Weekly national intelligencer., 1845-11-29
SPIRIT OF THE FREE PRESS.
FROM THE NEW York eosmrncrAL ADVERTISER.


tain small islands in one of the New England riy-
ers, picturesque and beautiful to look upon, and Of
fertile soil. One OF these islands--a small one, Of
not more than two hundred acres--was occupied
by two thrifty farmers, each of whom obtained from
his share comfortable subsistence, and some spare
dollars to add at the end of each year to the hun
dreds that were securely packed away in divers old
stockings at the bottom of the great oaken chest in
the garret. But, unluckily, these farmers were Of
quarrelsome dispositions; and though their fore
fathers had lived upon the farms for more than
hundred years, and never found the island too small
for them, these two were perpetuay wrangling tor
mentng each other with spteful tricks of bad neigh
borhood, such throwing down each others fences
chasing each others sheep, throwing stones at each
others geese, and practising upon each other every
tormenting device that malignant ingenuity could
suggest with the audable purpose, seemed Of making
the fair portion Of earth allotted to them much like the
abode Of accursed spirits possible.
Separated from the small island by branch of the
stream, another, than three times large and
owned well occupied by the sturdy head of
famy-ten stout and half many ruddy daughters all
married The old had been the most powerful and ath-
letc fellow in the county and now, though he carried
than sixty winters his back there few Of
half his age who would have cared try fall with him in
sport, round at sicufs in earnest. His ten sons had
chosen their ege lords with 6a eye strength of limb
and huge proportions that the male population of the is
land presented aggregate of physical force which gave
peponderang influence throughout the adjoining REGION all
questions capable Of decision by appeal the law Of fist
bludgeon.
Now the strait between these islands so narrow
that whenever the two occupants Of the smaller had woy
gnarre often the case, their wrangng could be dis
ncy heard any who happened to be the waters edge
Of the other and BESIDES the other of them would
almost every day, in dug-out and make angry
plants to the old Of the vexaons and wrongs he
subjected to by his ill-condtioned neighbor.
The old man listened with very bad grace Confound
you he used say, what the plague you always
quarrelng about; and why do you. boheng with
your squabbles " At last he resolved an end this
annoyance morning he put himself the head of
his fifteen Anaks boaed them the strait in couple of
hngscows he had bundled the dsputants of the
island, with their CATS dogs women, and children, and took
possession of both farms for his and benefit Folks
did say that the population increasing rather too fast
the large island, and that the old mans actual motive to
provide farm apiece for two Of his offspring and their mi
hes but he always denied this and insisted that he nter
ed only in the interest of humanity that the quaelng fe
lows public nuisance and that indispensably
necessary get rid of them for the sake of peace the neigh
borhood.
The grasping old brute ~ exclams the indignant reader
Stop moment have another story to tell of him.
This fine old fellow had his farm number of very
choice apple trees the fruit of which celebrated and
great demand all that part of the country And he used
off eight of his grandsons every fall when the
apples ripe the two fishing already referred to-
well loaded with baskets of these appes cruise along the
banks of the river and make sale of the fruit at the houses Of
several gentlemen who had their country inter-
vae The young merchants found ready sale for their
and good prices that this apple business got to be very
profitable and the boys made regular thing Of it. landing al
ways at the points, putting their baskets ashore, and
calling for their money without asking whether their custom
wanted the apples They drove stakes into the
ground for moong their boats and would often go about
with their guns shooting the birds and squirrels walk
corn6ed and help themselves few roasting ears just
if they at home. |
But by-andby the began find that the visits Of
the boys grew rather frequent that the price of the apples
raised that the roasting carried off somewhat
freely and that pigeons and chickens shot, well
robins and squirrels. So they word the old man
that they didn't want any of his apples and that the
boys need in their boats any In fact of
the boys got into fight day with gentemans gardener
who caught him pucking ripe peaches and the gar
dener did not come second best out Of the scufie
What does the old then but denounce vengeance upon
all and sundry He mustered his whole tribe for hostile
expedition, and give serious character openly
cared that all the land the ntervale his that his
grandfather had wed il him. and the claim had never been
disputed by the present occupants and in Short that
meant to take it by virtue Of this ndsputabe title At any
rate he and his boys strong enough take and he
should like TO who would hinder him.
Monstrous injustice !" excaims the reader "your old
man is no better than a robber."
But old man has done nothing than great nations
claim the right to do and he supports his by exactly
the and arguments that advanced by great
nations to justify their conduct For instance, England is
going seize the country of the Skhs in India and here
the vndcaon Of the Deed put forth by the leading English
journal
"The pear hangs mellow the tree, ready to be shaken
down. So the fate Of the Punaub is last sealed II
be taken into subsidiary alliance, and to follow the steps of
Hyderabad, and 0ude and Gwaior and other
British allies and tributaries, if they be called OF
course, the necessity of this is undenable
State which cannot govern itself be governed by its
neghbors, for the interests of humanity stake. With
out efficient government territory becomes public
nuisance the habor of dsaecon and outrage the focus of
intrigue, the nursery of revolution and II is enough
that territory is in disordery condition entail on
its neghbors the necessity Of continual nconyenent and ex
pensive precautions II is enough that involves more op
pressve police, larger standing army any other nter
with the liberties and mmunes Of peace. Such the
state of all that region enclosed within the Upper Indus and
its tributaries Bloody revolutions, and nsoent and rebel
hous odery, ruined and distracted people, keep Northern
India in perpetual alarm Selfpreservation compes the
neghbors to nbae the nuisance Such is the necessity if
not the duty, which devolves that great Power