Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-13
Mathe ws G. II Jan. OH, 1898.
Ernm lie Ear lErSf

We protest against the annexation Of Canada-I'u the
South, we would not advance an inch beyond the Rio
del Norte-AS far as the legitimate limits of LOUISIANA,
and no fnrther-As lar as Mr.. Jefferson acquired for US,
and there we would stop.-But The writer has more ex-
banded views of our destinies-Wc think he has mista-
ken the interests Of the American System:
OUR DESTINY.
Many years since, | wrote all article for your paper,
which you had the goodness TO puLlisl-l now send you
another, which you can dispose Of as you think proper.
There is a question at present ugilated III all parts of the
world, and 1t is this, whether an Englisllman, u French.
man, or an American, is the greatest man, and which
hus the greatest country: 1t is u grave inquiry, and
will not be answered until the year Of the world G3j0,
which will give 10 The North American Republic, from
the foundation Of the colonies. the aye of the Roman
Empire in the AuguStan era. England has had her 400
years since The grOans Of The Brlons-l do not pretend
10 be strictly accurate, with respect TO dates-Frauce has
had her 1900 years since her Clovis; her 1000 since
Charlcmngnc, and why shall we not be allowed our 1872
years, the length Of time a. u. {. To A. ID. for the de.
velupenent OF our greatness: Time is an element, and
we must have it allowed 10 us, in order that we may exhl.
bit our 6oundarieS, our strength, our resources. We have
our Alps, not the Alleghanes, but the Rocky Mountains,
that lit up their heads 10 The heavens, like mount Athos
in The days OF Ncrxes. AS the a ps Of Europe have been
passed by 4 llanuibal-u Charlrmusne-a Napoleon; so
our Alps must be passed. And here arise many inqui-
ries. (By the way, perhaps you don't believe that Char.
lemagne ever passed the Alps. II is Of no consequence,
whether you do or not if you do not contradict il, your
readers will believe it. Who shall pass our Alps !:
Hannibal passed over from Africa 10 Spain-or rather
The CarlhaginIans did-and were led by Hannibal over
the Pyrenees, through GauI, over the Alps, and into The
heart OF Italy. VIII our a lps ever Je passed from West
to East: Will the mighty Empire Of Russia ever plant
her Eagles OH the Oregon? Will the star-spangled Ban.
ncr give projection to innunierable cities, towns, vii
lages-nay, 10 vast States and Provinces, leeming with
millions Of ireemcn, west of the Rocky Mountains /;
Shall the hills Of The West be covered with The locks
and The herds OF those, whose hearts beat quicker at The
sound Of the cheering notes OF Yankee Doodle Or,
will the uillS brvoud The Rucky Maintains re-rcho Tho
fierce war.cry Of the CusSack OF the Don :-IempuS
Omnin Tcreat.
Sixty-onc years have passed away, since we assumed
our position among the great family OF nations. | have
nothing 10 say Of our progress since that time leave
that To be said BY every body as II is on all occasions.-
We differ from the Romans in this respect. We bOGst of
our greatness, and are JcalOus Of rivals: Rome insisted on
her greatness as a thing not to be questioned, and would
admit n no TiraiS. Our course Is marked with some.
thing like yoaijut (oi!y-lhat Of Rome by cruelty and
injustice. Aye and experience, trust, will give US The
lmodesIv Of strength, in the place OF the blusle ring Of 4
braggart. We should not boast Of what we are, or have
done, so long as my thing remains In be done. What
We have donc is nothing, compared will, what we mast
90. If we we're a people occupying some small district
of country, surrounded by great and powerful nations,
we might content ourselves with pericclIng our lnslitu.
lions, aud advancing as other nations advanced in The
arts of civilization aud refinement. But that is not our
condition. We have responsibilities resting on US,
which are without a parallel in the annals OF mankind
Look at the map. What vast country from the South
Glh SdPCO ~ q iOlidt ~ ' - Jul u w lit i IL
ciiic Ocean, al the 18th degree OF North Latitude, and
from Cape OxIord TO the Bay Of Fundy.-On our North
lies another vast country. embracing the British posses
sions up to the polar regions; on our South, Texas, pre-
sentinr as its Southern boundary that great river, the Ito
Del N"rto. J." Conveying the vast country, extending
from the 2U deg, n. lat, to the polcs-considering the
variety and richness Of its soils, climates, and pruduc.
