The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-16
From the LosisoiIIs Journal.

MIR. BuTTltt, NIctnOuI5t w
nesday evening, when say that no address here
tofore listened TO in Louisville produced more
profound or more favorable impression, II was
most mastery and magnificent address. II was
rich in thought, rich in illustration rich in STYLE
rich in grandeur, and rich in its simplicity While
its great ideas taxed the highest powers of the
minds of all who heard it, 1t was Ineligible to
the humblest heart. We have no doubt that its in
huence on many will be enduring-that the seed of
good scattered with such abundant hand by the
lecturer fell on the prepared soil of many hearts,
there TO take root, germinate, and produce fruit
We shall not do the distinguished lecturer the in
justice to undertake TO give abstract of what he
said, but shall oonfine ourselves 10 a few of the
prominent features Of the lecture.
Mr.. Burritt is one of that numerous class OF
gifted men who feel that the first red streaks Of
better era than has yet dawned on humanity are
already to be seen in the gray horizon of the flu
ture. The prophets of the old world predicted this
period, and the tendency of things now is to the
alization OF this cheering prophecy. There never
ed hope of this better period is now cherished.
On the eve of the birth of Christ, there gene
raj feeling, by no means confined to the jews that
some great deliverer and friend to man was about
to appear amid the scenes of the world feeling
quite general and equally strong pervades the
hearts Of thousands of the best men of our day.
This is to be of peace and good will. an era
in which the brotherhood of nations, however di-
vided by race, habit or language, shall he univer-
sally recognised
A few centuries ago, and thousands of little
like communities were spread over Europe. The
great business of these communities was the pro-
motion of the spirit of war. Every castle was the
residence Of warlike chief, and around him dwelt
his standing army of obsequious dependahts.
These numerous little warlike communities, which
produced incalculabe dscord and crime, have given
way to large communities, which now assume the
dignity of nations The spirit of commerce is rap
idly weaving network of sympathy between the
different civilized nations Of the world, and is,
without designing IL, effecting vast work in the
uav of redeeminO mankind the wretched
condition of discord, alienation, and oppression
which was common to Europe when the feudal sys-
tern prevailed.
Mr. Burritt gave a most beautiful and radiant il
lustration of the manner in which commerce is
binding the different States together in bands of
adamant. If Great Britain were divided by line
drawn across the centre, there would be no very
strong ties of trade between them. But II the south
ern half of the island should float away two degrees
to the south, where blander sky might smile on
its soil and mature fruits which cannot be 30 well
matured in the northern half these fruits would be
introduced in the portion OF the isle LETT behind,
first uxuries to be enjoyed by the rich, and sub
sequently as necessaries to be used by all classes.
Thus tablet would spring into existence and
connect the two countries together. 1.-THE southern
half of the island should float of further toward the
SOUTH it would, at each remove, be capable OF pro-
ducing some article which would be introduced
into the northern half Of the isle, and each of those
products would add another table-ti to those al
ready formed.
AS the lower portion of the island reached the
tropics, it would, under ever genial atmosphere
and the influences of warmer sunbeams. become
capable of producing all the fruits of the tropics
besides coffee, sugar. rice, and other important ar
ticles of traffic and common consumption. These
products would be introduced into the northern
portion of the island, and rapidly become known
to men of all classes and conditions. What were
at first regarded as Injuries would, by use, become
necessares and thus other strong ties would spring
up between the two countries to strengthen the
bonds The slight ties which had originally sub
sisted between the severed halves Of the island
would thus grow into cable whose strength would
resist any pressure that could be placed on it. Is
in this way that nations, separated from each other
establish ties and become necessary to each others
comforts and happiness Providence has implanted
in the heart of man and in the constitution OF his
nature the necessity of intercommunication be-
tween nations, and, in consequence OF this consti
tuition, strong web of sympathy and interest is
weaving between them, which eventually must be-
come strong enough to render strife and discord
and an appeal TO the red spirit OF war impossible
Mr.. Burritt's remarks on the importance oil
France, England and the United States in the
great family of nations, very striking. These
three nations control hree-fourths Of the commerce
of the world Their union in any enterprise OF
good would be felt from the centre around the en-
tire circumference OF civilization. These great ma
tons rapidly coalescing in feeling, sympathy,
and interest; and the day is not very distant one
in which they will not only maintain pacific rela-
tions between themselves, but will be able to pre-
vent wars between the nations that are more or less
Ii is miserable old lie that has been propagated
through many Of the past generations, that France
and England are natural enemies OF each other.
This lie has led TO wars which have carried de-
sruction, wo, and crime into every neghborhood OF
both kingdoms For centuries these countries
have been for the greater part of the time engaged
in wretched, exhausting, and cruel wars.
Since the star of the Man of Destiny went down
in dismal shadow behind the rock of st. Helena, a
and kindier feeling has sprung into existence,
and the best men Of the respective nations have la
bored industriously in the good work OF removing
venerable antipathies, and in showing that the in
terests Of their respective people the same In
illustration of the good feeling which has sprung
up between the French and English, Mr.. Burrtt
said that last year correspondence between the
great cities of the two countries was established to
the pleasure of all concerned. Liverpool, Man
chester, Birmingham, Leeds, and other cities in
England had held immense public meetings, at
which letters were adopted and directed to be for
warded TO the people in the French cities OF Mar
the people of Marseiles was signed by more than
twenty thousand people. All these letters ex-
pressed the heartest interest in the welfare OF the
people 20 whom they addressed, and they
were most cordially welcomed in France. In the
different cities in that republic, public meetings
convened and letters responsive 10 those which
had been received from England were adopted. In
this way the people Of the two nations were tramp-
ling the old lie, which asserted their natural enmi
ty to each other, in the dust.
In conclusion, Mr. Burritt spoke of the object OF
his mission 10 the West. The American Peace So
ciety has resolved that large delegation as pos
sible shall be sent from the United States TO the
great peace parliament to be held at Frankfort on
the Main, next August. State conventions have
been held in all the New England States. New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware,
in each Of which steps have been taken to secure
senatorial delegates and delegate from each con-
gressonal district far is practicable. In Ohio
and in Indiana the preliminary step has been taken
and IL is desirable that Kentucky shall also be rep
resented. The object Of his visit 10 city 70
bring this subject before the minds Of citizens,
and TO induce them to take such a course they
may deem best calculated TO promote the great
cause.
Other nations have reaped the bloody field Of war
and the sheaves they have gathered have turned TO
be sheaves of Kissing serpents. The United States
has nothing TO hope for in the way of distinction by
devotion, however intense, to military ambition
St. Helena blocks up the pathway TO the glory Of
the sword The United States, to win high dis
tinction, must gain the brighter victories Of peace
Her prosperity nation and the happiness of her
citizens can best be secured, can only be secured
by devotion Of all her energies TO those magnif.
cent enterprises which spring up in the shadow Of
the olive She has mighty mission 70 perform,
and 10 perform il as she should and must, she must
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