The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-07
REVIEW OF HISTORY, &c, &c.
CONCLUDED ]

/
[coNcLuDED
The second period opens with the question Of the
Austrian succession which gave rise the continen-
tai war of lTiO the death of the emperor Charles
W. and TO the years war, IN which FREDERICK,
called the great acting in fragrant contradiction 10
the Just and benevolent maxims he had so ably ex-
pounded in his lnii-.Heehaeei, finally succeeded IN
stripping Austria OF of her tarest provinces, and
advanced Prussia TO the rank Of first rate European
power Among the public jurists Of this PERIOD The
author enumerates the German philosopher Wolf,
g the sumber of whose celebrated work, IN
nine ponderous tones, is probably not now often dis
turbed by the student of public law all that IS
really valuable in its contents has been Incorporated
into the lighter and elegant treatise OF VarTEL
dilfuse, unscienlfc and superficial, but clear and
beral writer whose work still maintains its place
the most convenient abrdgement of branch of
knowledge which calls for the skill Of new builder"
This work, whatever may be its defects, must ever
be priced, like the treatise of Beccaria on Crimes
and Punishments, as having first thrown a clear and
steady light upon the respective sciences of which
they treat But the most accomplished public jurnt
of this period, according to Mr.. W. was BYNKER-
sHoEk whose treatses on the laws of war and
the rights of ambassadors are, in his opinion, above
all praise. Holland, which had laid the foundations
of this science under Grotius, who united the cha
racter Of lawyer, statesman, and Christian philoso
pher, is also entitled to the credit Of completing the
structure under the greatest Of her civilians Bynker
shock Our author here his historical de-
duction of the progress of the maritime law of ma
tons, and gives full account Of The celebrated
troy hetu tain nd
ing the Sesa loan, which gave occasion for the as
sertion by Frederick H. of those principles of neu-
tral navigation and commerce which subsequently
formed the groundwork of the Armed Neutrality of
the northern powers during the war of the American
Revolution He then reviews the history of the
rights of embassy going back TO the essay of Abe
RUS Gentils' de Legationibus, and concluding with
minute analysis of Bynkershoek's treatise de Foro
Legatorum This period is closed by notice Of the
well meant but visionary project of the Abbe de ST.
Pierre, for realizing the phianthropc dream Of per-
peual peace, which he by sort of pious fraud at
lrbuted to Henry w. and his minister Sully, the real
object of whose policy was the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
France at the expense of the house Of Austria This
project was afterwards CLOSED by the eloquence
of ROUSSEAU, and repubshed in l76l, under the
modest title of :" Extracts from the Project of Per.
petual Peace, by the Able ST. PIERRE" but which is
strongly marked with the seal Of the original and Pc
culiar genius or the Genevan philosopher.
The third period opens with what the author Justly
terms the most fragrant g violation of the principles
OF natural justice and of public law which has
red since Europe emerged from barbarsm 1.-THE
first partition of Poland in l772. Not that this trans
action was the earliest example of similar attempts
IN the his DRY of modern Europe to dismember great
State, and to divide its different people among the
Acknowledgements, without regard to their welfare
wishes. Charles II of Spain had seen the dommi-
ons of the Spanish monarchy parcelled out, whilst
he was yet living, among those who coveted its rich
possessions, and it was resentment for this audacious
ACT which induced him TO make will in favor of the
Duke dAnou, leaving the entire inheritance TO this
grand son of Louis XIV A similar attempt wa:
made after the death of Charles VI, Emperor OF
Germany, the last male descendant of the house OF
Hapsburg, whose famous pragmatc sanction in favor
Of his daughter, Maria Theresa had been guaranteed
by nearly all the powers Of Europe. But these grea
political crimes were never consummated. The Aus
TRAN and Spanish monarches survived these attempts
on their integrity. Circumstances connected with
the antecedent history of Poland, the peculiar cha
racter of IFS people, and the geographical position OF
that country with relation to the three great military
monarchies, by which it was surrounded favored
their designs against its independence "The perpe
tration of this great political crime was facilitated
says Slr. W., "by the obstinate adherence of the
Poles TO the radical defects of their national cons
tuition, by their blind intolerance in religious matters
and factious dissentlons in political concerns" The
absurd and barbarous institution of the Hbe,1a reto
which legaized anarchy, could only be CT ecked BY
exercising the right of confederation which legal
lied rebellion. These faults rendered them an easy
prey TO the powerful military monarches by which
they were surrounded, but far from excusing this
original act Of violence, which has been consumma.
ted in our own times by the total extinction of Polish
independence. John Casimr, the last King Of Po
land Of the house of Wasa predicted the consequent
ces of the internal discussions by which the natter
was distracted in his lime In a speech addressed tc
the National Dict, in 1861, he said In tie midst Of
internal discussions we have TO fear the invasion
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of the republic The Mu.co
vites, God grant that may prove false prophet J
will subdue the people who speak their language the
Grand Duchy Of Luthuania Great Poland, and Prus.
STA, will fall into the hands Of the house Of Brandon
burg and Austria will not forget herself il the gen
eral devastation her share will be Cracow and the
surrounding territory
" The time was come" continues Mr. W. when
ihese prophetic words were TO be fulfilled STAINS
laus Ponlatowsky had been raised TO the throne OF
Poland, in l76i, by the influence Of Catherine H. OF
Russia. The non-Cathoc subjects of the Rpubc-
both Greeks and Protestants-claimed her powerful
protection against the oppression of the doninan n,
church. Frederick ii. of Prussia, who was then left
without single ally against his inveterate enemy.
the house of Austria, formed a secret convention
with the Empress of Russia by which he engaged to
sustain her measures in favor Of the Confederation
which the dssidents had formed against the Nation.
al Diet A Prussian army occupied Poland, and a
treaty of alliance was concluded in 1868, between
the Empress and the Republic by which the anarcbi