Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-29

liberty. Sir, are these TO be conquered by AL
Europe united? But l am quite sure that that
danger, SO far at least rs this resolution is
concerned, is perfectly ideal and imaginary.
But, it it were otherwise, any danger is best
guarded against by invigorating our minds to
meet it-by teaching our heads Ia thiuk, our
hearts TO conceive, and our arms TO execute
the high and nohle deeds which belong To the
character and glory of our country. Sir, the
experience of the world may instruct us that
conquests are ACHE, ed when they are boldly &
firmly determined on and that men become
slaves as soon as they have ceased TO resolve TO
live treemrn. 1t we wish tn cover ourselves with
the best OF all armUr against perils, let us not
discourage our people, let us stimulate their
ardOr, let us sustain their resolution, let us
show them that we feel as they feel, and that
we are prepared to live or die like freemen-
Surely, sir, we need no long or learned lee
lures about the influence of property or of
rank let us rather remember that we can
bring into the field million of bayonets let
us remember that we are placed over ma
ton capable of doing and of suffering all things
for its liberty. | can never forget what was
once said to me by most illustrious female,
the first of her age, fnot of her sex, on this sub
Ject Mr.. Clay, lsaid that enlightened lady
Il nation never yet was conquered" No, sir !
no united nation can be, that has the spirit To
resolve not To be conquered such nation
Is ever invincible. And, sir, has it come to
this Are we SO humbled, so low, SO despi-
cable, that we dare not express our sympathy
for suffering Greece, lest, peradventure, we
might offend some one more of their i'm
perial and royal majesties? lfgentIemen are
afraid 10 actrashly on such subject, suppose,
Mr. Chairman, that we draw AN humble petit
lion addressed TO their Nlaiesties, asking them
hair
us to express something on the subject How,
sir, shall IL begin? We the representatives
of the free people Of the u. States of Ameri-
ca, humbly approach the thrones of your I'm
perial.and Royal Majesiies, and suppcate that
of your Imperial and Royal clemency"-I
will not go through the disgusting recital my
lips have not yet learnt the sycophantic
language of degraded slave. Are we so
low, so base, so despicab-, that we may not
express our horror, articulate our detestation
oi the most brutal and arocious war that ever
stained earth, or shocked high heaven, with
the ferocious deeds of brutal soldiery, set ON
by the clergy and followers of "a fanatical and
inmical religion, and rioting IN excuses of
blood and butchery, al the mere details of
which, the breast sickens d?
1.-THE great mass of Chrisicndom can look
cO0'ly and calmly on, while :ll this is prrpc
traied on Il christian peopl, ia their own Wei
My, IN their very presence, let us at least
shew, that, in this distant extremity. there is
still some sensibility aud sympathy for chris
fian wrongs and sulfcrings, that there are still
feelings which can kindIe into indignation, at
the oppression Of people endrared to us by
every ancient recollection, and every modern
tie.
Sir, the House has been attempted to be
alarmed by The dangers TO our commerce.
"A ny nl fUo nd L.
been presented to us TO repress our sensibili-
ties, and to eradicate our humanity. All, sir,
" what shall IT profit a man if he gain the
whole world and lose his own soul 2" or what
shall It profit a nation 10 save the whole of :,
wretchrd commerce, and lose its liberties ?
AS to the question of American interests,
hitherto, II has been necessary To depart from
the rule of our foreign relations laid down in |
regard to Europe. Whether il shall become |
us 10 do 50 or not, will be discussed when we |
take up another resolution that lies upon your |
taDie. But we may not only pass this reso
luton we may go further we may rrcog- !
nize the government in the Norca and vet il |
VIII not he any cause of war, nor will il be- |
war, nor even aid. Besides, Sir, what is |
Greece TO the Allies ? A part of their own |
donations BY no means. Suppose the |
people in one ofthe Philippine isles, or in any |
other spot still more insulated and remote, in |
Asla Or Africa, were To resist their former |
rulers, aud set up and establish new go
vernment; are we not to recognize them for |
fear of the Holy Alliance? If they are going |
10 interfere on the principle of example, here
is the spot where they must strike. This go |
vernment, you, Mr.. Chairman, and the BODY |
over which you preside, are the living re-
Proach to allied despoisin. Ifthey attack us
at all, they will do it here. They will assail
US in our own happy land. They will attack |
us because you, Sir, sit beneath that canopy. |
and we sit freely debating and celebrating |
upon the great interests of freemen.-
They will strike because we pass one of those
bills on your table. The passing of the least of |
them by our authority is as calling to despoiic |
powers as will be the passage of this so-much |
dreaded resolution.
Pass the resolution, and what, sir, do YOU |
do You exercise an act Of ndisputable |
sovereignty for which you are responsible To |
none OF them. You do the same act as when |
you pass bill-no more. If the Allies OBJ |
lect, let them forbid us to take vote in this |
House-let them dIsperse us-let them strip !
us OF every attribute of sOtereignty
Do gentlemen attempt to maintain that. ON |
the principles Of the laws of nations, these
powers have cause Of war? Sir, ifthere is any |
principle settled for ages, anywhicb is founded
IN the very nature of things, il is, that every
sovereign power has the right To Judge as to
the Tact OF the existence Of other sovereign
powers. j admit there may be a state Of
inchoate, inactive sovereignty, in which new
Cover nment is struggling into being, and NAV
not be said yet perfectly 10 exist but the
premature recognition of such new GOVERN
ment can give offence justly to no other than its
ancient sovereign. The right to recognize
romPrehends the right TO he informed /; and
The means Of information must depend upon
Inc snnnh disnrntin, al IL. - ~