Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-27


now the great Republic of the earth: its free in.
stitutions are matured by the experiment Of hal,
a century nay, as a free government. il poes
iar'ner oack-the benefits of free constitution
have virtually been enjoyed here for two cent,,.
res AS Tree government, as the freest o,c,
IVernment, Its growth and strength compel Il.
wuhng or unwilling, to stand forth to the con.
temptation of the world. We cannot obscure
ourselves, we would; part we must take.
honorable or dishOnorable, in all that is done in
the civilized world. Now,it willnot be denied.
tnat' withln the last ten years, there has been
agtated IN that world, question of vast mo-
ment-a question pregnant with consequences
favorable or unfavorable to the prevalence, nav.
to the very existence, of civil liberty. II is a
question which comes home to us. 1t calls on
us Tor the expression of our opinion on the great
question now before us. Assuredly, if there is
any general tendency In the minds and affairs OF
men, which may be said to characterize the nre-
sent age, it is the tendency to limited govern.
ments. The enlightened part of mankind have
very distinctly evinced desire to take a share.
at least, in the government of themselves. The
men OF this age will not be satisfied even with
KIND masters. They have shewn, (except
where force has been interposed to crush them. \
That they Will not be contented without part.
cipation in the government. This is so strnnrIv
IS
age, that 1T can have escaped the observation of
none to whom address myself. II cannot bo
denied that, while this is the prevailing shirt
there Is All antagonist principle also at work.
ms, SIR, said Mr.. w. is a state of THINGS in
winch we, as nation, have, we must have. an
interest. The doctrines advanced fand which
are promptly supported by great force) go to
prostrate the liberties of the entire civilized
world, whether existing under an absolute. a
monarchical, or republican form of government.
They are doctrines which have been conceived
with great sagacity, they are pursued with uu-
broken perseverance,, and they bring to their
support, million and half of bayonets.
And here, said Mr.. w let me not be mis,n-
oerstood, L am not about to declaim against
crowned heads, nor enter on a TRADE apanst a.
Their forms OF government, but ask that the de-
Carnations Of the Congress of European Sove-
regns, which is promulgated as that which is to
form the part of The public law of civilized Eu.
rope, may be subjected to close examination.
The entire overthrow of the late French EN-
peror, left the European world in a state of We
~ strong excitement. In September, 1915.
the sovereigps, who had, by Their united exer-
tons, succeeded in putting down the French
power, entered into, and published TO the world.
an instrument of agreement, which has since
been Familiarity known by the title of the &C Ho-
ly Alliance" This paper, which appeared I'M
mediately on the restoration of tho Bourbons
had hts origin with the cabinet of Russia. Jts
appearance excited at Epst, but little coInpara.
tive interest. 1t was regarded as little more
man devout expression of gratitude for the
success winch had attended their united exer
uohs IN. bringing the long war Of Europe to a
conclusion 1t professed to be nothing more
than declaration, that the soyereigns. who
joined in it. would, Ma future, conduct their res
pective governments on principles of the public
good, and with sacred regard to the Christian
religion. Such a combination was certainly
novel. Nothing like it had ever before been
published by Kings. Yet, under the view of If
which he had Just expressed, it attracted no We
ry great share of attention. On the face of If.
there seemed nothing to object to. All that
was strange about the transaction was. thai
monarchs, who protested Christianity and civil
cation, should stipulate to do what, without anv
such stipulation, it was their acknowledged du-
ty to do; the contract bour,d them to nothing
to which they were not morally bound already.
What was the amount of thescontract /? That
they would not violate Christianity, nor disturb
the peace OF Europe. AT best, such contract
was supererogatory. 1t was remarkable that
celebrated writer on treaties, when defining
what treaty is, supposed, as possible, such :.
SN>'S
unexpectedly of such treaty as the holy ALI
ance actually was. His words Mr.. w. quoted
as follows
1t seems useless TO frame any pacts or leagues.
barely for the defence and support of universal
peace for, by such league, nothing is superajded
to the obligation of natural law, and no apree
menf IS made for performance of any thing which
the parties were not previously bound to perform,
nor IS the original obligation rendered fiYmer or
STRONGER an nH Ma
BILE culture and civilization might well be ashamed
of entering into any such campact, the conditions
of which imply only that the parties concerned
shall not offend in any clear point of duty. Be-
sides, we should be guilty of great irreverence to-
wards God, should we suppose that his INJUNCTION,
had not already laid sufficient obligation ,,non
Us to act Justly, unless ourselves vounta rilv
consented to the same engagement as if opr obi
CATION to obey his will, depended upon our own
pleasure.
III one engage to serve another, he doth not sci
IT down expressly among the terms and conditions
OF the bargain, that he will not betray nor murder
him, nor page, nor burn his house For the same
reason, that would be dishonorable engagement.
in which men should bind themselves 10 act proner-
y and decenty, and not break the peace. r--FuE
fepdorf.
Such were the sentiments of this eminent
writer. How nearly he had antcinated the
case of the Holy Alliance, Mr.. W. said would
appear from comparing with what he then
wrote, the preamble to that alliance, which Mr..
b. read, in the following words
:" In the name of the most Holy and Iud;visbIs
Trinity, " Their Majesties the Emperor of Austria.
the King of Prussia, and the Emperor Of Russia -
solemnly declare, that the present act has no o.
the object than to publish, In the face of the whole
world, their fixed resolution, both in the admins
traon Of their respective states and in their polti-
cal relations with every other government, to take
for their sole guide the precepts Of that holy rei-