Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-08-29
20 HIS Grace the D1ke OF sussex.

Lordship few remarks en- the late Anii-Slavery
Convention, which met some time since IN London.
Should they ever fall under your notice, they will
no doubt excite the surprise il not the contempt OF
your Grace at the seeming audacity OF the writer
That foreigner from country, not perhaps stsnd-
ing very high in your Grace's estimation whose
name, if mentioned would be meaningless sound,
should undertake to address Peer of the Realm of
Great Britain, scion of her royal stock, of
his public acts, and that anything but language
of adulation. appears to argue degree of presunp
ton bordering upon folly.
And yet in spite of all that may be said to such
effect, feel little alarm at any accusation of teme-
rty; conscious tina, the importance OF the subject
will rescue me from the charge of imrer;inence. i
am only penetrated with 10y own inability to per-
form the task | have attempted The time has now
gone by when commun cation could be despised on
account Of the obscurity of its source and .hough
great name may prove earlier passport 20 atten.
tion, il only be the imbecility of the writer, or
the insgniticance Of his subject. which eonsigns
him TO ooscurty and contempt. Permit me- how
ever TO remark, that it is not frem any impulse Of
puerile vanity, that have thought proper TO aix
prominent name to these remarks ; hot rather ba-
cause it seemed peculiarly pertinent from amy
considerations, That any uunication relating to
the grea. anti-savery meeting lately held in London
should be addressed to your Grace ia the first
place your iordship acted as the presiding officer OF
the meeting, aiding its by your influence, and
giving ITS mea' all the weight OF your character
and position.
| You may then fairly be considered as the acknow-
lodged organ of the assemblase, standing forth to the
world as responsible for all its consequences, and
ready to grant hearing to any remarks the sub
ject, even theug h they should not be uttered in the
purview Of Exeter Hall In the next place. your
constitutional position in your country, tends to
| give the meeting political complexion, which il
would not derive from any ordinary fun onary, and
induces one to consider il Indirectly Indicative
OF the resolutions and intentions of your government
| And lastly, there was another reason which in nv
| opinieD, gave fitness to the address which have
| had the boldness to prefix
| From ibe impressions that | have received Of
| your GHce's character aud career, (though my
means of information have been but slender have
supposed that you NAV be considered represen-
tatve rather othe less violent portion of those who
stand forth in this materof those W no. while they
are (as they asser anxously DESTROYS to contribute
to the well being Of mankind, not far blinded
by fanaicsm or ambition, as to turn aside from
every consideration of political duty and moral
pedency.
The meeting over which your Grace presided,
nay be considered under two aspects, as resulting
either from earnest desire entertained by a por
ton of the British public, to ameliorate the cond-
ten Of those whom they supposed to be oppressed,
or from desire to seize what may be considered
favorable opportunity to attack the institutions and
strike at the prosperity Of stranger nation; in
other words, an atternpt to use excited public
feeling for other objects than those pretended.
My remarks viii chiefly be directed to the first
suppostion, as would fan suppose that at least a
large portion aciuated by the motives which
they pretend. That each nation should regulate its
own affairs, according TO it's own convictions q JUS
tce or views or policy seems to be one OF the most
| obvious principles Of national existence and abso-
lutely necessary to political independence. The
only possible occasion in which an exception has
ever been allowed, is where the domestic tranquil
lity "f country is about to be disturbed by the
internal anarchy prevailing in neighboring coun-
try,
But when any nation or its people step hey ond this
line aud declaring that the domestic arrangements
of foreign nation do not square with her notions Of
what is just and proper, think proper to publish her
animal versions and reprosches basis for future
action, IL is assuming new and alarming position
| position so fraught with dangerous consequences,
that remonstrancc on such unauthorized interfe-
renee is well warranted by due regard to future
tranquility. IL is surely unnecessary in the present
advanced state Of political science, TO attempt to
fortify from induction what may be considered one
OF the aroms OF the political primer; that 10 e
say the dangers to be apprehendcd from foreign in
reference least Of all would it called for,
when concerned with that people among whom
your lordshtp occupies so elevated a position.
The right to have her family arrangements (f !
may be allowed the expression) uncontrolled and
unqucstiened by any foreign power, has no where
been more loudly proclaimed, or more jealonsly
guarded, than in Great Britain. Any attempt even
| TO look beyond the government TO the people, has
not only been repealed attack her power but
spurned as an imperinent interference, and resent
ed an insult to her feelings Of political indepen-
i dence FROM Whatever quarter IL came, Nncther
it assumed political or ecclesasical guise, this
has always been the temper in which 1t was met.
To show hsw deep this feeling has always been,
among many other instances we need only refer TO
| the period succeeding the first French Re evolution.
| What chiefly fostered that deep and lasting ami
mostly against that nation, which time seemed only
to strengthen aud embItierl Was il victory over
your armies or Ravies Was IL destruction OF your
commerce, or any Of the usual causes OF national
opposition No ID was this very spirit Of inter-
ference, add the attempt (real or supposedly the
Il fs.(f h. To-.
uical concerns, and to set your house in order
cording tn their newly adopted arrangements. This
/ was the objectionable SMITHS the wound which
burned and ranklcd through so many years Of ba-
tired and mention, until IL seemed 90 have changed
what before but the open opposition Of rival ma
tions into the deep-abdng hostility Of personal enc
mics.
This may seem exaggerated, bat reference to the
history Of those times, and glance at such pages
best reflect the passions of the day, will show tina,
IL is scarcely possible to exaggcrste the fierce
sentiment reused by the interference Of the French
in the political concerns of Great Britain. All the
feelings which bind a man 10 his country were APP
pealed to, and every means taken to excite the in
dignatien OF the country against what was repre-
sened as so insulting To every sentiment Of national
Independence. Nor did II at all mitigate the ami
mostly when IL supposed that the efforts Of the
French were to a certain extent seconded by many
at home claiming the right Of subjects TO attempt he
ameoration Of their constitution. II was consider
ed as offering temptation 60 treason and disaiIee
tion and using the garb II the cizen 10 introduce
discord into the political family. My object in thus
referring to this period is not to seek occasion for
censure. bat to hold up the mirror 10 your Grace,
ADD ask IL there is rale 60 govern the people of
other nations towards Great Britain, and different