The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-29
CASE OF THE CREOLE.

We extracted few days ago from the Bos-
ton Morning Post, some very sensible, and what
is, if possible, still better in these times, very
patriotic structures upon the course pursued in
regard to this subject, by some of the opposition
journals, or rather we should say by one of
them. The editor, in New Y ork, Of newspa-
per facetiously called the "AMERIcAN," had been
for some time RECALLING its readers with long dia-
tribes upon Secretary Webster's instructions to
Mr.. Everett in regard to the Creole, and has
since republished them, with an innocent self.
co,nplacency, in pamphlet form. OF course,
this editor takes the English side Of the ques-
ton, and racks his brains quite numerically, to
show that the law of nations ought to change,
Just as often, and just as much, as it suits the
pleasure or, what is the same thing, the interest
of Great Britain to change her municipal code.
From the extreme immaturity of thought that
characterizes these papers, as well as certain
puerities of style, we might easily be led to
think them the production of some aspiring
yro in public law, impatient to enter the lists
with foe, by whom it would be an honor to be
vanquished, and to flesh his puny pen in con-
troversy, of which he is ambitious of learning
some thing by dint of disputalion, on the princ-
pie of doce ct discas. But however probable
this inference might be, or such appearances,
we fear it is not the right one after ALL There
is an air of sombre faulty, a tone Of melan
choly dwelling, dffused over the essays of this
unhedged publicist, which argues sort Of per-
verse sincerity, and but too surely indicates a
{, oh >F
bling, and folly not Of youth and inexperience
The whole spirit, 100, of his nicknamed journal
is a dismal m1onon,dniG, of which the symptom
is hatred of home and country, uttered IN sea-
son and out of season, In rawlings against what
ever has the remotest tendency to strengthen
the institutions, or ensure the internal peace
of the land, and especially her unity and
independence against foreigners. AS we
are not cruel enough to "make war on
Bedlam," even in the persons of enemies as
INSCRIPTIONS as those whom the meanest
personal resentments have armed and arrayed
against the present Administration, we have
been loath to take any notice of illusions like
those in question. But the whole atmosphere
nowadays seems charged with disorder and il
is hard to say, what absurdity may not become
epidemic under such influences. The daily
press is bound to give the public notice of the
evil that is, and warning of the danger that may
be, however contemplate in appearance, or re-
mote in prospect
1t will give our readers some idea of the ca
libre of the writer in question, to cite from his
lucubrations a topic on which he evidently re-
lies with great confidence, and which he has
therefore taken pains to put forth in strain
scarcely short of lyrical. He puts the case of
slaves running away into Canada, and having
settled it TO his own satisfaction, that they could
not be reclaimed by their owners on this side
the line, proceeds in the following rhapsodcal
vein:
off then, slaves freed by their act and
ping by land, cannot rghtiuly be demanded of Great
Britain what is there in the voyage by sea- that would
confer such right or alter the claims of Govern
ment or the obligations of that of Engandl The
is stronger for liberty the than the land,
for the earth may be- has been subugated by the iron
hand of power but the free the untamed sea, dis
dams the puny grasp of The mightiest of earthly des
pots laughs to "ihe peculiar institutions dear
and well guarded though they be at home, Of people
however chivalrous. Thrice glorious sea
Mans stcps not upon thy paths, thy fields
Are not a spoil tor hlm--thou dost arise
And shake him from thee the vile strength he yields
For earth's destruction, thou dost all despise,
Spurning him from thy bosom to the skies,
And sends him shiverng in thy playful spray
And bowling to his gods where hapy lies
His petty hope, in some near port or bay
And dashest him again to earth-there let him lay"
This style in diplomatic discussion is at least
as original as the opinions it is employed TO set
off But, in truth, he understands his own au
thorites as little as he does the subject about
which he presumes to dogmatse. Doctor By
ron, as far as he goes, is no more with him, than
Grotius or Vattel, of whom he appears not TO
have heard. 1t is precisely because the sea is
not capable Of being subdued or appropriated;
because it spurns from it the puny insoence of
human ambition, that we claim that our ships