Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-04


which have SCI much Intercourse, AM
from which we derive our origin, we have ri
ways been anxious and interested spectators
The citizens of the United States cherish scn
timents the most friendly, in favor Of the Ii
berty and happiness of their fellow men on
that side of the Atlantic. In the wars Of the
European powers. in matters relating to them
selves, we have never taken any part, nor does
il comport with our policy so to do. Ii is on.
ly when our rights are invaded, or seriously
menaced, that we resent injuries, or make
preparation for our defence. With the move
ments in this hemisphere, we are, of necessi-
ty, more Immediately connected, and nv
causes which must be obvious To all enlsht
ened and impartial observers The political
system of the allied powers is essentially diff
fereDt, in this respect, from that of america
This difference proceeds from that which ex-
lists in their respective governments. And To
the defence of our own, which has been "a
cheved by the loss of so much blood and
treasure, and matnred by the wisdom of their
most enlightened citizens, and under which
we nave enjoyed unexampied felicity, this
whole naticn is devoted. We owe il there
fore TO candnr, and 10 the an,icable relations
existing between the United States and those
powers, to declare, that should consider
any attempt, on their part. To extend their
system to any portion of this hemisphere, ms
dangerous 10 our peace and safety. With the
existing colonies dependencies of any E,I-
ropean power, we have not interfered, and
shall not Interfere But with the governments
who have declared their Independence, and
maintained II, and whose Independence we
have, on great consideration and on Just prin-
ciPes, acknowledged, we could not view any
interposiiion for the purpose of expressing
them, ar controlling, in any other manner.
their destiny, by any European power, in any
other light than as the manifestation Of an I'M
friendly disposition towards the United States.
in the war between those new governments
and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the
time of their recognition, and to this we have
adhered, and hall continue to adhere, pIovi-
ded no change shall occur, which in the udg-
ment OF the competent authorities Of this go
vernment, shall make a corresponding change
on the part of The United States indispensable
10 their security.
The late events in Spain and Portugal shew
that Europe is still unsettled. OF this i'm
portant fact, no stronger proof can he adduc-
ed, than that the allied powers should have
thought II proper. nn any principles satisfactory
10 themselves, to have inierposed. nv force, in
the internal concerns of Spain. To what en-
tent such lnterpnsition may he carried, on the
same principle, isa question in which al! indie
pendent powers, whose governments differ
=
remote, and surely none more so than the u
States. Our policy 10 regard 10 Europe, which
was adopted at an early stage ofihe wars, which
have long agitated that quarter of the globe,
nevertheless remains the same, which is, not
To interfere in the internal concerns of any Of
IFS powers to consider the government de
facto as The legitimate government for us TO
cultivate friendly relations with IL, and to pre-
serve those relations by frank firm, and man
ly policy, Mleeling in all instances the Just
claims of every power; submitting To in juTies
from none. Bat in regard To these continents,
circumstances are eminently and conspicuous
iy different. II is impossible that the allied
powers should extend their political system,
TO any portion of either continent without en-
dangerlnS our peace and happiness nor can
any one believe that our southern brethren if
left To themselves, would adopt IT of their own
accord IL is equally Impossible, therefore,
that we should behold such interposiiinn, in
any form, with Indifference. If we lock to
the comparative stItngth and resources of
SPAN and those new guverno,ents, aud their
distance from each other, it MUST be obvious
that she can never suhdue them. II is still
the true policy OF the United States io leave
the parties la themselves, in the hope that
other powers will pursue the same COURSE.
IL we compare the present condition uf orr
Union, with It's actual state at the close of our
revolution, the history Of the world furnishes
no example of IA progress in improvement in
all the important circumstances which csnsti-
TUE the happiness Ut d nation, which bears auy
Resemblance To It, A; the FIRST epoch orr po-
pulail0n did not exceed three millions By the
> last census il amounted To about ten millions.
and, what is more extraordinary it Is almost
altogether native, for the emigration from
other countries has been iDconsidsrable. Al
the FIRST epoch, half the territory within our
acknowledged limits was unlnbabited ADD "A
wilderness. Since then, new territory has
been acquired, ofvast extent, Comprising with
IN 1t many rivers, particularly the Mississippi,
the navigation Of which TO the ocean was of
the highest importance to the original states
Over this territory our population has expand
ed IN every direction, and new States have
been established, almost equal, in number, to
those "hich formed the first bond Of our Tn
ion. This expansion of our population, and
accession OF new States To orr Union, have
had the happiest effect all lis highest inter
ests That II has eminenuy augmented our
Resources aud added to our strength and res
pectablllty, as a power IS admitted by all Bun
II Is not 10 these important circumstances oniv,
that this happy effect is felt. II is mauifesf
that ny enlargiug the basis Of our system, and
increasing the number of states, the system it,
self has been greatly strengthened i'm both its
U'dhchSS' COps"Idiatioh ana disuniOn have
thereby been rendered equally impractjc9bl,.
Each government confidiug in lis own strength.
has less to sppreheud from the other; and in
consequence each enjoying greater freedom
of action, is rendered more efficient for all the
purposes for which it was instituted II is I'M
necessary to treat, here of the vast improy e-
ment made in The system itself, by the adop-
ton Of this constitution, and Of its happy effect
IN elcyatin2 the character. and in protecting
the rights of the nation, ~ well as ofindi, i,ln.
ais To what then do we owe these dressings ?