tions-thc character Of its inhabitanIs-the various go
r-rnments-thc present condition Of Europe, with It's
dense population-the spirit OI enterprise that is abroad
in the civilized world-the facilities for emigration our
relation 20 the States Of the new world-our decided su.
prrlority-the adaptation OF our institutions, 10 nations
Just emerging from the colonial state, 10 freedom and
national Independence, one Is led 10 ask the question,
WHAT DESTINY SHALL We CHOOSE:
Never before was 4 young nation So situated, in re.
ference 10 the general happiness Uf mankind. Shall
we advance? Shall we remain stationary ? Shall we
reccde National glory and the happiness CT mankind
require that we should not stop, but 60 on-yes,
go on Wy 4 system, TO be called truly The .1mcri.
can Sgsilm. In doing this, we may expect Jealous.
les, contentious, and, sometimes perhaps, war;
Yet wc should 90 on in national aggrandizemeni, fix
ing no other bounds TO our just ambition, than justice,
esd a strict regard 10 the great principles oil information.
al law. Already we are charged with being 'un aspir.
ing RepuLtic." Let the charge be we'll founded. We
oughi. 10 aspire. IF at The same time that we observe the
laws of nations, justice 10 all mankind, and regard strict.
~ our treaties, we can advance in territories, in mum.
bers, in honor, in power and wealth, shall we not do it;
| say this, not 10 those in power, but 10 the American
people, as a sentiment TO be held by all. The entertain
ing of il, need not induce US to engage in the civil wars
That agitate our %neighbors, but simply TO prepare our
selves, and our Government, as emergencies may arise,
10 extend our power, anu spread still wider our laws, our
fotm of government and our institutions. Let our motto
be, ''scc"nd to none in justice, or power, or national go-
ry.' Why should we fall short Of Rome, OF France,
Of England: Shall we look with Indifference upon The
history of that Empire, that, al one lime, extended from
the mouth OF the Rhine 10 the Black Sea, and embraced
the whole of the South Of Europe, all Asia Minor,
Egypt. and indeed most Of the northern nations Of Aifi-
ca: 1t is true, that most Of the countries which were
| ,mJ,,,od y;I;p tba l,riJ, RI Tho Roman Fu,piro
subjected by conquest: but it must be recollectcd, that
The conquered nations were barbarlars, and that The ad.
vance of the Roman power, was the march ut cIviliza-
lion. The ancient state OF society was 4 stale OF war,
and the Romans only followed the example of tho Assy.
rians, the Egyptians, the Persians, aud The Greeks.
On the subject OF extending their power, il may be re-
marked for the Romans, that when we shall find a mo-
dern nation that is free from the same charge, | will be
prepared TO give up her example for any purpose; but
until then, ] shall refer 10 il, merely rs worthy Of imi-
talion, so far as she kept constantly in view the increase
Of her glory and ~power-and not as 10 the means to
which she resorted. Let our advance not be by Often
siye wars, by injustice, fraud or violcnce-but let it be
by adding 10 our commerce, our wealth a. home, and
10 our territOricS, tcheRcrcr emergencies may arise
That the country North Of us, is to be some day, with
the consent Of the government of Great Britain, free,
there il no doubt. II will be an event which will hap
| pen in the ordinary course of things. That it may be
affected at some period, SO as TO annex il to our republic,
By friendly negotiation between US and Great Britain,
there is no doubt. Why not do it? Why not have our
Republic bounded by the polar seas: Russia is 50
bounded. But while say this, do not mean to be
understood, as wishing American citizens 10 luke any
part in the Canadian troubles. That is not consistent
with a strict regard to justice between US and Great
Britain. Let us acquire II by treaty, or in the event Ola
disconnec,ion between it and the mother country by the
consent of The latter, let it be admitted into the Comic.
deracy-And then, the Northern statesmen will consent
to the admission of Texas. Then the republic viii! be
balanced-thr ~icebergs Of The North, will tend 10 cool
the burning sands Of The South. Let this be oor
policy, take Texas when we may, always waiting until
Territory when we can get it. Let this be our policy, |
repeat-uur uyowed p~olicy-our national feeling. Let
US have, when we can honestly get it, all the cacant
ground that ndjoins as. Whatharm will this du' win
Il iniure 100, UUU 600 Of people, 10 worship God as they