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

iduon were carried On be'Weeo HelghLorIDg
states, and scenes occurred On the Grecian
soil, over which freedom aud humanity min
gle their tears. But how, Sir, is the case with
us? Under an administration of mild and
equal laws, we are at this hour in the enioy-
ment of the utmost practicable measure Of
personal liberty. We are blessed with pro-
found peace, aud the humblcst and most tim
I'd man among us, is IN the full possession of
absolute security in person aud property.
Sir, this night every weak and shrinking fe-
male, every helpless infant in all this land lies
down In peace, and may sink into unbroken
slunbcr, conscious OF being safe from harm.
/" morrow, tyery vigorous man, with robust
l'tnb, with active and enterprisiDg mind, will
he engaged with ardor in all that can advance
ms own and his countIy's prosperity, in all
that enlighiens and ennobles man. The sus-
tanning energy Of free government pervadcs
the land and raises and strengthens the cha
racter of all who inlabit it. In sHch :, coun-
try wars can never be waged for glory and en-
pre-. The most ambitious leader, who would
persuade MS into war, must profess that IL is
a war for,he right he dared not even breathe
the sentiment that il is undertaken only for
glory. Surely, this reflection ought to prove
To us warning on an occasion like this for,
be 1t remembered, that, by all the acts in
winch 1t is engaged, this infant nation is stamp
ing lis character for future ages
There IS one question | would ask Of this
committee would ask it emphatically. You
owe To Greece debt which YOU ought 20 re-
pay III kind. Is il debt for physical aid Is
1t for any thing she ever did for us by rhysic
al force No, sir, it is for moral aid-for the
force of her example; it is for the spirit and
sentiments of her writers, which have passed
into our mind il is for the lessons she has
taught us IN the love and the defence of free
dom II is Tor the warnings we ha, ceived
from her mIsiOrtuncs-fOr the spirit, in a
word, that her works and her words have
poured into our souls What, then, is our
proper, our best return? Ii is to raise her
depressed children by the example of our free
government, government possessing some
tXcellencies and advantages that hers never
had, even in their brightest day This is the
example We are to set them, and not that of
foreign wars We are 10 shew them the
blessings of freedom as reduced to practical
and permanent form--to shew them a peo.
pie happy and proud of the lot they enjoy.
How cautious then should we be, that we
do not, by bringing disaster on our hitherto
happy experiment, blast the rising cause of
freedom (chcek it rather, Tor rise it will
throughout the world. Let us take care that
we do not make our case a warning agains,
free gov ernmcnts, instead Of the strongest of
arguments in their favor. And what sir is
influence your free principles and free in
stltotions Not by wars: but by friendly
intercourse with Europe, by writings, by per-
sonai conversation, and by the speeches of
your statesmen. BY means like these the
rapid ccntagiOn of enlightened principles will
spread from land to land. Men easily imbibe
right principles on politics, when once they
are suggested to them. The plainest and the
huinbiest peasant can be made to understand
Iluf
rights: all he needs is To he convinced that
these principles, so true and so plain in them
selves, can b- carried out into a practical 20
vernmeni. The lllerati of Europe know this,
and some of them spread the truth in their
writings. Their statesmen know il too, and
some OF these, too, recommend it. The hon
est common people acknowledge the truth,
and long for its benefits. They have the de.
monstratIon of the truth brought to their very
senses they see and know our seamen our
merchants, and their families, and they know
that there does exist country that fosters in
IFS bosom free, proud, and energetic people,
who know how to protect their rights and their
honour Such state of things now exists
That these people lnhale some notions of free
dom win the very atmosphere they breathe
and as they breathe il, they come 10 love those
rights. Despoiism, on the other hand is
founded on the ignorance, prejudice, timidity.
and depression Of the people but that gno-
rance Is dissipatng-tho prejudices are weak
ening-that fear is dspeling-the people
are fast rising in the scale of being. How I'M
wise would 1t be, nay, how wicked, Ia aban-
don all these gradual but powerful effects of
cur governmen nj and condition, in order TO as
sumo another character. What will be the
effect OF war on this influence? Ii will coun-
'cract II at once, by conjuring up in opposi-
tlon all The angry and resentful passions. WHY
should we so efeclually advance the dearest
interests of despotsm Think you that their
monarchs will fail 10 direct these passions
against the cause of freedom Sir, we can
give no physical, no warlike aid TO liberty, that
will not injure her cause
There is another consideration that calls
upon us to pause and reflect, before we take
any step that Ray commit The nation Mon
archy can go To war from policy or ambition,
and they do not find il suits their views. tbey
can, with almost equal ease, Withdraw from
the contest. But il is far otherwise with Re.
publIcs. There, before you enter into war.
you must convince the mass of the nation
That the war IS virtuous and just in its prin-
cp't, and unavoidable without disgrace-
when free people have become, by rphcc-
non, convinced of this, they become reckless
ol consequences you rouse deeper spirit
you concentrate mightier wrath than des-
potIc government can ever know. There is
u moral force that minglrs with the physical,
and propels IL with redOubled energy. But.
II the war is unreasonable, unjust. unnecessary.
when any calamity happens in IFS prosecution.
they at nncP l"ok back 10 IFS origin, re-exam- |
Inc ITS principle, they ask in spirit of discon-
tent and Indignation, why was il not avoided |
and they wrcak their vengeance cn IFS authors.
Oh cannot then enter with too mich canfion