Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-01-12

exhibited by John Quincy Adams, 10 a
lecture on the present Chinese war. He
defends the course fthe BritIsh-not on
the abstract right Of that Christian power
to poison its pagan antipodes at Its pleas.
nre, and for its profit, (which he denies to
be the actual cause of the war j but on the
natural right OF commerce, which right.
1t seems, according to this high authority,
may be justly enforced at the point of the
5aronet. This puts the wholee affair on
an entirely new footing. and alters the at
titude of the invading nation from that Of
a ruffian insisting on examining down the
threats of weaker people poisonous
drug. into that Of magnanimous cham.
pion of the human race doing battle for
the insulted rights of man. This argu-
ment, TO be sure, would come with bet
ter grace from South Carolina nulli6er,
than from an advocate of the protective
system. But craftsmanship was invented
for the reconciliation OF incongruities. Il
is not improbable, that some OF the advo-
Gates of free trade may seize upon someof
Mr.. Adams propositions. and induce in
ferences from them which he would be
sorry 10 see reduced to practice. He is
obliged to admit that nations have right
to regulate their Commerce, and to inter-
dict lie importation ofcertair articles. or
else the American tariff is violation o.
the law of nations but when the interdic-
tons amount TO prohibition OF traffic,
then the right accrues of compelling the
refractory nation by force Of arms 10 BE-
Mr. n
grounds, the present aggression of Britain
upon China is unjust, for China did not
prohibit trade entirely, utmere!y regulat.
ed it as she deemed most for her advan--
| tage; and only broke it off with Britain.
in consequence of the introduction OF
prohibited article,-which of course Mr..
A. would not deny she had a right to do.
But the nice point which will grow out Of
this new exposition of the laws of nations,
| is, how to decide what degree of interdic.:
ton amounts to righteous cause of war,
and who is to DE the judge Of it. Mr.
Adams may congratulate himself on the
introduction of that important branch of
American Jurisprudence, called Lynch
| Law. into the courts of nations. For the
strongest is necessarily, as in this case.
not only the Judge, but also the execution =
er. Perhaps, after Great Britain has vim
dIcated the rights of nations against the
encroachments of China, she may turn
her philanthropic arms against this eoun-5
try, and demand the free introduction of
her manufactures at our ports. And lido
not see what fault MIR. A. could find with
such movement, provided she should de-.
eide that our prohibitions are too heavy.
| Another interesting andimportant point
(which is established in the laws of nations
by this lecture is. that i'll manners and
foolish vanity are sufficient cause of war.
Il seems that the Cross of England waves
worhily over ships commissioned to teach
semi-barbarous people good manners by
urging wha, Millions devils would call
t--ts terms ofweight, zs- 49,
Of hard contents, and full Of force urged home"
| The distinction between knocking the
forehead nine times before the emperor,
and kissing the hand of the king on the
bended knee, is truly worthy Of the big
Iendian and liitle-end;an statesmen of Lii
liput But are we certain that this Ches-
iterfieldian crusade will end with the con-
version of the Chinese to the orthodox
Ipla,form of good breeding 1.-THE British
!. tourists in this country are TO be believed,
;. our manners and customs are very far
!, from the canonical standard. Perhaps
the time may come when British fleet
! will ride in our waters, and lombard our
: citles, for the purpose of compelling as to
/ desist from our heresy of eating with our
!. knives, and 10 comply with the demand OF
1civilized Christendom, that we should cal
3 Iour eggs from the shell. Nj. Adam.
!. thus opens new and wide field for the
i extended usefulness Of that instrument Of
; ciyilization-war. 1t is only remarkable
that he does not recognize the propagation
!. of Christianity by the sword as proper
5 use of that bene6cent implement. The
e English fleet, and the troops it bears. are
), a true specimen of the Christianity q
modern Christendom, and Sir Henry
Po,tinger and Sir William Parker are
d better representatives of modern Christians
II than any missionaries, made to order
: could possibly be-unless, indeed. it wer'
. the holy chaplains upon whom the An
glican bishops have laid their apostolic
2 hands, and recognized as true sons of th
E, Church. I:'were surely worth the Will
!. of benevolent nation to incur the incon
veniences - which, however. are dali
: prayed for with due libations, by the off
a. GERS - of Ga bloody war and sickl
d, season. for the sake Of comforting upo
d. the benighted Chinese the blessings
=, such Christianity as that in whic
= England and America now rejoicei
ne II is good. at least. that the grea: do
Urine of the natural right of trade shou
be iterated and reiterated and monstrol
as are Mr.. Adams conclusions from u
md doctrine, it is not in vain that he has 9
81. pea,ed II. May it go forth gatheril
g. i 4 n ita nrnuness mill IL Rh,