Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-15
SOUTH AMERICA.


agated subject of the Congress OF Panama, the
discourse delivered at the opening ot that body
must possess a special interest. III IS Solemn
exposition of the faculties, objects, and duties oil
the Congress, they are understood py d!s'ih-
guished member. upon whom the task oil thus eA-
planning them was devoved, and who, therefore,
can be supposed to have expressed the opinions and
feelings of all. NJ. Fiduurre, however, the au-
thor Of this address, a lawyer OF taen,s and erudi-
ton is OF a very enthusiastic temper and rhetorical
turn he is personally well known in this city,
where he resided for some time and composer va
rious works marked by most sanguine spirit and
emphatic style. 1t is possible that he ascrioes
greater scope and efficiency to the Congress, than
his colleagues do; and exhibits rather that magnih-
cent, romantic scheme of policy which he adnTes
anil prefers, than what the assembly will seriously
entertain TO attempt to establish. Nat Gds.
SPEECH of Don Manuel Lorenzo de n
.ddurre, Minister from Peru, at tie opening
Of The .fmerican Congress at Panama, on
the 22d Of June, 1926
Translated for the National Gazette
The inhabitants of what formerly Spanish
America, will! be covered with the d-epes; namy
il they do not promu gate laws, the wisdom and
equity OF which shall present prosperity and
hand it down unimpaired TO the latest generations.
Restored hi, natural condition, free and indepen
dent i'm fIli possession OF all his rights, en- ing
ire reason with which the sublime author of his
being has endowed him, Man approaches nearer 10
perfection than The earliest days of his existence
Then, without the benefit OF experience, he could
not be wise; without tire knowledge of evil, he
knew no, how TO avoid II; lie without the abb
lily to enjoy, from being without the experience
alike o! leasuTe and pain. .NoLc, in the fall
else of his faculries, easily distinguishes the u
from The unns the useful and agreeable from what
j. peraicous and hurtful safety from d,nge-, con
tlnued moderate enjoyment from The momen,ary de-
ights of intense pleasure. The subversun of EN-
res, the eb5 and flow OF wealth in all quarters of
the known world, the destruction OF some cities
the elevation OF others, the grandeur and decline
OF States, all are lessons, OF which he can avail
himself; all ale rules by which he learns TO regulate
MS present conduct.
Among the various revolutions, physical, moral
and POLITICAL which history has recorded and pho-
sophy inves;iga d. ours has no parallel. In Chi
ma one dynasty succeeded another from Fohi 10 the
perio when the Tartar chiet assumed the throne q;
the Egyptians count upwards of 800 generations
to SET; the Pe'sans succeeded the Modes as
the latter had done the A-syrians; he Romans
survived them all; cloud of locusts issued from
the North TO ravage and possess the South OF Eu
rope; Columbus drcover> new world; Cores,
Pzaro and other wicked adventurer. del Ia. one the
soveregns oil the fourth part OF the globe and seize
their territories; human nature still knows ben
e:ii: every day she becomes more a slave 10 the
criminal passions of few, and by passive IRA
tional subservience sinks into scromplice to the
crimes OF hose who hide her degradation from her
self aud make her forget her noble origin. by
nasies have been destroyed, the vice, OF go, ern-
ment remain un,liered.
Even when the Greek, the Roman or the Car
tlagenian OF antiquity di-piayed apparent love
OF liberty, variable, jealous, dissatisfied with their
own territories, great wari but bad citizens,
see IN them vice only in different forms, and con-
tnuous se.ies OF and calamity; the gIories of
Marathon and Salams may be sung in lofty mea-
INIT Al fba
tha, the walls OF The PlrGIs to be Ievtlled with
the earth; the OF Ehtbes weep the ruin of
their country -Emiiianus sheds tear over the
ashes Of Carthage, because he foresses that baba-
iians Will one day sack the palaces OF Rome, her
gorgeous monuments be consigned 10 the flames,
her children pining wiki famine, crowd her streets
begging for RELIEF death. Man was yet unac-
quainteJ with true happiness. The sublime theory
q rights and re possibilities vet uuknown.-
Whilst nations defended, the rights OF ndi-
VdualS unrr teCitd.
Il would that tie English first abored sue
cessiuy for the rights OF man. Their ancient Char
fer, wresied from the hands OF John, and their pro-
gress through succeeding ages to the time of the
revolution, Vrovet at we should regard Them az the
discOverers ofthe great pal lc i system. IRE An
go American is compelled 10 admit that the light
which he received from bis ancestors has since
guided him in the con- est, and conduc' ed him to
tie haven where he reFo-e, undeT the shelter OF
Our situation is still more advantageous We
derry redistribution from the Xperience OF the virtues
and vices of eiXty-two centuries. The unanimity
Of he Swiss, The constarcy of the Ho!!anders, the
prudence of the North Americans, the a,rocities OF
me Preach revolution, the factions OF the Belgian
provinces, and even those OF our own soil, afford
examples 10 initiate or avoid.
This day the great American Congress, which is
70 be council in the hour OF conflict, the faithful
Interpreter Of treaties, mediator in domestic con-
teniions and which is charged with the formation
OF our new body of international law has been or
ganizeI and invested with all the powers compe-
tent 20 attain the important and dgnihed end for
which il il convoked. All the precious materials
are prepared u our hand. A world regards our
lab0urs with the deepest attention From .de most
powerful monarch, 10 the hunbest peasant OF the
Southern Continent, no one views task with
Indifference. This will be the last opportunity
for the attempt to prove that man be happy.
My friends the field of glory rodden by Boil
car, San yBartjH, O'Higgi2S, Guadeiupe, lies
open to Our names be recorded either
with eternal honor or perpetual shame. Let
then proudly stand forth the representatives OF
millions Of freemen, and inspired with noble
comp AGENCY as-imilate ourselves to The Creator
himself hen he first gave laws to the Universe
Animated with celestial fire, and looking slea-
Oily and with reverence TO the Author OF our Be-
ing, difficulties the most appalling shrink into
iusignhcance The basis of our confederation is
firm Peace tUith the tchOie UOTld; respect for
European governments, even where their political
principles are dramatically opposed 10 those ac-
knowledged in America; free commerce with all
nations, and dWinutlOn Of lmposis the trade
Of such as have acknowledged our independence;