Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-10-05

and religious liberty, from whence wili oe on ~,
fused that light and hat virtue wi,icn WIN Ill
timaiely break down the strong holds oil desPo-
tism overiurn The ihroaes Of tyrants, dlspel lne
illusions of super ,tlion aud idolatry and es'ao'
lsh univ' rsal llbsrty
Think you, my cuunrynen, tnal ms - .ne
only spct on God Alniehty's spacious rai'I,
where free institutions Gao DC susaineoi NUN
you, that We, constituting bnl about t"en'y w, -
min. hundred millions OF people inhaoh'ns ~,
earth, were designed by Almighty W!suom 90
power 10 be The sole depcsila;ies ana e1esus
beDe6caries Of liberiy2 No, my couh''ym.n,
Liberty is 100 benevolent in lis olJec,s, snu ".
expansive in its inhueLces 10 DC cobnhGu
walled city, or a narrow spot OF eanh. LED On
by Divine Providence. i!s march IS onwai',
and oil be onward until il shall achieve, by ~
benth.enl operations. The conquest oil Inc @ci.u.
As well nigh, The opponents oil Tree lnsulul'ons
attempt 10 grasp the sporlivc lightning 10 rs WIG
career-turn aside, in its rapid descent Inc 'ei.
rifle thunderboit-s Up The turbulent curien' VI
the mighty MississiPpi-dfy up the waters .. W,
bounds S, Ocean, or put oat The l'sn OF Inc n''s"s
and glowing sum- whose warm ana esh'ai iaJo
are now pouring upon ns, as 70 atlrs' .,e..
march or prevent their hnal triompn. ihei
progress may be checked lur time, ou' lhe''
success is certain.
The arguments deduced by The opponents OF
these acquisitions, from the overthrow Of me
Grecian and Roman Republics will not apply
The ancient Grt eks and Romans were not 'he
equals of our modern Americans, either IN VIZ
tue intelligence or devotion to The principles OF
liberty; nor did they, when they made acquisi-
lions OF territory, like US, incorporate lnem lnlo
their own system upon terms oil equaluy. Inc
Acquisitions OF Greece and Rome, were by con.
ques!, and The conquered provinces were all
held as tributaries, subjec, 10 the most rlgld
enacti1ns and tyrannuus expressions. MOI
80 with US, the territories which we nave ac-
quired were all acquired by voluntary an.
nexainn or purchase, and have been, ana VIII
BE- incorporated INTO he Union, asiree, sovereign
and independent States, upon footing OF exact
equality with the original Sales, each having lis
own sovereign independent local government
adapted 10 its internal wants. The provinces OF
Greece and Rome had no such local govern
mems, but were subjected in all things 10 sin.
gle central government. II Greece and Rome
| had adopted The same policy with their conquer
| ed, thai We have with cur acquired territories,
| these Republics nigh; now have been enjoying
| happy and prosperous existence Ine difference IN
| The Two cases 10 10 be found in the imm-nse dll
| ference between h. Two systems. There is but
sin.!e cause that can leopard the success OF cur
| conedetated republican system and prevent lis
| final triumphant success; and that IS decay IN
the virtue, intelligence and enterprise OF the peo>
pie. Here lies our danger, and here only. Let
the people continue vir uGus, intelligent and n
terp siug and con6ne The operations OF the Fede-
raj Government, strictly within their constitution
al sphere aud there is no danser-all will be we'll
Bul there is another view OF this subject, my
ccun.rylnen, Thar, in my humble view, should dis.
pei every lingering doub.. II The original thi'.
| leeu States did not lail 10 pieces by their own
weight, why should we fear any such sad result
from the present exleh. Of our ieITioGyt such
has bsen he immense Improvement in The chat
! nels OF lrads and the facilities OF netccmmunl-
cation, from the lnployoeni OF cam power. that
| 30 far as time is concerned, our boundary is
smailsr now Than then. II our Ia hers could have
iores' en- these improvements and their immense
results 10 overcoming space, they would never
have thought OIL conhnog our system 10 the mar
row Limits u he oil Ssies.
