The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 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 ork, Of a new spa
per facetiously called the "AMERlc AM had been
for some time RECALLING its readers With long da-
tribes upon Secretary Webster's instructions to
Mr. Everett in regard to the Creole and has
since republshed them, with an innocent self
complacency, in pamphlet form OF course,
this editor takes the English side Of the ques-
lion, 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
| characterlzes these papers, as well as certain
puerllltles OF style, we might easily be led to
think them the production of some aspiring
tyro in public law, impatient to enter the lists
with foe, by whom it would be an honor to be
vanqushed, and TO flesh his puny pen in con-
troversy, of which he is ambitious of learning
something by dint of disputaon, on the princi-
pie of doce et discds. 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, tone Of melan-
choly dwelling, dffused over the essays Of this
unfedged publlcist, which argues sort Of per
verse sincerity, and but too surely indicates
disease far more serious than an itch of serb
bling, and folly notof youth and inexpercncc.
The whole spirit, TOO, Of his nicknamed journal
IS dismal monomanid, of which the symptom
is hatred Of home and country, uttered In sea
son and out of season, ia rawlings against what
ever has the remotest tendency to strengthen
the institutions, OF 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 who 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 Isl and warning Of the danger that may
be, however contemplate in appearance, or re-
mote in prospect
Ii will give our readers some idea of the ca
Hbre of the writer in question, to cite, from his
lucubratons, 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 10 his own satisfaction, that they could
not he reclaimed by then owners thie side
the line, proceeds in the following rhapsodical
vein:
of then, slaves freed by their own act and esca
ping by land, cannot rlghluy be demanded of Great
Britain wha, is there in the voyage by sea- that would
confer suc right alter the claims of our Govern
ment the obligations ofhat Of England The case
is stronger for liberty the than on the land
for the earth may be, has been subugaed by the iron
hand o. power but the free, the untared sea, dis
dams the puny grasp of The nighest of earthly des
pots laughs to "thc peculiar institutions" dear
and well guarded though they be at home of people
however chivalrous, Thrice glorious seal
Mans steps ale not upon thy paths thy fields
Arc not spoil for him thou dost arise
And shake himirom thee, the vile strength he wietls
For earths destruction, thou dost all despsc
Spurning him from thy bosom to the skies,
And sends him shiverng in thy playful spray
And bowling to his gods, where happy lies
Ills petty hope, in some near port or bay
And dashes hin again TO earth there let him lay"
This style in diplomatic discus sion is at least
as original as the opinions it is employed to set
Off But, in truth, he understands his own au-
thorltles as little as he does the subject about
which he prcsumes to dogmatisc Doctor By
ron, as far as he goes, IS no more with him, than
Grotius or VatteI, of whom he appears not 10
have heard 1t is precisely because the sea is
not capable Of being subdued or appropriated
because it spurns from il the puny nsolence of