Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-07
ALr. Clay 10 Dir. .AGddhtoss, datea
BEREAVEMENT OF STATE,

-gIug lUfh, 1928.
SIR: am directed by the President to ins,ruc,
you to en1eavor 10 engage the Russian Govern
ment 10 contribute its best exerlions towards Ter
,ninaiins the existing con,es, be,n cen Spain and
her Colonies.
Among the interests which, a, this per;od.
should most command the serious attention of the
nations OF The old and new world, mo one il be-
iieved 10 have claim so paramount, as that of the
present war. II has existed, in greater or less eS
tent, seventeen years. lis earlier stages were
marked oy the most shocking excuses, & through
our, it has been attended by an almost incalcuabIe
waste OF blood and treasure. During its continu-
ance, whole generations have passed away, with.
out living 10 see its close, whilst others have sue
ceeded them, growing up from infancy 10 MAORI
~, without ever tasting the blessings oil peace
Ahe conclusion OF that war, whatever and whence
yer 1t may be; must have great effect upon Eu-
rope aud America. Russiatis so situated. as tina,
whilst she will be less directly affected than other
parts OF Christendom, her weight and her councils
must have controlling influence on its useless
proiraction or It's happy termination. II this Pc
GUITAR attitude secures her i,hpartiay Il draws 10
may FEEL Pfobsi' IL MAKE The preaominsnce Of
me power OF the Empire, is every where felt
Europe, America, and Asia, all own il. I;;sw;.b
perfect knowledge of its vast extent, ard The
proioundest respect for the wisdom and the jus
tice OF the august parsonage who wields il, ina.
voked. 4D anu humane councils are no" in
In considering that war, rs in considering all o.
theirs, we should look back upon the mast delibe.
rately survey IFS present condition, and en5eavor.
u possible, to catch view Of wha, is 10 come
IN respect 10 the first branch of the subject
IS perhaps, OF the least practical importance No
statesman can nave contemplated tie colonial re-
!a;ons OF Europe and continental America. with
out foreseeing that the time mus, come when
they would cease. That time ninht have ha.r
retarded or accelerated--bnt, come IL rnust. in
the great march of human events. An ATTEMPT
oil the British Parliament TO tax, wi.llcut their
consent, the former British colonies now ,Lesa
United States, produced the war Of our Revol,-
ton. and led TO the establishment Of that indepen-
dence and freedom which we now so Justly prize.
Moderation and iorbcarance, on the part of Great
'rnaih' might have postponed, but could not
nave prevented, our ultimate separation. The at
tempt of Bonaparie, 10 subyort the ancient dynas
~ OF Spain, and TO place on its throne rnembe,
OF his own family, no doubt, FASTENED the indepen-
dcnce OF the Spanish colonies. II he had no,
been urged by his ambition to the Conquest of the
Peninsula, those colonies, far long time to come
might have continued quietly to submit TO the ma
rental sway. But they must have inevitable
thrown 1t of, sooner or later. We may imagine
''Ia vast continent, uninhabited, or thinly peo.
pied, by savage and unigtored race, NAV be 90
Yerned by remote country, blessed with the lights
and possessed OF the power Of civilization: bI, il
- absurd TO suppose tina, this same continent in
extent twenty times greater than that of the pa.
rent country, and doubling it in population equal
y civilized should not be able when IL chooses II
make the effort, TO cast of the distant authority
When The epoch OF separation between a paren
State and lis colony, from whatever cause. arrves
the struggle for self-governmeni, on the one hand
and for The preservation Of power on the othe
produces mutual exaspeTation. and leads 10 a mos
| embitered and ierocious war 1t is then that il
becomes the duty of third Powers TO in,erpos,
their humane Offices, and calm the passions, ans
| enlighten the councils, of the parties. And IN,
necessity of their efforts is greatest with the Da-
rent country, whose pride, and whose wealth ant
power, swelied by the colonial contributions. ere
ATE The most repUgnance TO an acquiescence in ;
severance which has been ordained By Providence
In the war which has long been raging betwee,
Spain and her colonies, the United States have Ia
ken no part, either to produce or to sustain il.
They have been inactive and neutral spectators o
the passing scenes. Their frankness forbids. how
! ever that they should say that thew have bebel,
those scenes with feelings Of Indifference. The,
have, on the contrary. anxiously desired ,ba, o,e
parts fthis continent should acquire and enio,
that independence, with which, by the vslor an,
the patriotism of the founders Of their liberty the,
have been, under the smiles of Heaven, 40 ereatl,
blessed.
But, in the indulgence Of this sympathetic feel
ing, they have not, for one moment, been unmiod
full OF the duties Of that neutrality which they bs,
deliberately announced. And the be-, proof Of IN
fidelity with which they have strictly fulfilled IL
obligations, is furnished in the fact that, during N
progress Of the war, they have been uniusty accuq
cd by both parties, of violating their declared Deu
tralty. But it is now Of little consequence to re
trace The causes, remote or proxmste, Of the reyo
Of the Spanish colonies. The great and much MOI
important consideration which will 70 d5uly at,ss,