Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-07
TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE ENQUIRER


Your European Correspondent, Agrcoa," is right
in saying, that the Rev Sidney Smiths Petition con.
tans sentences calculated "raise the hair on eyerv
American head on end" Truly is this Petition are
markable producton-a tissue of msstatement and
sander-of ignorance and mpudence, which no friend
to our country read without feeling his blood boil
within him. Are Englishmen really ignorant Of the
relations between States and General Government
or do they, "Agrcola supposes harbor secret en-.
nifty against us, which be satisfied with nothing
short OF our dsunlon disgrace in the eyes Of Euro
peans? When their money loaned 10 one Of our
States acting alone its authority and credit
they must have known that the National Government
was in way responsible for its repayment The
pledge of the State was all they had 10 secure them;
and they might with as much justice petition our Go
vernmen to pay a bankrupt merchants debts as peti
ton her to make good the debts of the States
What renders the impertlnence Of such petitions the
more glazing, the assumption, that reputation will be
resorted to by the States the best expedent 10 rid
themselves of debt. Have they any warrant for such
opinion Every paper they get from this side Of the
Atlantic phaically denounces the doctrine of reuu.
datlon-and true accounts are given of popular
timent here foreigners must have learned that such
doctrine was utterly repugnant to almost every Amer
heart. If Mississippi, refuses meet some of her
bonds, this refusal proceeds from disincnaon to
pay just and honest debts, but upon the ground that
these bonds are not properly hers Bare faced repudi.
alton is not sanctioned by the State. There too much
pride and honesty in the bosom of every citizen Of our
acceptance &c Ii-
recty uproots all faith between and man. thereby
destroying every principle upon whch the safety and
improvement of society depend. This, too, is the ex-
pressed sentiment OF oil our papers, the true expo.
nents OF American opinion on subjects of morality
How is 1t, then, that Eng shmen pretend 10 believe I'VE
nation of regulators and swinders INABILITY of
some OF the States TO discharge their obligations punc
ually, connected with the conduct of Missjssipp cam
not be urged as sufficient to establish such belief
when it known that the whole people grow INDIGNANT
nt hare ma nOfa
must know this Every newspaper of ours tells ,ben
SO. Their ignorance is either fegned or wilful De-
pend upon it, the surface OF such petitions does NOT
disclose The whole meaning of these men, Abouoh
is apparent to them, that every State is slruoono IN
make provision for the payment of their debts and that
every bond will be ultimately redeemed; vet. the.e
petitioners choose TO say to The world that no sncb de.
sign is entertained Instead of waiting upon distressed
creditors until more prosperous fortune shall enable
them, they intend to do 10 discharge eyerv oblioa
tion the cry is raised and trumpetted abroad. that
swindng and fraud have been practsed and that The
nation is disgraced Poor Re ubcans! your dav of
grace has passed-In very shame hang your heads,
when foreigner is nigh
Now, if Ensllshmen know. as they assuredly do,
that reputation finds sanction an,onp US wby do
they put forth scandal: Does il serve them eny pur
pose? Farrly 1t does. They will no, scruple to use
whatever means they devise niure us in the old
World. That IS the secret Of their dongs Jealousy
Of young Republic that rises continually higher
threatening to overshadow the monarchies Of Europe,
instigaes them TO every dark deed which will tend 10
check growth This is bu, Of piece with their con
duet in regard TO abolition in the South, Oh if they
could but prejudice oil Europe against us, and could
then carry forward their schemes of divisions among
ourselves, their work would be finished. They wan,
country to have her free institutions and happy peo
pie, placed aoft in The world living and fearful
proach TO their Government and the condition of their
people.
Great Britain, in her past and present condition,
furnishes spectacle worthy of the closest attention
and examination. Immense power and vast influence,
have given her an ascendency, which few nations en-
JOY. The statesman will naturally inquire, what use
has been made of these. The answer embodes a fund
of interest and instruction. which were we'll for Us
all TO understand consciousness of her importance,
together with the working ofinsatiable ambilion has be