Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-31
RICHMOND, JANUARY 81. I5s4-
GREEK CaIINE-

Ata numerous meeting composed Of MEM
beers oil the Virginia Legislature, and citizens
of Richmond, IN the Hall Of House Of Dele
gates, on the eveni5g ofthe seth January, I 82a
Linn Banks, Esq. was called to the chair
and Thomas Riichi. appointed Secretary.
The address from the COmminre Of New
York was read
The foll"wing gentlemen were then appoint-
ed COMMITTEES, To draft Resolutions Il report
forthwith to this meeting, Viz: Messrs. Cur
den, John Rutherford, Dr0mgoole, Sherr,rd,
Charles Hill, Mallory, Bowyer, w. +. PEN
dleton lofthe Eek. Council) Richie, Jerman Ba-
ksr, John II. Peasants, Lundy, aud Ayleit.
Alter some time, the Committee returned,
ana Mr.. Gordon reported the following Pre-
amble and Resolutions
Greece, TO whom the world is SD much in
debted for the dissemination of love for IL
berty, and a taste for letters, has been the
theatre at the most detestable oppression for
Tour centuries past The ashes of Leunidas
and Drmosthenes have been iranpIed under
loot by the turban'd Turk" The pr, il-ge
OF worshipping our Creator according to the
dictates of our own CONSEQUENCES, has been
shamefully violated by the superslilious vota-
ries Of MahOmet. The crescent has trismph-
ed over the cross. The dearest rights. of life,
liberty, and property, have been ruthlessly
denied to five millions Of men. The heavy
| cham at oppression, which descends from the
Sultan of CunsianinOple through "a long line
of slaves, has fallen with accuni ulatpd weight
upon the unfortunate, aud conquered Greeks
Cut off frsm their oppressors by the use Of IA
different language; denied the privilege of re-
monstiatiDg through regular counsellors oil the
law, they have been driven, whenever they
have dared to utter complaint, from the
miscalled tribunals of Justice, with gnomipy
~ Sfrip .,f thai n.
PRECIOUS will Uf their tyrants. and then con-
demned to till them like serfs for paltry COM
pensatiOn, what motives had they to exert
their faculties, and push forward in the career
of improvement? Their own immorta.. Gard
had said, ages ago, that Z" the day which
makes man slave, takes half his worth a.
way" Without The press; without roads +;
without the means of safely investing the
fruits of their labor" continually exposed to
military quari-rings," 10 the rxactiops of
the Pscha, and to the insults of every Turk,
their spirit was rebuked; their genius restrain
ed; and they were reduced almost To The 81
tuaiion OF outcasts in the land of their ma
ti,ity.
| Such fCds the situation Of the Greeks. until
new light began la dawn upon the world
America became free. Her liberal principles
Crossed TIE Atlantic, and gave new impulse
to The affairs Of Europe. France, Italy, Spain,
felt the shock-it is restrained in those couu-
tries, but is not yet suppressed. The Greeks
too, we're destined To feel the spirit of the age.
Their minds became feverish aud DISSATISFIED
The train was laid, and il needed only a spark
Ia produce an explosion. Three years ago the
insurreciion broke out & Greece few To arms.
IL IS scarce necessary 10 dwell upon the ca
Iamliies they have suffered during The ardu-
ons contest What ipdignty have they not
Sustained What barbarity has not been prsc-
used upon their men, women and chill
dren 7" The TuTk has even been more cruel
tn them, than was the savage Indian to our
forefaih-rs. The Patriarch of their Church
was " torn from his Altar. and hung at his own
door IN Cons,antinOple." "One hundred and
seveniy-six of the most respectable Greeks
were dragged upon the pavement Of the city,
tiiI me Mesh was torn from their limbs, and
they expired" The Alorea has been dyed
with torrents of Grecan blood. Some oftleir
beautiful isles have been almost strpt of their
people. SclO alone, is al eternal monument
of the harbariy of the Turks. Of more than
100 600 inhabitants, A." there lemain but goo
TN the island" Thousands, no we're not as
sassInated, were sold as sares-the old were
cruelty cut off, lille young boys and virgins
"e.- swept into captivity.
Yet the people have not eIailed. They
have fought with spirit which is worthy of
their cause, and Of their fnrefathers
Nearly The whole OF the Morea is in their
hands and at sea they have performed prodi-
gies "f vaIOr. The crisis of their fate has per
haps arrived. Some encouragement from
their christian breihre 10 animate their exer
tons, some supplies of money and arms, may
turn the scale, ard place new people "a
inong The natlOns of the EARTH" Yet, if even
those who are in the field ard upon the sea-
had not wanted any succour, the fugitiyes
who have fled from their hearihs and homes.
and taken refuge among their more fortunate
ceuntrymeD, are IN want Of aid. Their suffer
Ings are hey nd description
The generous spirits of Europe have not
been lnsensible to these appeals. In some
OF Inc large cities Of the continent, societies
have been formed, and donations have been
made. In England, the Greek Association
has been active in hundred ways. And If
Englishmeo feel for them shall not the Anne
rIcans? IL the people Of France and Germa-
ny, who ar" not so sensible of the blessings Of
free government, stretch out their arms 10
assist The struggling Greeks, shall not we--tOe,
who Ike them have passed through the
ihrOe9 OF revolution, but forty Years
ago,-we, whose soldiers Frequently maxi
ed their march upon the SHOWS, by the
blood Of their naked feet, and would have re-
joiced even in the comforts of the most ordi-
nary cIothing = zoe, who felt how much hope
and spirit were impaired by the sympaihies
Of foreign natiOn-shall zoe deny our aid (?
Shall the generous citizens Of New York, Phi
adelphia and Boston, pour forth their vows
and their money in this glorious catIse-aDd
shall zoe, the citizens cf old Virginia, deny To
10, 10 The cause Of Liberty and Religion unit
ed any sympathy, ard any succOur
Resoired, therefore, That sympalhlse IN rhe
cau.c ol The Cheeks, because we consider their
struggle, as struggle ior the tights Of man.
RtsOirSd, That We will couirbUie our humble
ntif To- la 81 gtu .