Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-04-07

vide the opinions of men. Principles, unhapply,
are too often the subject of controversy. But no.
torious facts are ncontestible. They speak Lam
guage which silences all speculation, and should
determine the judgment and the conduct of States,
whatever may be the school in which their rulers
were brought up or practised, and whatever the
social forms which they would desire TO see estab-
shed. And it is to the voice Of such facts that
Europe and America are now called upon patiently
to listen.
and, in contemplating the present state OF the
war, what are the circumstances which must for
chilly strike every rejecting observer? Though
out Doth continents, from the western limits of the
United States TO Cype Horn, the Spanish power
is subdued. Thefecent decisive victory Of Aya-
chuco has annihlated the last remains Of the Spa
nish force. Dot foot of territory, in all thai.
vast extent, owns the dominion, not bayones
sus'ains the cause. of Spain. The war, in :ruii,
has ended. II has been a war between contract.
ed corner OF Europe, and entire continent.
between ten millions Of people, amidst their own
extraordinary commissions, fighting, a, distance.
across an ocean OF three thousand miles in extent,
against twenty millions, cont ending at home, for
their lives, their liberty, and their property-
Henceorward, it will presen; only the image OF
a w'r between an exhausted dwarf, struggling for
power and empire, against refreshed giant, COM
Dating Tor freedom and exis,eace. Too much con
hdence is reposed in the enlightened Judgment OF
ms Imperial Majesty, 20 allow OF the belief that
ne VIII permit any abatement of his desire TO see
such war formally terminated, and the blessings
OF peace restored, from sympathies which he may
ieei, however strong, for the unhappy condition o;
SPAN. These very sympaihies will naturally lead
MS imperial Majesty 10 give her the best and most
friendly advice in her actual posture. And in wha.
does that consist? His Imperial Majesty must b.,
me exclusive, as he is the most competent Judge.
But II will not be deemed inconsistent with respecr
10 inquire, it ii be possible TO believe that Spain
can bring the new States again under her don,in-
ION! " here does the remotest prospect of her
success break ont! In Colombia, Mexico, or Pc
ru The re-conquest of the United States by
Great Britain would not be more mad ard hone
less enterprise than that of the restoration of the
spanish power on those continents. Some of the
most considerable of the new States have es.ab-
!ished goyernmenis, which are IN fvu and sue
ces-ful opeetion, regularly collecting large reve-
nues, ieyy%g and maintaining numerous and well
appointed afmies. and already laying the founda-
lions OF respectable marines. Whilst they >ars
consolidating their institutions at home, they are
strengthening themselves abroad by treaties of al
lance among themselves, and of amity and com
merce with foreign States. Is the vain hope in
dulged that intestine divisions within the new
States will ariss, which may lead TO the recall of
The Spanish power, the Stuarts were recalled I'm
OF their respective rev olutionso
We should no, deceive ourselves. Amidst an.
me political changes, OF which the States
be m 81 S9n s fs aversion w from
all political connection with Spain and an uncon-
quesable desire of independence. II could not be
otherwise. They have already tasted the fruits oe
independence. And the contrast between what
'heir condition now Is, IN the possession Of free
commerce, liberal institutions, and all the facui-
ties OF their country, and its population allowed
luii physical and moral development, and what il
was under Spain. cramped. dehaseti, and degraded.
must be fatal to the chmerical hope OF that monsr-
chy' II u be cherished, by any means whatever 10
re- establish her power. The cord which binds =
colony TO Its parent country, being once broken,
Is never repaired. recollection OF what was
ihiic'ea ana what was borne, during the existence
OF that relation, The pride of the former governing
power, and the sacrifices Of the interests of the
colony TO those OF the parent, widen, and render
the breach between them, whenever il occurs, per-
petusL And il, as we may justly suppose, the
embftered feelings excited by an experience OF
that unequa! connection, are in proportion to the
severity OF the parental rule, they must operate
with Irresistible force the rupture which has
taken Place between Spain nnd her Colonies, since
In no other instance has it been exerted with SUCH
uDrnitigaed rsor.
viewing the war as practically terminated, co.
iaF at lenSt as relates to Spanish exertion on ,b
continent; IN considering the third branch of The
inquiry which proposed let US endeavor TO anti
cipa'e "hat may be expected to happen, if Spain
onshna'ey rerseveres IN the refusal 10 conclude a
peace. At the war has only q nominal continuance.
'he new ltepubllcs cannot dis5and their victorious
armies without cupable neglect of all the raxims
ci prudence and piecaution. And the first o.,ser-
Yaion that occurs il, that this pToiraced war must
totally change ITS character and its objects In
stead OF being of offensive operations. in
which Spain has been carrying on os,ilities in The
bosom OF The new States, it will become one 10 her.
oil defensive nature, in which ell her future exer-
tons must be directed TO the protection and defence
oil her remaining insular possessions And thus
the Peninsula instead OF deriving the revenue ana
the aid so necessary 90 the revival of its prosper
ity, from Cuba and Porto Eico, must be further
drained 10 succoi those islands. For cannot be
doubted, that the new States, will direct their
combined and unemployed forces TO the reduction
OF those valuable islands They will naturally
strike their enemy wherever they can reach him.
And they will be stimulated to the attack by the
double motive arising from the richness of the
prize, and from The fact that those islands confti-
tuie the rendezvous OF Spain, where are concen-
,rated, and from which issue, all The means of ar
nOying them which remain TO her The success of
the enterprise is by no means improbable. Their
proximity 10 the Islands, and their armies being
perfectly accmaied, will give 10 the united efforts
Of the Republic great advantages. And, if witt,
these be taken into the estimate the important and
well known fact, that large portion of the inhs-
bitants of the islands is predisposed 10 separation
from Spain, and would, therefore, form power
ful auxiliary to the Republican arms, their success
becomes almost certain. Bot even if they SHOULD
prove incompetent 10 the reduction Of the islsals.
there be but Little doubt that the shattered r.
mains OF Spanish commerce, would be swept from
the ocean. The advantages Of the positions of
Colofnlyia and Mexico for annnvinc tbs, c,r,,. 49,.