The Enquirer

ON SOUTH-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

TO THE EDITORS.

City of Washington, April 20, 1815.

GENTLEMEN,

I have this morning seen in your paper a letter translated from the Spanish, and said to have been written at St. Thomas. It is evidently the production of a Spanish Monarchist, and appears to be intended to prevent the emigration of the high-minded friends of Liberty, who are now prepared & going hence to join the patriots in Venezuela.

That the royalists will make great exertions to prevent the independence of all South America, there can be no doubt--and every mode that ingenuity can suggest will be pursued, to prevent the separation of a country which the Author of Existence has blessed with many of the richest gifts of his inexhaustible bounty--a country that affords all that luxury can demand. Do you want to breathe an air above common purity, and to enjoy health in the extreme, go to Mexico or Buenos Ayres: these are situated near the extremes. But health may be enjoyed also in all the middle regions, for there are mountains everlastingly covered with snow near the equator. On these mountains you may eat the Alpine strawberries, and descend through all the various regions of the earth to your pine-apple gardens at the bottoms. Do you want gold and silver, you find both in various mines from the north to the south; the diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, the amethyst, the topaz--indeed, all the precious stones of the earth, & pearls in various fisheries, equal to the oriental. All the choice fruits of the earth abound or may be produced with little trouble--the grain of every kind, and, in short, all the vegetable creation may be enjoyed in the highest perfection.

All the useful animals abound in a wild state, through this vast country--but the most ferocious are unknown.

The lands are so productive, that those who have not visited them cannot form an idea of such fertility. But the bare mention of all the favors of Providence would require volumes: and are these blessed regions to be forever oppressed? Ferdinand, who has tasted of oppression but in its gentlest aspect, has already forgotten the lesson of humanity: & the voice of his people is no longer heard. The Inquisition again holds the keys of the dismal cell where suffering man may gnash his teeth in vain, for the comforter only meets him in death. And can man, that dignified being, who knows no superior on earth, submit to the tyranny of the king or his subservient priests? The people of Spain, through the weakness of the crown, were delivered up like victims when their royal master was made a prisoner; but they fought gallantly for their empire, and acknowledged no master but Ferdinand, even when Ferdinand was not his own master. The energies of the combined powers restored him to his people. He swore to the constitution, formed on his restoration: but, how soon, alas, did he forget the solemnity of his promises--and what can the people of South America expect from the sources of such corruption? They expect a continuance of injuries that have hitherto only blotted the pages of their history. They have determined that freedom shall open their ports, as generosity and virtue opened their hearts, to their brethren in every part of the world; and this sentiment creates a reciprocation of benevolence that nothing can counteract: The great exertions of the royal party may interrupt the progress of liberty in that country, which wants no other blessing to be the most happy on earth. The generous spirit of the young warrior pants for an engagement in the support of that country where every thing is on a great scale. He seeks for fame among the most famous; and there are gallant youths of all nations, now vieing with the tried warriors of the south, in deeds of chivalry, not for empty fame, but for high renown as the Champions of universal liberty and happiness. If these brave men meet with checks, they are to be retrieved by yet greater exertions, and the more danger the more honor. If the horoscope of some of the young warriors now girding on their swords were known, they might read events that would dazzle the most ardent; and be well assured that the report of the flaming victories of the royal standard are not worthy of credit. The writer of this received lately a letter from a gentleman of honor, who had resided nine years in Venezuela, stating that the Patriots were victorious after several severe battles. The accounts also from Mexico offer subjects of high gratulation. The Patriots are every where victorious, and even into La Vera Cruz they were entering in triumph. Look at the style of the communication and you will see with what rancorous prejudice the whole is penned. The style is not American; it is Spanish, and is not credited by the true COLUMBIAN.