Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-07-25


es aud honou,s of this world as dust aud ashes in
comparison OF the principles upon which they hu
their s,eadiast iaith-who ouly loved liberty Is
something desirable in itself aud essential TO the dig
NIFTY oil human nature, bur regarded il as "A solemn
duy, TO Tree themselves from every species oi res
traint that was incompatible with the fullest rights of
conscience--who,' possessing all that devoiedncsS
anu elevation oil character natural minds nurs-
eel IN the habual contemplation of such subjects aud
penetrated with their majesty and Importance, had
learned IN the sublime language ot RACINE 10 fear
"ou, and 20 know no other lear'-lI was such n,en
as THESE, together with the unfortunate, the prrse.
cuieu, The adventurous the bold the aspiring OF all
ciimes and conditions, cong,egated aud coulounded
~ one vast asylum, aud exercised by the harlships
incident To the colonization OF a country, with
a sort of Spartan discipliue--that laid the iuunda-
tons oi those furnishing commonwealth, whose first
uniled efforts are the subject of this
Us IL wonderful that nation composed OF such ele-
menus anu accustomed, too, TO go On from one
iotm oil abuses to another (Ior it is very important to
observe, that the whole history of the colonies is
nts'otY OF successive revolutions in their municipal
government anu admini>tr Ion, and il is only by
figure al speech that we conine that tern exclusive.
~ ~ the decla alton of Independently should have
SHOWN themselves, a, once, so sensitive aud de-
termiued in contest in which their rights we,. so
seriously concerned
But although the situation Of the country and III,
peculiar character fihe people, go very Ear to ex-
pain The phenomenon have noticed il might he
shewn- either the limits To which am confined,
or the nature of this address, would porm me TO en-
TER into one OF the curious speculations IN the
history oil the human mind--iht II is not uncopuact-
ed with causes Of more general naiure--that -
| most surprising revolution has taken place i'm the
whole structure OF socety--and that nothing there
lore, can he more super fetal than To reason funI
what are called the analogies of former republics to
| the condition a0t prospects Of own. II is of
course, difficult convey an adequate i,lea al so
complcaied subject in a single hinr--bui cannot
refrain from observing, that the difference seems
chiefly 10 consist IN the habits of ab>iraction and
reflection which have prevailed much more for
century or two past, than they did al any fur
mer period, aud in the consequent attachment To
P"cpisS aud dios, as II they something tanpi.
ne ana persOnIhed-jus, religion the worshin
oil images, oil sensible representations of the Driy
winch IS OF the very essence Of the mvthoIopies Of
early ages and the Faith of simple minds is utterly
rejected by the severe and s itua Lut uot les.
rAlhurous devotion OF "a more phOsuphic era
But another most fortunate aud striln. pecul;nr,y
OF me 'onlion we are celebrating is, that ii oc-
CURED IN a NEW WORLD.
The Importance that ought TO he attached In the
circumstance will he Obvious To every 1ne who will
effect, for 4 momeG' upon the miracles which are
eNhIbIing IN the settlement Of this county and the
increase OF ITS population. Behold how the non,rr;
um OF the republic advances in the wilderness of the
west See now empires are starting up into being
IN periods of time, shorter even Than The interval he
tween INFANCY ana manhood in the spas allotted to the
individuals that compose them Conicmnlate the
peaceful riumphs OF Indusiry-;le randi progress of
cu'Ivalion-ihe diffusion of knowledge-the growth
OF populOus cities, with all the arts that emhellish
lite, aud soften while they exai the character of man
anti think at the countless multiIudes that are
springng up TO inherit these blessings The three
millions by whom our independence was achieved
less 'nah nan century ago, already grown To
yen, winch IN the course OF another half century will
have swelled up 10 nm; and so on with coninu.
any accelerated progress, until al no distant tIav the
language oil MILTON shall I've spoken from shore TO
shore, over the vastcsi portion Of this ears surface
.lIa was ever Inhabited hy race worthy of sue,kinp
language consecraied to Liberty.
