Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-06-25

cal existence. Whatever quarrel we m'gh'
have had on the occasion Of such an arrange
ment, with which our right to interfere is al
legged, would rightfuly have been, not with
Mexico, but with the Power 'chose Interference
should have placed in jeopardy this American
Continental Interest" and this "high policy" Of
which nobody had ever heard before it sprung,
from the teeming intellect OF our
President and his Cabinet.
Where, indeed, for such an abhorrent excuse
for a furious onslaught as this War-such an
allegation Of purposes and principles
in support of it, are we to find any parallel !!
We know but one, indelible impressed upon our
memory and that is in the bombardment of Co
penhagrn and seizure of the Danish fleet by the
British in 1907. The history Of that crime is
well known but brief recital Of its main points
will show that it presents, crowded within a
single action, body Of governmental guilt Tar
ton that the bloodshed Of this single scene
two thousand Danes and two hundred Britons
was far less that the attack had much clearer
necessity to excuse it; that Great Britain stopped
at the single object of carrying of fleet and
naval stores which might have come to fall INTO
Bonaparte's hands, and be used against her that
she added not to her guilt that of seizng upon
the whole for even half the Danish domnions,
in order to widen her own that she set up no
claim of reimbursement for her expenses OF in
vasion and slaughter. II, at the time, Britain
and Denmark were friends, the United States
and Mexico were not enemies, but had treaties
of peace and friendship existing between; them
until our high Continental" policy broke in and
severed those relations.
We know no more faithful history Of the
times which it embraces than Baines's Wars Of
the French Revolution. Two brief extracts
from it London edition, 1917, quqrto, rol. Il, PIP.
as and al will show what was the situation Of
things under which England precipitated
events" and what excuses her Ministry made to
mankind. We will connect the two passages
BY few words Of statement as to the facts of
the bombardment itself:
"The year 1907 beheld the continent of Europe ap.
parently PROSTATE at the feet OF France. The dsc
pne of Austria and Prussia had disappeared before
the numbers and the enthusiasm Of the French armies
and the predominant genius OF their leader The
vereigns Of those countries had their capitals filled
with hostile armies and their flying lowering
the frontiers Of their former domnions. The house
of Hapsburg had ceasad to give emperors Germany
and the downfall of constitution. transmitted from
the teudal ages, was behed witUut establishment, and
probably without regret. The battle OF Friedand had
convinced the Emperor of Russia OF the necessity OF
peace and the treaty of Tilsit concluded on the 9th
Of July, rather proclaimed than confirmed the power
of Bonaparte and the weakness of his adversares In
these circumstances the eyes OF all Europe were fixed
upon England. In her they beheld q Power which
had uniformly resisted with vigor and with compare
tive effect the Entertainments OF the continental Colos-
and in struggling to support the political system
of civilized Europe, She had respected the laws by
which il regulated In the midst Of the disasters
and errors Of the continent Denmark had remained
unmolested protected by the firm but temperate poll
tics OF her court by the attachment of the inhabitants
to the family OF the sovereign, and to their
ona Independence, by the rigid observance OF strict
neutrality and by the moral turpitude attached to I'M
provoked aggression. From .te general policy of the
| RI or Nyns tn a uhppdp cd
and the Crown Prince OF Denmark, draining the res,
OF his domnons Of their forces had for three years
kept the flower OF Danish youth assembled on the
borders OF Hostein to protect the only quarter in which
aggression seemed to be possible from the entrance Of
that army which had long lowered on its frontier"
The historian then proceeds to relate the ap-
pearance OF the British armament on the coast oil
| Denmark the astonishment and Indignation
with which the Danes saw themselves suddenly
summoned to deliver up their feet-an astonsh.
ment which Mexico would have equally felt, il
what is now revealed had been urged on her
but that the conduct Of this Administration had
prepared her to expect Of itevery thing mon.
strous; the peremptory language of Mr.. Jackson
Afterwards envoy luther, and so odious, as
Copenhagen Jackson" that his presence here
as British ambassador precptated the evenc'
Of our war of 1919 tho resolute rejection of his
demands the bombardment, and its havoc in
Copenhagen, which, like Vera Cruz, was hall
destroyed. He then relates the impression pro.
duced through Europe BY the act, and the ex.
cuses Of the English Ministry, described by
Leigh Hunt as
=" the cream of oratons
In behalf OF bombardng ones friends and relations "
FROM BANESs HISTORY.
Calculating the amount OF the gain by this unprc-
cedented operation, England had obviously SET Off
first, the expense attending the expedition Copenha
gen, which probably amounted to the prime cost OF
the captured vessels second the mplacabe anmosty
OF the whole Danish nation against this country, devo-
ting them, with all the resources OF Denmark to the
service of Bonaparte third the resentment expressed
and acted upon by the Emperor of Russia, which ce
mentedit II did not dictate his alliance with France
and lastly, and above ALL the diminution OF that high
national character and consequent influence, which
Great Britain had hitherto enjoyed among the nation.
OF Europe. 1t was indeed asserted. in Justification o
this measure that his Majesty had received the mos
positive Information OF the determination of the pre-
sent ruler OF France 10 occupy with military force
the territory OF Holsein, tor the purpose OF excluding
municatlon with the continent ;or inducing or compel
ling the Court OF Denmark 10 close the passage Of tn,
Sound against British commerce and navigation ant
OF avaing himself Of the aid Of the Danish marine 70
the invasion OF Great Britain and Ireland !; and fur
Their, Holsteln occupied, Zealand would be n
the mercy Of France, and the navy OF Denmark at he
disposal The evidence OF the positive information
here alluded TO was never exhibited but it was con
tended, and from high authority, that ministers had NJ
occasion to produce proof OF their assertion that TIN
were public and notorious and to be found in tn
power aud luminosity Of France the weakness, an,
! hostile disposition Of Denmark and the importanc
other navy towards the success Of any plan which tn
enemy might adopt for the invasion OF these realm,
These circumstance, II ,cds nsisfed. made out cas-
of necessity: and the measure adopted ,pas one q
self preserration, The first lap of Nature"