Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-19

nerous love for hberty-f0r months after the
civll contest has heen decided, and the one.
Party has positively triumphed over the other
we nave hitherto prOfessed a neutrality be-
tween the two parties. We have said To
them, You are struggling for the sovereign
~ II rs not for ms 10 decide between you.
w" cannot of course acknowledge the indie
pendence OF any of the provinces-- conse-
lueuNy we can neither receive their minis
t"rs nor send them ours" But, now, when
every impartial man must admit that the con
test is iaidy over; that it is not only one pro-
vince of Spanish America, but the whole that
has succeeded that Spain has scarce an
inch To stand upon that she has sent no fresh
troops, and has in fact laid down her arms,
what are we To conclude but that one party
has obtained the ascendancy which we were
waiting Tor, and that il is now time for US to
acknowledge them in the face of the world
Alter all, what do the Patriots ask of rs?
Not to give them aid net 10 cspouse their
cause ny actual cooperation ; not To aid them
by troops, fleet & money; but merely TO recog-
n'ze TIER independence, To form treaties and
exchange ministers with them. They do not
ask ms la do what Elizabeth did for the Unit
ed Provinces-send them succour, and draw
the sword III their behalf. We do not eman-
cIpate; hut merely recognize an emancpated
nation. we acknowledge a fact, which the
la VS. oil nations not only permit, but require
other sovereign states TO admit.
And if this be required of other states, is it
wrong in US ? Is it improper for us to- do for
South America, what France, Spain, and
Holland did for us If any can do it. to whom
can this appeal be more forcibiy made than
to our own country? We had scarcely deciar-
ed our Independence, before we dispatched
ministers TO Europe; they succeeded al many
oil her cOllrfS ark M, laJurat in
very midst of our struggles as a sovereign and
independent state. With France, the premi-
nary articles OF treaty were signed as early
as the 9th December, 1777. Nj. ID. Noailles
the French Minister at London, i'm commune
eating the existence of this treaty, uses these
strong expressions: "The United States of
North America tcho are IN fall possession of
independence, as pronouncedby them on the an
81 Juty, l776, having proposed to the king to
consolidate, by formal convention, the con
nection begun To be established between the
two nations, the respective plenipotentiaries
have signed tire atty of friendship and COM
merce, designed to serve as foundation for
Their mutual good correspondence
we do 1t too in a way so little calculated
to excite the .iealousies of foreign states. We
do not shape our course by interest but by
prInciplr. We make no stipulation with S.
America for exclusive commercial privileges.
we ask nothing at the expense of any other
haii"n Even the iealousies of G. Britain
viii have no food To feed on
II rs not the earnings of Messrs. Anduaga
ana foleiica, that can change the rights of
south America, and the law of nations. North
America merely discharges her duty to South
Amerlca-what every state in fact owes TO
her. We must do that duty in the spirit of
peace, but fearless of consequences.
Ju'ge fucker OF the State of Missouri prorounced
loan Once Certificates to be bills cfcedi" within the