Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-07-17

ood, which they al, ard by the laws of the
gospel which they nearly all, acknowledged
as the rules OF their conduct. They were
bound 10y ali those tender and endearin,- SYM
path'es, the absence OF which in the British
government and nation towards them was the
primary cause OF the distressing conflict into
winch they had been precipilateG They
were bound by Nj The beneccnt laws and in
SOLUTIONS wnich thelr torsiatners had brought
WIN Them FROM tier mother country, not as
seryiudes, but as rights. They were bound
by habits OF hardy industry, by frugal and nos
puahle manners, by the general sentiments of
socia! equality, by pure and virtuous morals.
ana lastly they were bound BY the grappling-
hooks oil common suffering under the scourSe
oil oppression. Where then, amoag such a
people, We're the materials for anarchy: Had
mere Decn among them no other law, they
world have been law unto themselves.
iney bad before them in their new posi-
ilcn, besides the maintenance of the Indspen-
ucnce which they had declared, three great oh
Jects 10 attain: the first, to cement and pre-
pare Tor perpetriy, their common union, and
'hat oi Their posterity the second, to erect
anu organize c,sil and municipal governments
III Their respective States and third. TO form
connections OF friendship and of commerce
with foreign nations. For all these objects
The same Congress which issued the Declara
ton and at the same time with it, had provi-
ued. Ihey recommended to the several states
10 iOin cIVil governments for themselves
WITH guarded and cautious deliberation they
matured confederation for the whole Union
and they prepared treaties ofcommerce. to he
offered to the principal maritime nations of
the world. All these objects were ina great
uegree accomplished, amid the din of arms
ana While every quarter of our country YVES
rahsacSed by the fury ofinvason. The states
organized Their governments, all in republican
forms all on the principles ofthe Declara,ion
1 ne confederation was unanimously at,opte6
by the thirteen states, and treaties of com.
nierce were concluded with France and the
Netherlands, in which, for the FIRST lime, the
same just and magnanimons principles con-
signed lii the Declaration OF indepcndence
were, SO far as they could he applicable to the
intercourse between nation and nation. So
icmniy recognized
When experience had proved l,at the Con
iederationwas not adequate to the national pur-
poses of the country, the people OF the q. S.
without tumuit, wiihoutyioence, by their del
eS2tes, all chosen upon principles of equal
''eht' formed more perfect Union, by the
establishment OF the Federal Constellation
This has already passed the ordeal of one b,,-
man generation. In all the changes oc men
and OF parties through which it has passed. it
has been administered or the same funtla
mehtai principles. Our manners, our habits.
o'if ieHhngs, arc all republican and if our
principles had been, when first proclaimed.
uonoltui 10 the ear ofreason or the sense Of
humanity, they would have been'reconciled TO
Our understandings. and endcared To our hearts
ny their practical operation. n the progress
Oh iorty years since the acknowledgements of
our independence, we have gone through
many notifications Of internal government,
ana through all the vicssitrles OF peace and
war, with other powerful nations. But never.
never Tor moment, have the great principles,
consecrated by the Declaration of this dav
been renowned or abandoned.
And now, friends and countrymcn, If The
wise and learned philosophers of the elder
world the first observers of mutation and
aoerration, the discoverers ofmaddening ether
anu invisible planets, the inventors of Con
greve rockets and Shrapnel shells, should
ana their hearts disposed to enquire What
mas America done for the benefit OF man
Kind Let our answer he this America.
win the same voice which spoke herself into
existence as nation, proclaimed TO man
KIND the inextnSt,ishabla rights of hui
man nature, and the only lawful foundations
ol government. America, in the assembly of
nations, since her admission among them. has
VI.
TO them the hand of honest frindsh;p, ofeaaai
freedom, of generous reciprocity. She has
uniformly spoken among them, though of
Ten TO needless & often to disdainful ears,
the language ofequal liberty, of equal Justice,
ana oil equal rights. She has, in the lapse
OF nearly half century, without a single
exception, respected the Independence of
other nations while asserting and mantaip
ing her own. She has abstained from inter
terence IN the concerns of others, even when
the conflict has been for principles to which
she clIngs, as the last vital drop that visits the
heart. She has seen that probably for centu-
RES to come, oil the contests of that Acelda-
ma the European world, will be contests Of
inVeterate power, and emerging right. Wher-
ever the standard of freedom and independ-
ence has been or shall be mfurled, there will
her heart, her benedictions, s. her prayers be.
But She goes not abroad in search OF monsters
10 destroy She is the welI-wisher to the free
dom and independence all. She is the cham
pion and indicator only other own. She will
recommend the general cause by the countc-
nance OF her voice, and the benignant syrn-
pathy OF her example. She well knows
that by once enlistmg under other banners
than her own, were they even the banners
OF Observation-Disclosures she would involve her
sell beyond the power of extrication, in all the
wars oil interest and intrigue, of individual ava
rice, envy, and ambition, which assume the
colors and usurp the standard of freedom-
The fundamental niaxims of her policy would
nsensibly change from liberty to force. The
irontlet upon her brow would no longer beam
with the inefiabIc splendor of freedom and in
dependence but in its stead would soon he
substituted an imperial diadeu, flashing in
false and furnished lustre the murlSy radiance
of dominion and power She might become
the dictatress ofthe world. She would be no
longer the ruler of her ownspirit.
Stand FORTH ye champions Of Britannia,
ruler Of the MaYcs Stand forth VIZ rhi.nl