Now-to ieel how deep interest this cirrum-
stance Is hieu To throw Into the story of tie Revou-
IL
Bunkers Hill-nr let us rather supuose an ,,clor in
that greatest aud proudes ofdays 20 have turned his
homshs upon The future, which see present and
realized. Would he not, think ye, have frcmhcd al
the awful responsibility of his situation iTuud he
not nave been overwhelmed with the unIiounded nm.
ucIpauon II depends upon his courage and conduct
hu" ui"n 'e strength OF ms right arm, whether,
us descendants Obly-nnt some small tract of coun
Try ahout ms own tircsde-not Massachusetts o,one
-No nor all THAT shall inherit il in the ages lbaI N
10 c"me-shhll be governed 10y satIaps aud viceroys
OF as reason anu nature dictate that they should he
nh' wneher, republic, embracing upwards of ~ en-
V"IStnct and great empires, shall exist or moi
whpiher nhosi, worthy TO combat and conquer with
JACKSON shall issue from the vet unyioaled forests
W N'h'u'ky anu lenneSsec, spuTn from New
orleans The very foe, whose vengeance he now dares
o' NE nr't lime, 10 encounter ~ the field thai
roe S"ai ne crowned with yet prouder hurcls and
sh"n come IN more terrible miIht--wheiher the
banks oil ne great lakes shall echo to the acc EMS of
merry, ana the Missouri aud the Mississippi roll
through The inheritance of lrcemcn
me circumstance Of the Revolution occurring in n
new country, cannot fail 10 strike YOU as prcuIar,
important IL gave Our fathers. who were great re.
".nrrS' az opportunity OF purifying the fountains ni
socieiy-oi forming the character and contrnlino
III some degree, and directing The destiuips of The
n'antcommonweaith, lay such principles as phoso.
phy anu experience had slewn 10 he best altI,ounh
ipy Ild no whore else been fully admitted i'm urac-
oe' lney had no InVeteiaie prCjIdceS To encounter
nere-there was no Inheritance ofnbuses come down
rom remote ages-ihere were no grievances esab-
sneu ny cmSlonl-Ho corruptions sanctiiied by their
""'lIHIY' lhey were not afraid to correct "A defect
~ one part lest IL should derange every hnp tt tns
connected win Ito administer a mild and s., niarv
n'Euy' 'es the constitution should sink under ito
remove superluous butiress or unseemIy scnftoId.
ns' 'es' the whole edifice should he loosened and
CONFUSED TO IFS ioundatiOn IN word they atopted
"'t'unch'S ~ h"ii political Institutions lust rs rley
WI" Wv, nave received improvements in agriculture
anu me mechanical arts--dnd while they male M
change Tor the sake of change and wcr. ,emnrl ats
LOT Tue enire exemption from that peryerse epihusi-
"s" W"'cn mas defeated more than one Effort 10 do
good, by aiming 10 do TOO much thee besated IN, IN
"c' upon many maEims of government: which had
heen regarded until then, as alInnethe, yisonary-
TO iruuce TO practice, as they have done with iri-
umP'n' success, many projects Of amelioralion thai
hHu heen classed, by common consent. amo,, the
chImDras and imagiuations of speculotve n,,rJs
lhus, IT had been taught IN almost every school oc
political philosophy that democracy could exist opI
w'tA'h very narrow complss--aud but few years
before the Declaration OF Independence m lilac
irlous writer Adam Smith1 expresses = dnuLt vpbc
iher universal federation " religions Womb evp,
become The standing policy of = great enpire-noy
whai would The simplest rustic in the United States
say, VI he were told, that grave and wise meu had
pronounced the state Of society in which I'VE ina,
been living for fifty years, to be altogether imaginary
and Impossible 7''
NoirARE remarks ofihe discoveries NJ Cory
NUS 'h ail that WAS great and imposing in The cyts
ol men, seemed 10 disappear before this spcrirs If
new Crealiun. The remark is striking, and might.
have sometimes thought, he applied to the equally
bold aud successful adventures nf our fathers n, bs
science ol poIilica sociely. The frat voYnrc ncrs