Polynesian., 1844-08-31
To THE EprToa or TIE PoIySrsrAN -

To THE EDITOR OF TIE PolvSEs1AN: -
Sir Nations are governed among
themselves by the Law Of Nature, to which
is con ,oined Revelation or the written word
Of God. These found the sciences Of Moral
Philosophy and Ethics. The epitome Of
Moral science in the law Of nations is, that
each nation should do as wuch good 10 The
other IN peace, and as lille harm in ,rar as
possible;" a counterpart Of which is beauti-
fully expressed in holy writ: Therefore all
things whatsoever ye would that men should do
10 you, do ye eren so unto Mem." Matt. vii IL.
Founded upon these maxims nations do
not require of one another what would be re-
ciprocated to their pre-. .udice. For, although
a powerful sovereign might exact painful
compliance of a weak one, yet the Ter talion;s
would justify some other powerful sovereign,
perhaps more potent than the first, or COM
bination of sovereigns, in melting out, some
way or other, the measure Of his exaction.
Precedents are strong reasons in diplomacy.
One nation can equitably justify a demand
upon another by pointing it to some like de-
mand made upon a third under peculiar cir
cumstances, and with propriety contend tina.
what has ever at any time been considered
just, in its view is still SO. Upon this prin-
ciple, when will the immoral doctrine of re.
pudiation in the United States, or the dis
memberment of Poland by Russia, Austria
and Prussia, or the pretensions to maritime
search in England, be forgotten! When
will the removal Of the Italian relics by
France, in contravention Of the laws Of war.
be forgotten /! 1t is for the interest of all to
keep i~nviolate the national code, and the
word Of a sovereign expressed in treaty,
should be deemed as sacred as the Word Of
Him whose vicegerents sovereigns are. 1t
is not presumable to be intended to be bro.
ken, except for self preservation when the
political existence Of a state is in danger.
The rules Of eternal justice and morality
are a continual tacit convention between ma
tons. To imagine an intention Of violating
national faith is an insult which would by
the etiquette of courts justify a refusal to
hold further intercourse with the diplomat
that discourteously used it. This is the con-
solidated guarantee Of nations to each other.
in which the feeble find a powerful support.
If a sovereign can be compelled contrary 10
the law of nations, to receive or to reject
aliens, or having allowed them entrance,
can be forced not to control or punish them
within his dorninions, or can be compelled
to pass specific laws prescribed to him by
others, or to surrender to aliens privileges
and immunities contrary to his internal poll
cy or detrimental to his internal interests,
then here is a precedent that these or any Of
these things can be done to a sovereign, and
here is an example for doing the like to
others which all feel equally the world over.
Thus the national comfy, like the gentle
rules of private breeding, form a shield to
the weak and a digni6er to the powerful, by
keeping each respectfully aloof from the
other.
VaAel in his preliminary discourse at p.
81, 62. with great propriety observes,-"Mat
II belongs src!us;rey to each nation to form us
o'vn judgment ef'ohas is conscience prescr;bes
70 It; Of '0hos Il can, or cannot do; Of ,ehst i
proper. Or improper for Il to do. .A~d Of course
Il rests solely ,OiA Il to examine and determ;~<,