The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-11-06
MISCELLANY.
. '%a o
Ject of the Greeks.
By Thomas Lord ErsEiue.
[Concluded.l

But before advance to tho rn.n;e..
tages which would follow from the indes,ead
elce OF the Greeks, if established bv opr 49,
Ss'ance, ana the ease with which If ln;obt he
aocohPiisheo, there Is one branch of Their s,f.
.sslingS inseparable from their present cond;.
uoil, ana from which we cannot but feel ~.
most anxious wishes; for their deliverancs.N-
aHd az, Ia Wish g fhe ffats
view OF the subject, maintained that our ma.
tional exertions for the progress of the gospel
were only as drop in the ocean, when com-
pared with the light Of 1t extinguished by the
delusive dominion of the. Turks So, assert
that the negro Slave Trade was nothing in the
scale of misery and debasement against the
horrors which, during this sanguinary contest,
must continue forever.
When we abolished the African Slave Trade
by act CT parliament, it could, in srictness, on
y apply to prohibit that traffick by our Darn
subjects but did we stop there on that ac-
count? Did we consider our duty did not ex-
tend beyond our own Jurisdiction, as the ut
most limit of positive law No, my. Lord. TO
our immortal honour we did not-on the con-
trary, we have ever since been exertine orr
selves, with other nations, to extinguish il
throughout the world and that able and ey-
cellent man, Lord Lansdowne, when he NOV
ed an address TO his Majesty on the subject.
only few weeks ago, did not limit HIS views
to the promotion Of amicabe arraneemenfs
! with friendly states, but even extending them
! to the consideration of compelling, by the
common consent of those governments thai
had abandoned it, any others which should
continue to give it sanction and support.
By this introduction of slavery. as a sonar.
ate consideration, have not, (styictly speak-
ang,) depressed from the subject of nv letter:
as 1t is one of the most prominent and afHict-
ing evils which has grown out of this disas-
trous conflict. have besides not introduced
it as in itself justification of hostility 10 the
Porte, but only to interest our feelings in the
more extensive performance Of duty which
| rests upon other circumstances connected
| with our own character and safety.
| Assistance and protection cannot be given
| to the Greeks in the same manner as if they
rss,s9s ~
successful in the end to the parent state. (if
| Turkey ought to be SO described and with
out affecting her main possessions-bau the
! contention here as for the sod schsch boh of
| them sreitaba: and therefore one Of them
must be dispossessed of territory to some ex-
| tent or other, because they cannot remain to.
| gether, except in state of such nurdeross.
anternlnabte hostility as ought to be consider
ed publick nuisance to all mankind. On
which side, then, my Lord, does Justice lie.
when, after. the possession of ancient Greece
| by such means, it has been SO shockingly A.
hused as not to be projected by any principles
or precedents which pubIick law has ever a.
dopted or can righteously adopt?
| The freehold of the Greeks, il NAV so de.
scribe the possessions of that ancient nation.
comprehended Thrace, Macedonia. Thessa-
ly, Epirus, Achaia, Peloponnessus. and Ne
gropont, &c. &c. with most of the islands in
the Archipelago, the ionian islands amongst
the number, they being sometimes called
lonians on that account. They were mas
tiers of the celebrated cities, with their dis
tricts, of Athens, Sparta, Thebes, Corinth.-
and Mycane, &c. and were a most refined
and celebrated people. Classical learning.
soJustly encouraged in all countries as indis-
pensable, derives its principal sources from
their sublime superiority in poetry and elo-
quence, which, in the lapse of so many ages.
have found no competition and even at this
hour, to inspire those who are to live after us
with the most exalted sentiments, with con-
tempt OF danger, and the sacred love of their
country, we make them stoop at their desks.
IN their earliest years, over the histories Of
their Industrious foFeiathers in periods when the
noblest OF our own were in the woods. The
claim, therefore, of the Greeks, with the aid
OF all Christendom, to free and undisturbed
ov'''''' ca VI 1es tpsFn g1tssr pres
emf population, is the olecsreet d. ,ts...., -
mails !; whilst the dominion of the Turks. who
overpower and Cypress them, is the most au.
dacious usutpation. They began, extended,
and completed their rayages under the mask
of imposture, impiously pretending to a COM
mission from heaven for the desolation of ths
hearth.
/ In such case, my Lord, have not nation.
right, and is it not their duty TO overthrow
the spoiler, IF he resisfs jatst accommodation,
and restore possession to the oppressed?
!, There are limits, however, to the exercis,
of this right. We should neither he bount
nor even warranted to set on foot a rash cru
SADIE, involving countries, when just happily
returning to a state of peace.-l should be a
mong the first to express my dissent 10 such
!. project. All that ask Of the British gov
eminent, through your Lordship, is an instant
I tdthftd and strenuous ereTtion, to engage ou
allies IN this great cause Of humanity anC
Ejustlce, without giving rise Gas assert ii coull
noO to any probable or rather possible con
test which could deserve the name of war.
1t cannot be questioned, by thus takin,
the lead for the delverance Of the Greeks
we should lay the foundation of an endles
e gratitude, be advantaged by their returning
t power and commerce, whilst We were snatch
d ing from the desert the most fertile provinces
! and redeeming from abject slavery and con
tagioas pestilence the noblest people Of tn
ancient world.
But tits objected that the Greeks are I,t
less savagelY cruel than the Turks. VII