Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-27

attacked in point Of view purely political afrc'
ing for This Pr, get Indifference iaA ot cih. a
number of French j,u-us!s speak 4 il - tnh, {"
vexaton ana bitterness which are ri SONS ;ru1b!y
70 understand. Belgium is told that The treaties
which have established her neutrality furnish ram
part sure and ,ii:cacoas than the most power
iai fur,,esses; she is told in many words that he'
late does not depend measures of Exaggerated Pfu
d ice aud nexpcable apprehension when w''' eo''
l'rr 80 many millions; she is reminded that hef nau"
role is the one to which she hiss been hitherto c"'
iiurd tia, of al industrial aud commercial power IL
i. added that if Belgium becomes military '"''o"'
| she will have tbenceiorward TO count more on her
own strength than the text OF trea'iee' ano " 10
| asked what will this strength amount 10 WIS" 'ppo'
al by one of those great armies against "hicn Tue
partizans of the prciet wish to provide
Such susceptbiities and nsinua''ons seem 10 us a.
unfounded as they unjust and ungenerous towards
Belgium. The scheme of for,ityng Antwerp is not
mesure de- circumstances; It has not been conceived
in spirit of lnstrust against this or that European
power As has been sad the idea OF thle proct dates
back to lsiSi the plan of tortfcation now soom'''eo
to the Chamber was prepared AS early as 1000 IL Is
,nsuieat that the independence OF Belgium ID NOT
nenaoed at present, from any quarter. belgium ooe.
n Il think of foricstion or defence against presen
enemy present danger. In this respect 'ne Del
gian Government has made full explanatory anu Inc
general situation of Europe, well az tne peculiar
situation of Belgium with regard to neignoorinH pow
ers, speaks much more loudly than all the protesta
tious of the Belgian Government. But present So
curi,y does not iuterdic foresight as the crimes mas
remarked with Justice the memories ot tho past FUR
nish the Belgian nation with warning which ought
TO keep alive its solcitude and patriotism in view OF
eventual complications and tho constantly variable
chances of the future.
The neutrality OF Belg GUM can neither destroy nor
at all diminish the RICH which che possesses together
with all independent nations, to appreciate her poh
cal situation in Europe, to regulate the conditions OF
it's existence and to provide for the defence ct her
Territory, according to her own views agreements aud
pecrar tendencies. In exercising this legitimate
right, the Belgian nation invades the rights OF no
body. The question discussed in the Chamber o'
Representatives is as il should be- recognised local.
national question. Thus it would be more just aud
more fitting to leave to the national representation
the care of discussing and deciding it, freely peace
ably in the full exercise of lis independence and its
sovereignty"
In the foregoing extract, the DebAts' certainly
places the question in ills prog light. Even the
shade of in,imstion that this prof. tmhy have double
purpuse-hat it may be intende' not only as strong
hold for the people in OF in aeion but as place
of refuge for the governmental case OF insurrectIon
may not be altogether unfoundet But the "Debats,
With the caution necessary to french journal OF The
presen Mt day. does not enter at full upon the sgnih-
cauce of this movement The fertilization OF Ant.
werp may be- altogether abandoned The opinion
now so prevalent among military men, and which has
lately been endorsed by General Todtleden, who has
done more TO test its accuracy than any other living
man, that no fertilization withstand modern srtil
lery may possibly put an end to the scheme for ma.
tonal stronghold. Still We have something better in
the shape OF an unmstakeabls Indication that Bel
GUM, having assumed the tack of maintaining free
on the continent of Europe, will faer at
no expense which fairly promises to place her inde-
pendence beyond the reach of mere federation on the
part of her stronger neighbours. II is the Democratic
sentiment of the population which s most actively a,
work.