Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-09-10
A CONFEDERATE REPUBI.IC

An essaylst IN a neighbOring print has drawn n
very interesting sketch of the beautiful country of
Iexas-contends, that under the general terms ofour
purchase of Louisiana from France, "it fairly and
legally belongs to us as a necessary aud inseparable
right"-ands quints at its immediate and forcible oc-
cupatIon ny tile government of the United States
% amrms mat =" The common principles which re-
Su'ate social order, vest a positive title i'm the United
o,a,es; ana IN assuming this province, we stretch
with the strong arm of power, no dubious eouity.
anu violate no truth either of moral or national law.
The sole obstacle which can be raised TO our posses-
SION, Is that expediency which surrenders public
ren. 10 ,he iear OF war. vi this, there can he no
apprehension; for a bold and decisive assrmption of
our rights would ipso Eacto preclude any violation of
our possession."-He adds, that 90 the Southern
portion OF our Union, the possession ofiliis province
Is oi ihestimaDie advantage. 1t is n land Of slavery
anu IT'S staple productions, sugar and cotton. must
ana Will require a constant supply of slave labor
we cannot agree with the intelligent Essayisr, in
the policy which he recommends. The Western
boundary line of Louisiana has since been adjusted
10y Treaty; and though Mr.. Adams NAV have made q
bad bargain for us, yet we cannot ~ripitfullv disturb
lis obligations and extend our landmarks. If we
could OBTAIN 1t by fair purchase or arrangement with
Mexico, we should hail the acquisition with no less
pleasure tham M" himself. And is there not some
reason to believe, that the present administration has
kept IFS eagle eye upon The object, and made more
than one attempt to obtain ii 10y negotiation: We
know not what destiny is reserved i'm the womb of
lime Tor the citizens of Texas. No eve can pene-
uu'e ue Nell-nOr can the most acute politician ure-
DICT, what IS TO be the result of those revolutionary
elements, which are hidden in her own bosom-hoyy
long she viii continue united TO the ancient country
OF montezuma-how far she may be prepared TO es-
t"o'ish her own Independence, or to seek a politi-
cal union with the American Confederacy.
But when we took up the pen, it was not so much
to cri'lcise the policy of the Essayist, as to examine
the following Positions:
there is more OF ingenious sarcasm, Than Of practical
rum IN the Leading conceit of Montesquieu OH republics
Tie believes that a small territory is the natural state nj a
republic, but with an extensive country it csnno, Ions sui,.
'is'' Ills casuistry is based OH the accs ptation OF the term.
rePuhhc, dependant alone for It's meaning OH the auesiona.
BILE democracies Of antiquity. The complex. ye, .iuuI.
system oil our eo'Dederoted Union. H. rather benefited II,,n
INJURED oy an extent Of territory. There may be danger
ih 10 'e'hshness OF local and sectional jealousy, vet this
feeling Restraints the ruinous intrigue Of Court faction. and
PIicity."
Inc writer seems TO us rather to have mistaken
MohiesquIeus opinions, upon this very subject. The
frenchman does not altogether disagree with the
American, upon the beauties ofConfederatiye Repub-
lies, and the capacity ofthe system, to adapt itseJfio an
extensive territory. The following is extracted from
the Spirit OF Laws, Vol. /. Book tx. Chap. /:
at is very probable, that mankind would have bse,
obliged, at length, 10 live constantly under the 20, e,n.
ment OF a SINGLE person. had they not conrrived a Kind Of
constitution that has all the internal advantages OF = re
puhiiran, together with the external force of : monarcIi.
cal governments: ! mean a confederate repubiic.
rms form OF government is = convention, by which
'evera' smaller States agree to become members of a lar.
IVY iNtH w IDFm. Ill III "A Kind nj a..
semb'age OF societies, that constitutes a new one. ranabie
OF increasing by means OF new associations, till thew ar.
rive u such q degree OF power as to be able 10 provide for
the security OF the united body. N WI
"a republic Of This kind, able TO withstand al ex,er,.,
lorce, may support itself without any internal rorrun,ion
me form oil this society prevents all manner of neon.
vcpiences. "N0
TIA single member should attempt TO usurp the su.
Preme authority, he could not he supposed to have an
essq"a' authority and credit in all the confederate States
were ne 10 nave Too great iDfpenc over one, this would
alarm 'he rect. Were he TO subdue a part, that winch
won'u sun remain free might oppose him with forces.
independent OF those which he had usurped, and oyerpow.
er hlm before he could be settled iD his usurpation.
"onould a popular insurrection happen in one Of the
confederate States, the others are able 10 quell il. Should
abuses creep into one part, they are reformed bv tbose
mat remain sound. The State may be DESTROYED n, ons
side, and not on the other: the confederscy NAV no a.
solved, and the confederstes preserve their sovereigutv
AS thls government Is composed Of small republics
II enjoys the internal happiness Of each, and with resneci
TO its external situation, IL Is possessed, by means Of The
association, OF an the advantages OF large monatchies
But there IS another view of the matter. We
ought never to forget that since the days of Monies
quieu, ana SINCE we laid the foundation of our own
constitution, the capacities of Federatc Republics
nave oeen indefinitely enlarged by the progress of
In'ernai Inprovement-RaiLroad have been in
vented The arm Of "Gigantic Steam" Inns been
employed to level physical distractions. Canals
nave been extended-rivers have been opened
me wish ofibe lover is no longer confined 10 the
nj n D~ze l~a H.s--