Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-07-21


ic feelings Of millions would be cruelty
outraged, and that great provinces
which had been united for centuries
would be torn from each other BY main
force.
The sovereigns of Europe were,
therefore, bound by every obligation
which those who are intrusted with
power over their fellow-cr creatures ought
to hold most sacred, TO respect and de-
fend the rights Of the Archduchess.
Her situation and her personal qualities
We're such as Ialgnt be expected to move
the mind Of any generous man to pity,
admiration, and chiyalrous tenderness
She was IN her twenty-fourth year.
Her form was majestic, her features
beautiful, her countenance sweet and
animated, her, voice musical, her de-
pertinent gracious and digni6ed In
all domestic relations she was without
|reproaeh. She was married to hus-
band whom she loved, and was on the
point of giving birth to a child when
death deprived herof her father, The
loss OF parent, and the new cares Of
empire, were too much for her in the
delicate state of her health. Her spir-
its were depressed, and her cheek lost
| its bloom.
Yet it seemed that she had little
cause for anxiety. 1t seemed that JUS
tice, humanity, and the faith Of treaties
would have their due weight, and that
the settlement so solemnly guaranteed
would be quietly carried into effect
England, Russia, Poland, and Holland,
declared in form, their intention to adj
here to their engagements. The
French ministers made a verbal dec
laration to the same effect. But from
no quarter did the young Queen of
Hungary receive stronger assurances
Of friendship and support than from the
King Of Prussia.
Yet the King of Prussia, the "Anti-
Machiayel," had already fully deter
mined to commit the great crime Of vi
olating his plighted faith, of robbing
the ally whom he was bound to defend,
and of plunging all Europe, into long,
bloody, and desolating war; and all
this for no end whatever, except that
he might extend his dominions, and
see his name in the gazettes. He de-
termlned to assemble great army with
speed and secrecy, to invade Silesia
before Maria Theresa should be afpri-
sed ofhis design, and to add that rich
province to his kingdom.
We will not coplescend to refute
at length the pleas which the compiler
Of the Memoirs before US has copied
from DR.. Preuss. They amount to
tliis--that the house of Brahdenturg
had some ancient pretentions to Silesia,
and had in the previous century been
compelled, by hard usage on the part
Of the court Of Vienna, to waive those
rretentions. tits certain that, whoey-
er might originally have been in the
right, Prussia had submitted. Prince
after prince Of the house Of Branden-
burg had acquiesced in the existing
arrangement. Nay, the court Of Ber-
lin had recently been allied with That
of Vienna, and had guaranteed the in
tegrity of the Austrian states. Is it
not perfectly clear, that if antiquated
claims are to be set up against recent
treaties and long possessions, the world
can never be at peace for a day? The
laws Of all nations have wisely estab-
lished a time of limitation, after which
titles, however illegitimate in their Or
lgin, cannot be questioned. 1t is felt
by every body that to eject person
from his estate on the ground of some
injustice committed in the time Of the
Tudors, would produce all the evils
which result from arbitrary conGsca-.
tion, and would make all property in
secure. 1t concerns the commonwealth
SO runs the legal maxim-that there
be an end to litigation. And surely
this maxim is at least equally applica
bic to the great commonwealth of states;
for in that commonwealth litigation
means the devastation of provinces, the
suspension Of trade and industry, sci
ges like those Of Badajoz and St. Sc
bastian, pitched fields like those of Ely.
lau and Boridono. We hold that the
transfer of Norway from Denmark to
| Sweden was an uniustifable proceed
ing; but would the king Of Denmark
be therefore justified in landing, with
out any now provocation, in Norway,
and commencing military operations
there' The king of Holland thinks,
no doubt, that he was umustly deprived
of the Belgian provinces. Grant that
it We're so. Would he, therefore, be
jutihed in marching with an army on
Brussels' The case against Frederick
was still stronger, inasmuch as the in
! lUStlca Of which ba co,oplaine b,J -,