Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-06-20
THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE 20, Is3s

taches and 50 the liberal powers, France
and England, would have both a right to
exercise, and a duty to perform, OF as
sisting any free state against tyrants, il
| the Holy Allies should think proper to
act. The perfect knowledge that this
| right exists, and tina, this duty would be
| discharged, is the best security against
ell such aggressions upon the constituted
| principle by these absolute princes, and
is the most valuable service which the
| liberal alliance can render to freedom
O. The next diversity Of Popular and
! Absolute governments, 10 whIch we shall
advert, is the different degree in which
they are fitted for the operations oil diplo-
macy. The unity and tho vigor Of Ab-
solule Monarchy, as giving il great adj
vantages, in negotiation, have been much
relied ON ; and, undoubtedly, it has some
advantages, in performing this function,
over a Popular form of Government
Ii is more secret il can more easily lay
its plans I; it has more ample discretion in
accepting or refusing terms. There Is
always some risk Of the ambassadors OF a
republic being %disavowed by its senate /;
or even OF the senate being thwaited by
the people at large. There is always a
chance OF matters being made public,
which are unfit to be disclosed. Hence
there may often be a reluctance TO treat
with, or to trust the republican negotia-
tors. Now, without denying this state.
ment, or undertaking the imperiection IN
Popular Governments to which it relates,
we conceive that agains: il must be set
off a far more important advantage,
which those Governments enjoy for MAN.
tanning the relations established by trea.
~. The insolent caprice, or the SIMS
ter views, the personal feelings, or the
private interests, ofan individual are far
more likely to make the Absolute Gov
eminent swerve from its engagements,
than any reverse of popular opinion or
sentiment is to create a similar departure.
An act Of bad faith, which may be COM
mitted in the closet, and cannot DO either
submitted for previous approval to the
public, or prevented or resisted by any
other power in tho state save the wrong.
doer, is far more likely 10 DO committed !;
and, if committed, far less likely to be
retracted, than if It must undergo, IN the
first instance, u free discussion nmong
the people to whose judgement It appeals ;
and may Immediately, after beng perpe-
trated, be reviewed and reversed before
the same popular tribunal. Outrages up.
on all principles OF honor and honesty
have often been committed by absolute
princes. which never could have even been
pronounced TO the representatives oil their
people, and which, if p~ropounded, must
have been instantly repudinted. There
fore, if certainty, security, the lmprobn-
bili,y of faith being broken, the likeli-
hood of what IS for the honor and int.
rest of the country being consulted, and
therefore sudden capricious changes OF
policy being averted-,f these make a
nation safe to treat with and to trust, q
Popular Government Is far better fitted
for negotiation, and for maintaining the
relations of an alliance, than an Absolute
Prince.
3. The superiority ola Monarchy for
military operations, that is, tor The pom.
CIV of war, and among other branches OF
il. for maintaining the relations OF belll-
oerent alliance, has been much vaunted ;
and here, as under the last head, there Is
~undeniably some advantage on ITS side +;
while there is an advantage OF much
greater magnitude possessed by a Popu-
lar constitution. The promptitude wlth
which a single mind can plan, and the
yipour with which a single hand can act,
is undoubtedly q material advantage {;
although, by judicious arrangements
even a commonwealth, and much more
a limited monarchy, may be enabled so
to employ individuals as to gain the great.
or part of this benefit. But the power OF
drawing forth the whole resources OF Inc
country belongs to free and limited TO-
ernme alone. The exertions IN rai-
sing men made by France, the incalcula.
Bile sums of money drawn from the peos-
pie Of England, are incontestlble proofs
ofthis position. No absolute prince could
have raised a tenth part of the money. ;
and although Napoleon, awaiting himself
of the relics Of revolutionary spirit ana
republican habits, and working on The
epidemic love OF military glory and ma.
tional fame which marks that martial peo'
ple, succeeded in raising nofm mas.
SEES of troops, he fell, because the spi'
rt was gone which made all France
rise MS one man against invasion under
the Convention, and Paris saw the Allies
enter it unresisted, except with groans
and curses, by the people. 1t is. indeed
frequently said that the turns OF popular
| opinion are often fatal to military policy
by their sometimes urging hostilltles-
sometimes prematurely opposing them,
and requesting peace. But this point
will be considered under the next head.
a.. The great question of Peace IS the
l.st and the most important point in which