Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-17

Universal suffrage has been tested by the cho-
ees generally made 10y the people. Frequent null
tpled elections, have never been attended with
The least connections, and, even when for the
highest Offices though conducted with all the ener-
s. of freeman, though inharncd by the freest publ
cations OF the press they have ever been followed
by an Immediate acQuiescence il the constitutional
decisions.
All powers here emanate from the people and re-
vert 20 the people. u IS cur boast that, acknow-
ledgng, in their own laws whilst in force, al all
r'mes IN the eternal laws Justice an authority
perior to themselves, they have not abused those
powers. In oar foreign relations, whilst govern
inent has been found competent 20 support
rights, what nation has been injured Q. insulted
by the United States IN our internal concerns,
whilst the laws have been duly and mpar,iay ad-
ininisered, can, during period OF forty years,
instance be adduced of citizen prosecuted or OPP
pressed
The complete success Of the great experiment
made the largest scale in this country, this liv-
ing proofthat men arc capable of self-government
the splendid example given by the United States
las not been lost 10 mankind. Events, perhaps
anticipated, but which we had viewed as belonging
10 posterity, have taken place in our own time
y twelve month before you landed in America
20 Join her standard, not man i'll this vast CONT
Gcnt, not man, save the wild Indian, who did not
acknowledge the supremacy OF an European power.
And now, within less than the short span OF one
mans active life, from Cape Horn TO the sources OF
the Mississippi, not solitary province remains,
that has not shaken off the foreign yoke. History
Will record the immense sacrifices, the acts oil hero
ssm and sef-devoton, the undismayed persever-
ance by which those great events have been achiev
81. Our government, faithful TO its principles had
neither excited nor encouraged the insurrectons.--
IN being the first recognize the independence of
South America, the first publicly TO declare that
they could with indifference an hostile in
on. ffa Of 9TH hat
has been performed which their position and their
E.oral station in the world mad ssed to the Uni
ted States.
new spirit pe-vades, aniu,ates the whole CT
Yilized world. 1t has penetrated through every
class Of society, teaching every man, in the most
obscure and bitterly oppressed, to feel and TO
hs rights; making, every day, new converts, even
amongst the priy LEGGED ranks, sitting the very
footsteps of the thrones. And shathe voice pre-
vail Of few infatuated men, who only dream what
they cannot hope' Shall the power be given unto
them OF arresng light in its progress? OF making
the human mind retrograde? The planets, also, to
the eyes OF man, appear at times 10 have retro
grade motion; but they still pursue their unerring
course in obedience to the laws of nature and TO the
first impulse of the Creator. Add now, in the moral
world, People, Mobiles, Statesmen, Monarchs, all
are Carried away by the irresistible stream of public
opinion and of growing knowledge.
Do you ask for rreffagable proof OF that
overwhelming influence? The British Ministry,
composed exclusively of men who, ten years ego,
opposed every revolution, and Ayere uemblingly
alive at the slightest appearance of the slightest in
novaion; they have, in less than year, commence
ed the reform of their ancient and complex system
oil laws. destroyed colonial monopoly in their own
colonies, recognized the Independence of South
America, countenaEced if not assisted, the Greeks,
and, If we are not misntorn>ed, at last on the
eve of emancipaling that long oppressed, long in
lo f-ie,H. II A the Trisb
nation.
The flame Of liberty has spread from the Peruvian
Andes, from the extreme western boundary OF the
civilized world its most remote confines towards
the East.
Greece, the cradle of European civilization and
NJ our ownGreece, the classical land oil hrstborn
liberty, had for centuries, groaned under the most
intolerable yoke Her were believed to be
utterly debased by slavery, degenerated, lost be-
yond redemption: their name had,becomc by-word
of rcproach, themselves an object OF contempt
rather than OF pity. Suddenly they awaken from
their lethargy--hey fly to arms--they break their
chains asunder: they receive foreign assistance;
Christian powers irown upon thCm; they are sur
rounded by innumerable dangers, 10y innumerable
enemies; they do not inquire how many these, but
where they Every year, without navy, they
destroy formidable fleets; every year. without al,
army they dlstersc countless hosts; every year they
tstol.ish the world; they conquer its reluctant sym
pathy, by deeds worthy of the trophies of Salams
and Marathon, by exploits to which the love OF
liberty could alone have given birth, by prodigcs
which would be deemed fabulous, dill they not hap
pen in own days and as under our eyes
Whence that regeneration and Us wonderful effects!
From the progress OF knowledge; from the superb
ority OF Intellect over brutal force. The Greeks
bad preserved their immortal language, the recol-
lection O; their ancestors, their religion, national
character Patriotic individuals had, for the last
r. 81
presses, used every to senova,e and lisseni-
nate knowledge. Their stupid oppressors could not
perceive or fe4r progress hardly observed by Eu-
rope. But the seed VIZ not thrown ON barren
soil: the Turkish cimetar had been less fatal to the
human mind than tlteSpanish Inqusition.
The cause is net YET wont An almost miraculous
resistance, may yet perhaps, be overwhelmed by
the TREMENDOUS superiority of numbers. And will
the civilized the Christian world; for those words
are synonymous, will they look with apathy on the
dreadful catastrophe that would ensue? A catas-
trophe which thcv, which even we alone could
prevent with so mitch facility and Imost without
danger? / am carried beyond what intended 10
say, it is due to your presence-do not know that
wherever man struggling for liberty, for existence
Is most in danger, there IS your hearth
Indeed, may ask who, in establishing, in pro-
pagating, in defending the principles which have
produced so many great and glorious resultS--who
aruongst those who still living, has had grea-
ter share than Layfaycttel And, amongst the liv-
ing or dead he alone, to whom it was given to act
M equally conspicuous part the two great thea
tres ofthc great struggle, America and France
Can it then be subject Of astonishment, that you
should have bsen received with unequallcd cnthu-
sarn by free and enlightened people? We par
take the national feeling to its fullest extent. We
hail you as one Of the Surviving heroes of our Re
Yolutionas the energetic defender of the of
a rare model OF the most perfect consis-
tency OF character.
1{,-r,. 10 have Laoc nv, tbis orc,eio, III. nv