
were again watching for favorable mo-
ment fora second ACKNOWLEDGMENT. TO re-
generate a peopletlus debased-to obtain
tor country thus circumsianced, the
blessings OF liberty and independence,
was work of as much difficulty as dan
ger. But to mind like Kosciusko's,
the difficulty and danger Of an enterprise
served as stimulanls TO undertake if.
The annals of these times give us no
detailed account OF the progress of Kos
clusko iii accomplishing his great work,
from the period of his return from Ame-
RIGA to the adoption of the new constitu-
ton OF Poland, i'll 1871. This interval,
however, of apparent inaciion, was most
uselully employed TO illumine the mental
darkness which envelopcd his country
men. To stimulate HE ignorant and BIZ
goted peasantry with the hope of future
emancipalion-to teach proud but gal
liant nobility that true glory is only TO be
found i'll the paths of duty and patrio-
tlsm-interests the most opposed, preju-
dIces the most stubborn, and habits the
most inyeterate, were reconciled dissi-
pated and broken, by the ascendancy of
his virtues aud example. The storm
which he had foreseen, and for which he
had been preparing, al length burst upon
Poland. a feeble and unpopular gov.
eminent bent before its fury, and sub
mitted itself 10 the Russian yoke of the
invader. But the nation disdaiued 10 fol
low its example ; in their extremity every
eye was turned on the hero who had al
ready fought their battles-ibe sage who
had enlightened them, and the patriot who
had set the example of personal sacrifices
10 accomplish The emancipation of the
people.
Koscusko was unanimously appointed
generalissimo of Poland, with unlimited
powers, until the enemy should be driv-
ell from the country. On las virtue the
nation repOsed with the utmost con-
fidence; and IT is some consolation TO re-
fleet, amidst lie general depraylty of
mankind, that two instances, in the same
age, have occurred, where powers of this
kind were employed solely for the purpo-
ses for which they were given.
Ii is not my intention, sir, TO follow
the Polish chiefthroughout the career of
victory, whicb, for a considerable time,
crowned his efforts Guided by his ia
Tents, and led by his valOr, his undisci-
plined lily armed militia charged with eff
feet the veteran Russian and Prussian
lie mailed curassiers of the great FIRE.
derrick, for The first time, broke and fled,
before the lighter and appropriate cavalry
If Poland Egope t;lSd ihe hreaets az