Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-24

Constitution, which divides the powcfs cf government
INTO general and local. that each State shalt be pro
tectcd In It's external and foreign relations while Il is
len TO seek its welfare in lis own way This sys
tenn so peculiarly American, which harmoiizcs the con
fictng interests Of many and such distant States il
tue eici cause OF our prosperity, security tranquility
ahu long continued peace. Sever this Union destroy
inns Federal system, and you blot out the sun of
liberty, which had Just risen dark aud benighcd
world; you cut away the anchor of Hope and drive the
nations once more into the of experiment.
without chart or compass TO guide them in their de-
V,ous course The welfare of our children and of our
chureh children TO tile latest generation the cNpec
taiion OF all the nations of the Garth depend ON the
preservation of this Constitution the pcrpctuv Of
this Union The world rapidly approaching am era of
great convusiors The people throughout the earth are
about to vindcate their right 10 Observation-Disclosures
right to make laws not for their masters but for their own
welfare. The next contest in Europe will be war
not between prncipalitcs and powers but between tho
people and their rulerskings and their subjects Tb,
contest Is close Mt handBe not deceived by the calm
now pervadng that brilliant, glorious but Inflated land
On the death of Frederick the Great the continental sys
tenn the balance ofpower had been completed and eve
~ thing indicated long continuance of peace and tbe
supremacy of the divine right of Kings but suddenly
the French Revolution burst upon them like volcano
ana by ITS terrible throes and commissions shook the ma
lions TO their deep foundations. 1t swept like destroy
ing angel over the continent the lives of men, were as
gtasShoppers, and their blood was poured ont Ike water
IN the streets and i'll the fields tyrant cngendered in
oo09 ana rose upon the ruins of the revolution
ana bowed the nations beneath the iron yoke of most
cruel bondage That tyrant has allen-bound TO bar
rem rock, IN mid ocean, he pinned like a sel..consnmng
cormorant wasted away, and wthered from the earth
and the people, exhausted and dsprtcd have returned
10 ther former allegiance t, sir, have they sunk
INTO mat dead calm Of ignorance and indifference
winch once pcrvaded the nations of Europe? Have
me terrible scenes, the mighty COMMISSIONS which pass
ed IN such rapid succession before them for the last
or,y years, made no abiding impression Have they
forgotten the days OF unbrided thought and unre-
strained liberty: Has the idea Of equality and citizen
snip passed as dream from their deluded vision Is the
aselose hymn never heard in the borders of France:
iihs he Iyrolese song of freedom ceased to echo
through the Alpine wales? Is the Andalusion meyer
of ,l,
spirit OF Poland departed! And shall the home of De-
mosthenes and the land of Cicero sleep forever? Eu-
rope SIR Is on the eve OF another Revolutions monachs
remhlc and are perplcxed with fear of change The
multitude will no longer be controlled The Ight oc
truth has at ieEgh penetrated the deep gloom which
S''"oueu ilein Tor so many generations. They have
cce taught their rights, and viii them or perish
IN The attempt America has set the example and has
solved the great problem in political science that man il
capable OF selEgovernmcnt Towards us sir the mn
ions oi the earth locking with great expecntion
ana deep soleltude To America they look as did the
israeltes IN captivity toward the promised land Here
they hnd beaconlght guide the IN through the rough
shoals over which they have pass-thc star of Hone
beainng gadness ON their benghled path And shall
we, IN our folly extngush the beaconght and pluck
! from The ornament the star of Hone: Think not
en- that these are the idle rawlings of heated fancy
nat man must be short-sighted indced-ignorant of
e very elements OF political prescence who does moi
perceive That we have approached period teemino
with great evenfsthat age of maturity ever crit;c S
,he history OF nations A of hardy men, simple in
hablts, frugal in expenditure, and viruuus in life has
passed away and another nurtured in and luxury
! no
wrought the mighty works of the Revolution were train
cd by adversely to deeds of daring, and by poverty
70 paueht endurance OF every hardship. Scornng
ne OF vassalage to foreign power they prodga
OF their own blood and treasure purchase freedom for
uelr sons But that wise, prudent and virtuous gene
ration have all been gathered their fathers and
new generation has grown that know not the MIGHTY
works that donc-that know not the cost Of fs,
hnerty they enloy-and have been taught in the
school OF poverty and necessity the lessons of prudence
irugality and virtue Nations sir are like men The
youth that born to fortune will die beggar The re
neraon that is born and nurlured in peace
ana abundance viii be wasteu of their resources care
less OF the future prodga of liberty and will pass away
IN dissensions conmotion and revolution Sir do Won
not marx the signs OF the times and is there one so g
norant as to attribute the dcgencracy of the arc TO
single cause-to single man, n single administration
OF the Government Have we not lone since rov
less OF the institutions handed down to us by our for
theirs, regardless of their admonons and wasefil and
prodlgal OF our liberty? Has influx of foreign men
manners produced centious immortality among the
yonhi and relaxation in the bonds vrtuous socic
/ W. H9s not am empty and hungry philosophy filled our
minds with vanity and engendered restless spirit am
bilious OF change and new things Are the fountains
OF knowledge corruped-lnd eminent men ooadcd on
oy grasPing spirit of avorice and ambition? When
you see hese things, sir, well may you look with anx-
ious iorebodngs to the future well may YOU cxcloim
od grant that this generation may hand down TO others
those Institutions which they received pure and nncor
rupted from their ancestors And sir there i no b
unless we resolve in this hour of reckless speculation
70 suer nothing to impair their force pervert their
meaning Unless resolve give greater heed 10 ibe
solemn warnings of fathers before they took thnir
departure, to join the shadowy band of ancient heroes
resolve to practice their own stern yirtueand re
gard the Institutions they have given us consecraed bv
their own blood, the paLaiaa Of our liberty TO be
guarded forever resta fire. the rock of oar sairato
nerer to be abaadoned Would they could be permted
TO return from the spirits land and visit us their chill
orc once more like guardian angels would they hover
around us this day and repeat the solemn warning
give the same solemn admonton, They would attend
Us IN our solitary walks--speak to in our nightly
vlsionsand like the Father of Hamlet turn aside the
ven OF futury and point the dreadful
OF departure from the lessons they have taught usan
abandonment OF the inheritance they bequeathcd US
(DEBATE 10 be Continued