Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-14


Was time, under other circumstances,
when He might have occupied EaS Eiori-
da, wiih safety: had we then taken IT.
our posture - the negotiation with Spaiu
would have been totally different non
what IT Is NOW. But, We had permitted
that time, moi with his consent, 10 pass
by unimproved. II we were now 10 seize
upon Florida, after Il great change IN those
circumstances, and after declaring car i'm
teniIon 10 acqulescc ia the procIaslinaiian
desired by Spain, in what light should we
be viewed by foreign powers, particular
| ~ Great Britain We lave already been
accused of inordinate ambition, and Of
| seeking 10 aggrandize ourselves by an
extension, on all sides, of our limits
| Should we mol, by such act of violence
| give color 10 the accusation no, MIR,
| Chairman, If we are 10 he Involved in war
| with Spain, let us have the credit Of dis
| lnterestedness. let us put her vel mere in
| the wrong! Let us command the respect
| winch Is never withheld from those who
| aci Il noble and generous part. He hop
ed 10 communicate TO the committee the
| convection which he SO strongly fell, that,
| adopting tbe amendment which lie iuten-
| ded 10 propose, would not hazard III The
slightest degree, the peace OF the country.
| Bu, II that peace we're TO be endangered,
| he would infinitely rather it should be for
our eXerting the right, apperiaining TO e.
very state, ofaclnowlpdglns the indepen-
uence OF another state, than for The sciz-
| ure OF province which sooner or la;erwe
must certainly acquire.
Mr.. Clay proceeded. In contemplating
the great struggle in which Spanish Anne
rica is now engaged, our attention is first
iiNed by the immensely and character Of
vel
snbJugate. Stretching on the Pacific O.
ceaR from about the 40tl, degree of north
latitude, 10 about the 53th degree OF south
latitude, and extending from the mouth
oil llle RIO del horde Exclusive of East
fiorlda) around the Gulf Of Mexico and
along the south Atlantic TO near Cape
horn, II Is about 5000 miles in length, IL
IN some places near 5000 in breadth
within this vast region, we behold the
most sublime end interesting objects of
creations the lottiest mountains, the most
majestic rivers i'll The world the richest
MINES OF The precious metals and The
choicest productions of the earth. We
behold there spectacle still more i'll
icresiing and sublime-the glorious spec
tacle of eighteen millions of people,
struggling to burst their chains and TO be
tree. When we take little nearer and
w
ture has, as IL were, ordained that this
people and this country shall ultimately
constitute several different nations. Leav-
ing the United States on the north, we
come to New spain, or the Vice-Royaliy
OF Mexico on the south passing by Go
iameia, we reach the VireRoyaliy of
New Grenada, the late captain general
ship OF Venezuela, and Guy ana lying on
tie east side OF the Andes. Stepping o.
yer the Erazils, we arrive at the United
PROVINCE Of La Plata, and crossing the
Andes, we find Chill OF their west side.
and further north the Vice Royalty of Ii
ma or Peru. Each of these several parts
Is sufficient in itself, in point Orlmiis, TO
constitute powerful state, and, III point
of population, that which, has ile small
est contains enough 10 make il rcspecta-
bic. Throughout ali the extent of that
great portion of lie world, which he had
attempted thus has lily TO describe, The spi-
Ri of reVolts against The dominion ofSpain
had manifested itself. The revolution had
been attended with various degrees of
success, IN The several parts of Spanish
America. In some il had been already
crowned, as he would endeavor 10 shew,
with complete success, and in all be was
persuaded that independence he'd struck
such deep root as HAT the power of Spain
could never eradicate it. What were the
causes Of this movement?
Three hundred years ago, upon the ru
ms OF the thrones of Moniezuma and the
lncas OF Peru, Spain erected the most stu
pendouS system Of colonial despotism
That The world has ever seen-the most
| rigorous, the most exclusive. The great
principle and object of this system has
! been TO render one OF the largest portions
| OF the world exclusively subservieni, in
all IFS faculties, 10 Tie interests of an in
| considerable spot in Europe. To ehec
| iuste this aim of her policy, she locked
| Spanish Americaup from all the rest of
| the world, and prohibited, under the Sc
verest penalties, any foreigner from, en-
ierlng any part OF it. To keep the natives
themselves ignorant of each other, aud OF
| the strength and resources and several
paris OF her American possessions, she
next prohibited the Inhabitants of one
| VICE Royalty or Government from visit
ing those OF another; 81, that The inla-
bltaDiS Of MeSicO. for eNample. were not
allowed 10 enter The Vice Ruya OF New
Grenada. The agriculture of those vast
regions was so regulated and restrained
as TO prevent all collision wilhthp Interests
of the agriculture Of the Peninsula.
Where nature, by the character and com
position OF The soil, had commanded, the
sb0minablc system Of Spain has forbid
den the growth of certain articles. Thus
the olive and ihevUe, TO which Spanish
America is so well adapted, are prOhibi-
ted, wherever their culture couldinierfere
with the olive aud the vine Of the Peuin.
sula. The commerce of the country, in
tie objection and objects of the exports
aud imports, is also subjected TO the mar