Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-28


cre,ary OF ihe Sia'e 10 the President OF The u
niitd States, communicate do the House of Re
personalities with the Presidents Message, on
Friday the l7th inst.
Extracts Of q letter from .s1r..9ainnzs, Sceyet1
~ If lStat>, "a Mr.. anderson, Minister PIE
''tpofeattaTy 30 Colombia, dated 2T,h Meg,
1929.
" The revolution which has severed the colo
MES OF Spanish America from European ,hrslslon,
and left them 10 form sclf-dependent sovernn
as members Of The society Of civilized nations,
Is among the rnost important events in mo-
dern history a. a general movement in hu
man affairs, ii IS perhaps more than devotion
ueni Of principles FIRST Brought into action by the
separation OF these States from Great Britain, and
bg the practical illustration given in the formation
and establishment OF our Union, 10 the doctrine
that voluntary agreement is the OILY LEGITIMATE
source OF authority ainung men and that ali Jus,
government is a compact. II wac impossible ina;
such system as Spain had established over her
colonies, should stand before the progressive i'm
provenent OF the understanding in this are or that
the light shed uron the whole earth by the results
OF our evolution, should leave in utter darkness
the regions Immediately adjoining upon ourselves.
The Independence of the Spanish colonies, how
ever, has proceeded from other causes, and has
been achieved upon principles in many respects
different from ours. In our Revolution tie priuci-
p!s Of the social compact as from the beginning,
in immediate issue. II originated in question ol
right between the government in Europe and The
subject in America. Our Independence was de
clarel in defence Of our liberties, and the attempt
to make the yoke yoke Of oppression, ,7es the
cause and the Justification for casting il of.
Therevoluiion of the Spanish colonies was not
caused by the oppression under which they had
been held, however great it had besn. Their in
dependence was first forced upon them b, the
temporary subugation of Spain herself TO a foreign
power. They were by that even, cast upon them.
selves, ard compelled 10 establi.i, government,
Of their own. Spain, through all the vicissitudes o
Ter own revolutions, has cung 10 tie desperai ho,,s
ofretaning, Of retaining them 10 her own
control; and has waged, TO the extent OF her pow.
er, disastrous war TO that intent In the mind oil
every rational man, Il as been Tor years apparent
that Spain can never succeed to recover her do
innon where it has been abjured, nor is it probs.
bic that she can.long retain the small reninunt o.
her authority set ackno wlcdge1 in some spots o
The South American continent.
The political course Of the United States, from
! The first dawning OF South American Indeper-
ience, has 5cea s1ch as was prescribed by tbej
relative Duties 20 all The parties Being on items q
peace and arniy with Spain through all the chan.
gcs 81 bef own government they havecorsi1cre,
the struggles Of the colonies IL. independence a.
case Of civil war, 10 With their national olliga
tons pre- critel 20 u'en o remain neutral. Their
policy, their interest, and their feelirga, all con
CURED II favor tho cause ofthe colonies; and III,
; principles cpon which the right Of independence,
has been maintained by tie Sonth American Pa
/ triots, have been approved moi only as iden,ica
sith those upon which our own independence ,ya.
asserted ard achieved, but as involving the Who'll,
AcoTy Of goyehnmenf, on the cmpha,icalIy Anne
rican Foundation OF the soyercigntJ Of the peoplc
and the unalisnahle rights Of man. To cause
repo'ing vpon abis basis, The people Of Ibis coun-
! Try never con'd be Indifferent end their symps-