Lei Us, fellow cizen,, fJr moment, glance at
the prcsp:cls oil the Iur1Te. Lei Us lock bur hsit
a century through The vista oil IinIe, and Imagine
our wto- territory iron The Atlantic 10 The Pa
| cifc and from The 81. .awreDce 10 The Gull Of
| Mexico, divided into fee sovereign and inde-
| nieul States, with suitable and convenient
| bou ltaries, eacn with q domestic COVE eminent
suited 10 il, necessities, and all unfcd 10 ore con-
| ieacracy iorthe purpose OF ''commoa defence and
gene al wei!ate," IreGing with bold, harry,
ec,"fptisiog, ineliiseri, vlrtnous, caiva!rous
and palriolc peape. improving he aaVdpta-
ees Of their position, u, waiting The most lib
eIa sy,lem Ci icrcign and damesl'c commerce
and disseminating The tue principles OF civil
AMI religious liuar,y. Waa, splendid picture
does it pfescn, and how 81 Iols would be ils
rralizaiion! do not donoI, my counlrymen, II
we be true 10 QUE elves that TINS go destiny Is
10 store for US FMS NJ: all believe that
| these acquisitions are bIi The beginning OF those
great series Of events, By which Heaven, through
our insltunenialiY d.figns IL 2yei!ihtr1.ga ~
monccrstic on lnt American continent, and es-
iablish The empire OF lihrly.
f! Another event Of MI Folks administration,
has attracted universal attention and its result
commanded universal .dmiraton. l mean the
late war with MEXICO do no; deem il neces.
sary or proper upon this occasion, 10 enter iuto
detail OF the causes which produced that war,
or 10 discuss the question Of its justice or injus-
| tice II is now matte, Of history and will lie
| correctly judged of by he world and posterity.
That il was not only jus. but indispensably NO.
| cessary, was and is now the decided opiuiun Of
your speaker; aud this, be thinks, whom party
excitement, party animosilies and party preju-
dcss shall have passed away, and The whole
subject calmly and immrIiaIly considered, viii
be The almost universal judgment of the coun-
try. Its influence, however, has been powerful
and sautary. II has MT only added large and
valuable territory to our Union, but il has add.
ed 10 The reputation OF our country and ex.
cited the highest admiration among foreign pow
ers, for the powers of our citizen soldiery as
we'll as our soldiers Of the line To have
commenced this war with scarce six thousand
troops organized and equipped for the field,
han a,tu f,,az q haI,
| lwcny and thirty thousand men upon TIE scene
OF ac!ian, to have supplied this orce with ample
provisions ard all The materials OF war, 10 have
fought and conquered qnadruple force OF the
enemy from Pao ALTO 10 BueDa Visia's glorious
field, and irnm Vera Cruz, having first captured
the Tar famed castle OF San Juan dc Ul!oa 10 The
proud city OF the Az'ecs in so short period,
w.re achievements unequalled b. even The SOL
dieIs of the great Ma poleon the creates. master
OF The Art OF war known 10 history. Such SOL
diers, led by such officers, mrs. be inyincible.-
Before This war, our military reputation was al
The lowest ebb. twas sneered al in Europe and
even The hero Of gasconJde and defeat, the Tar
| famed Napocnn OF The Wesi, threatened 10 march
his ccnqueIipg columns from The Sabine 10
Washington and plant the Mexican cage upon
! The national capitol. Now, seeing our prowess
and our immense resources Of all The material oil
war, whether for offensive or defensive opera.
tons, there is no nation that would not hesitate
10 come into hostile collision with us, or provoke
| US To war.
This war has taught US another important
truth, aid that is, that a large standing army is
mol necessary 10 The safety or protection OF our
Tree institutions but that our citizen soldiery is
all sufficient II is now satisfactorily demon
slraled, that when The clarion Of war is sounded,
and The blast OF the busle heard, either TO repel
1sDh
patriotic citizens, enthusiastically devoled 10 our
free institutions, and burning with ardor TO vim
dica,e The honor oil ,hrit couLtrJ's flag, when in
suited, will rush 10 the field in overwhelming
numbers, and soon be prepared 10 10 all that the
best disciplined and ISL trained soldiers could
do. Stimulated by the love OF liberty, they are
capable of any endurance and OF any achieve
mcnt required by the rights and The horror of
their couutry. When We see how The people OF
o;her nations are kept 10 bondage by the ns!ru-
mentality of large standing armies, we can we'll
appreciate that condition Of things which dis.