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

unavoiuaOle tendency vi an hosotuto 0o-
vernment mus, be TO desire the establish
ment every where of the same constitu-
| ton I; and TO dread as an evil pregnant
with danger to its own existence, the pro-
gress Of liberty in other countries. IL
has this desire much more at heart, and
feels this apprehension far more than a
free Government can be supposed to wish
for universal liberty, or TO dread the pro-
gress of ~despotism. Little danger COM
! paritively can arise 10 a Popular Govern
ment in ore country from the existence
of despo,ism in the neighborlng States
because there is little risk Of the example
proving so attractive as to obtain advo.
Gates and imitators. But the case is ve-
nv different with Popular Governments
surrounding u Despo,ism. The example
| of freedom is contagious and the people
suffering under the oppression of arbl-
trary sovereign, or injured IN their most
important concerns by his maladminisira-
ton of their affairs, are very likely TO
demand a change Of Government aim
ing at the enjoyment of those rights which
they see their neighbors possessing, and
using to their great advantage. The
! facts of the case in general, but par,icu.
larly the history of the last half century,
and more especially Of the latter portion
of it, abundantly prove that this position
is strictly true. The league of the allied
princes on behalf of the French Royal
Family in 1892, was a league of the Abb
solute against the Constitutional princi-
Pile originating in the fears of despotlc
governments, that liberty once establish
ed in France might soon cross the Rhine,
the Alps, and the Pyrenees. All the
earlier policy Of the European courts
was governed by the same principle, and
It was not ever wholly forgotten, when a
far more immediate risk was 10 be en-
countered first, from the mighty success.
es o fthe republic, and then from the con-
quests of the empire. The downfall OF
Napoleon, and the restoration OF the
B~ourbons, for a while Quoted the alarms
of those absolute princes; but they were
soon revived by the events which hap
pened in Spain and in Italy nor did even
the remote triumphs OF liberty in South
| America pass with without affecting the
sensitive nature Of arbitrary rulers. In.
deed, SO provident were they, by a kind
of instructive dread Of a long peace
bringing about varions domestic changes,
that, long before any movements a
been made by the people in any part OF
Europe, the Holy Alliance was formed,
almost as soon as the peace was conclu.
ded in 1915 !; and though Its avowed OBJ
iect was the maintenance of peace, the
real end and aim Of its being was the
prevention of revolution, and the resist
ance to popular principles, all the worlo
over. The great events OF 1880. both
in France and Belgium, gave rise TO
much intrigue and many secret attempts,
though the absolute princes burst not o.
penly avow their designs because, while
France and England are united, all re-
sistance must be in vain. But It is as
certain that, underhand, the former have
assisted both Carlos and Miguel, as that
the latter have more openly aided the
constitutional cause in both portions of
the Peninsula.
1t is scarcely necessary to add, that
there is no more right, in the liberal par.
ty among the European states, to inter-
fere with the affairs of a %neighbor, for
the purpose Of producing a revolution la
vorable to liberty, than in tine absolute
princes to interfere between the people
of any state and the freedom which they
have acquired, or arc seeking. The pro-
ceedings at Laybach and Pilnitz were
not greater outrages on oil the principles
of national Independence, than the decree
of the French Convention in November
1893. Indeed, it always appeared 10 us
that Mr.. Canning's celebrated declara-
ton in November, 1926, was unstates-
manlike, and reprehensible on the same
ground. fit was more than q rheto-
rical flourish, 1t conveyed an unwor-
thy threat, and it implied the assertion of
a claim founded on an unsound title.-
Ii was an intimation, that if the absolute
powers interfered in Portugal, England
might raise their own subjects, and ex-
cite them to seek liberty through revolu-
tion-a menace only to be used defen-
sively, because a proceeding only to be
embraced IN the very last extremity
But it also was grounded on a false as
sumption, that we have a right to revo-
lutionlze one country, or, in any way, to
interfere in its domestic affairs, for the
benefit, not of the country itself, but OF
some other country attacked by its rulers.
These remarks apply to the part of this
speech which regarded European insur-
rections, and was ga~rnished with the fine
quotation about Eolus and his winds
As for the other part, relating to the
South American states, the recognition,
the very tardy recognition, of whose in-
dependence he termed calling the New
World into existence to redress the bal.
ance of the Old" there was neither fact,