The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-07-26
National Duties,


the following views, which, so far as they de.
clare the duty OF keeping our hands off the ma.
tlonal property of others, and pay tribute to
the honesty of the present Administrations, have
our hearty concurrence.
But when the Ledger holds up European gov
ernmenfs as more honest and moral than our
own and threatens US with their displeasure, we
are obliged to dissent from ifs opinions. While
holding as decided views as any other men OF
The rascaiity of trespassing upon the properly
OF foreign government, we are fired, disgnsted
and sick at heart with the constant efforts Of
some journals TO exalt European morality over
that OF their own country, and to threaten Amer
lea with European dspleasure. How did Euro.
pean powers come by those possessions which
it is pretended are in danger from American
cupldIty? Why, mostly by robbery OF the worst
kind. The sun never sets upon those English
dominions" which have been ravshed unilstIy
from weaker nations
The Government of the UHited States has
acted with the greatest firmness and JUSTICE in
this Cuban affair, and il deserves and will re-
celve the appreciation of all good men, but we
VIII not endorse the vile slander of Lord Brough-
am, oy denouncing our country as nest OF pi-
rates, even though our countrymen shon,d sym.
pathlse with an act on small scale which is as
illegal and unjust as the ten thousand similar
acts which each Of the corrupt, oppressive. dis
honest, klngridden, rascally governments ol the
old world has perpetrated since its foundation.
The Ledger says:
national DUTIEs.--As nation, we belong
to family which is governed by code. In
assuming nationality, we did not assume the
position OF Ishmaetes, with our hand against
every man, and every mans hand against US.
This is the scriplnral definition OF piracy and
highway robbery; and the nations of Europe, in
acknowledging our independence during or af.
Ter our revolutionary struggle, did not intend to
admit pirates and highwaymen into their frater.
nlty In assuming nationality, we assumed all
its obligations as established by international
law, and have been acknowledged by other ma.
tons on that ground, and no other. Upon any
other we should have been equa; with the Bar.
barry powers, the common pest of civilized ma.
tons, whose exclusion from their common high
way was necessary for their mutual safety. and
for which exclusion they would have the rght
and the dutv 10 combine.
"Such being the duties o. our national posi-.
sltlon we must discharge those duties voluntari.
ly, or all other nations must compel us BY force.
We must act in goud faith, or be punished for
the contrary. A case is now before the world
which must be test. IL will prove whether
we have not an honest government; whether
we are worthy or unworthy of our insii utions;
whether all other maritime nations as strong on
the ocean together as we, will tamev permit us
to take the lshmaelitish position of Buccaneers.
or will unite against us for mutual protection.
This case is the Cuban case, and all the nfeli-
gent will admit that it is we'll fitted to induce
serious reflections. Some of our editors and
their correspondents, some of our public ser.
wants, some OF our merchants and traders, some
OF our adventures and fortune.seekers talk and
act as u we as nation, had unlimited license
TO conquer or plunder all other nations, under
the Pretence of extending the area of freedom;
that our national flag was feion ensign, under
which we might make free goods and free lands
and free Serran's of all other nations upon
whom we are strong enongh to trample. We
admit that the disposition is old, and we'll es.
tabished element of the Anelo-Saxon character.
But never before has it been so openly avowed
by portion of ourselves, however acted upon
by our Anglo Saxon consins Our Government,
so far as the evidence has been heard, has thus
far acted in good faith 10 maintain national hon.
Or and national obligations. But il has been
parts of our country; and it is now plainly told
by some that its efforts to MAINTAIN its laws and
It's honor are inconsistent with pnblic opinion,
and will net be sanctioned by majority Of the
nation. If this be true, though zoe do dot vet
believe it, then majority of US are entirely un.
worthy of our institutions, too debauched and
profgate for popular government, and no better
than the Buccaneers and Algerines of the sev~
enteenth century, OF than any other pirates in
any other age.
"And it we nre too debauched TO permit an
honest Government to discharge its obligations,
or 10 elect an hunest Government. all civilized
nations owe and must discharge duty to them.
selves and each other. A war with Spain in.
wolves war with England, France, Russia,
maratime Germany, and the Scandinavian Pow
ers. All these Powers have maritime rights,
which cannot endurs the doctrines which some
of Us so boldly proclaim and would force upon
our Government. And some of less Powers
have colonies. and Russia has an Asatic empirs
on the Pacific, which would greatly profit Sy
our good behavior, and be endangered By the
eorrupting influence of our bad faith. But
what, in the language OF Round Island rodom-
ontade, could all Europe do against us? We
admit that all Europe could not conquer us on
land, but also admit that Europe cond and
wonId sweep our commerce from Inc ocean.
Without mending our ways, we may need and
receive such a lesson; and ther, fore we com.
mend tine subject to all merchants and ship-nwn-
efs disposed TO favor Cuban and other predatory
expeditions. If the majority Of us are not hon~
est enough to sustain an honest Government in
its Gnty, then we must undergo ihe banof all
civilized nations, and be punished to the full
extent OF their power. So it is time for US TO
determine whom we will serve, God or the
Devil. - Richmond tKa) Rep
'It CHANGED some time since" writes friend.
"during an exhibition of Powers's Greek Slave
that Particular ungainly and yerdant specimen
Of Yankee, who longed to have sume definite
basis whereon to build his ideas ofsculptnre, re-