Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-12
Outside PRESSIrRE

Adversely seems to be the only school in which wha
Is truly great or magnanimous can be lesrned-the
only theatre which the lessons which inculcatrs
can be loLg or successfully practsed. Continued (
prosperity turns the heads and corrups the hearts OF
men anu nations If not so s0on quite surely. ns
those of women How delightful it is to dwell on tlc
early history Of the Jews, the Persans, the Cnrthage-
nans the hundred little struggling States Of Greece
and OF Republican Rome. Delightful however, only
50 long fewness Of numbers, poverty of ci-cur. |
stances and outside pressure, made them simple il
their lives and manners, adventurous energetic, Wig.
lan patriotic and free from domestic feuds, currrr-
ton and civil discussions. As they became wealthy
and powerful, as prosperity advanced and outside /
pressure removed, they became corrupt, eneva.
ted dscontrned, sedous and revolutionary. We
turn with aversion from much Of their subsequent
history rs has been handed down to us. In truth,
their conduct became 80 disgusting, that no man
could be found to detail their actions, and now about
FIVE or six centuries embrace all we know, with cer
tainty of ancient history-and probably, all mat is
worth knowing. From Herodotus to Tacilus may be
long interval, but there is gap in ancient history
from the times of Alexander to the Punic wars.
ROME under the Empire, presents partial excep-
ton to our theory but Rome had then every where
extended her domains TO the confines Of beligerent
barbarians who kept up al "outsde pressure on
the Empire sufficient 10 prevent dsneinbermen, but
not active enough to keep out corruption, When
she ceased 20 h; those barbarans, and attempted 10
pension them ufl she precptated her fall. We hard
L. rerre; that Il hazy and obscure history presents
only faiut outlines Of her latter days Coming 10
modern times, admiration is excited by the li;t"
States OF Medieval Italy, struggling into Independents
existence and illustrating their annals by feats OF
arms against superior numbers, and by works OF arr
that remind US of tho days of A'iIenlan Peritles.-
| Germany and France were discordant and corrupt
! throughout the dark ages, because they were 100
strong to be affected by outside pressure Engiand'
with Scotland pressing on her from the North " ac7
constant, thorn in her side aud France threatening
her from the continent, became truly great. y COM
mon danger made her Feulal Barons patriotic
and united Feula!ism was seditious weak, and
revolutionary in France, for want OF outside pressure
In England the constant existence OF TINS pressure
made the same institution patrareha and protective
in peace, nrd powerful in war. England, under the
Plautacenets at Cressy, Agincourt and PoicterS'
England crowning her King in Paris, is one OF the
nobest and submest specacles in history. Outside
pre,sure is now removed, and this same overgrown'
corrupt England, beats up in vain, through the uni
verse; for handful OF recruits.
Spaiu oppressed by the Moors, became OF sud-
den, the leading nation of the world. With one arm
she expelled those Moors, and with the other founded
q New World in America. She too Ceased To be
great, when she ceased to be unfortunate. The sud-
den elimination of her prosperity was only eluaed
By the depth OF the fall, which il as suddenly occa-
stoned. From like causes, Portugal, Holland, Prus-
sa, Sweden, and many other small States, became
great They ceased to be so when the larger states
relieved them from the necessity OF sell defence by
establishing the doctriue OF the "Balance OF Power.
France excluded from this magic circle, set upon by
all Europe and thrown solely upon her own resources
became an over-match for England and the CONT
nent combined. Outside pressure made revolution
ary France the first of nations Just rs necess'tous
and adverse circumstances made Napoleon the great
est of men,
| I.e, us take warning from history, md look nt
boms Three millions Of Americans, struG-inG Tor
seven years and struggling successfully against III"
power of England, present no mean, or conenr''o'e
spectacle. Thirteen independent Suites, with diverse
social avs,ems and diverse interests, amicably nrran
ing common constitution and government, offer re-
miniscence never to be forgotten. Then, however
we xere mere handful, pressed and hemneo
in on all sides BY the territories ot Spain France ana
| England. Now, Spain aud France are no longer our
neishbor. aud our territories, our numbers, and our
wealth have nightly increased. Outside pressure Is
r.moyei and inside dissenson hns grown up. Con
st,r,on. Stale and Federal. were observed and re-
vor.d so lonr as tncy the joint expression ana
consequence of the common danger that bound u.
together. VIII they be respected, or o5cyed, any
Longer than they seem TO people ralpabIy expe-
dieut and necessary! Will compacts, constitutions,
treaties or considerations, suffice I" bind opposite in
teres;s aud conflicting social systems together, when
the cohesive influence of outside pressure is removed,
and no central military despotisn has supplied its
placsl The signs Of the times at the North indicate
that our fate ID be that OF other nations, SINH
larly circumstanced. Wealth, corruption and civil
broils and dissensons have rapidly grown into exist
ence there. Happily for the nation, the very opposite
of all this is taking place at the South We are emf
nentIy conservative, opposed to change and innova-
tom patriotic aud one.nndcl. The men Of the South
think together on almost al! subjects, and ready
70 nc, together. The North threatens insults, Injuries
us. We are exposed to outside pressure, constant.
violent and vindctive. 1t makes US patriotic united
and one minded.
| should occasion require, should exhibit, no
doubt, the same energy and chivalry that other peo
nIa have done, under like circumstances Outside
nrossure s to nations what adversely is to Individuals
i sunpre.sss their mean and selfish qualities, and
elicts and brings into action whatever is noble, gene
rous and advantageous in their natures
| "swcet nre the usss Of adversely.
| Which like the toad ugly and vcnomous,