The New York herald., 1851-12-20
OSSUTH'S SPEECH.

L II
GESrLEMEN--Highly - I value the opportunity to |
meet the gentlemen Of the Bar would have felt very
much embarrassed to have the address Of that
corporation before such and distinguished
assembly, had you, sir, not relieved my wel-founded
anxiety by anticipated just appreciation Of the d
culties ounded with, and which, Of course,
make 1t entirely impossible for to answer any expeo
taton Of ALL and especially such expectations such
an.integent meeting would be entitled to entertain
But you, sir have paved my way let me hope, that in
acknowledging the difficulties Of my position, you
the interpreter of this Distinguished assembys equs-
nmity and indulgence which, respectfully begmay not
be refused to when having been promised before
began Gentlemen Of the Bar, you have the noble task
to be the first interpreters Of the to make 1t sub
servient to justice to maintain its eternal principles
against the entertainments of and
principles to fs whenever they become obltersted BY
misunderstanding or by violence. When darkness Is
cast upon the light Of truth then told by old
Roman:
"veniet de plebe togsta
Qui jurs nodas ct legum epigrammsta solvat"
Let me in that briefly state opinion about the
system codifcation opposite to customarylaw You
have great authority for Observation-Disclosures and
really 1t may be presumptuous to state opinion
trary to his-st confess am friend ofcodifcaton
daughter and applsuse) am friend Of it, because
am friend Of free, unsrrestsd progress And code
arrests progress. It is iron hand, which hinders
the circulation Of intelligence and fstters Its develope
ment which freely must 60 toward boundless perfec
tion-the destiny Of humanity. (Appause) You know
what thick shadow cast centuries, upon the
field Of justice by the code Of Justnan; and how
yet whee enlightened nations aboring within its
iron grasp My opinion i that law must hold pace in
seevelopement with the developement Of institutions
and intelligence; but, until this, law Is and must be
object Of continual progress. Justice immortal eter
nal and immutable, like God himself. And the pro-
grefs In the developement Of law only then progress
when is directed towards those immortal principles Of
justice which eternal, like God himself; and whom
ever prejudice succeeds in establishing what
doctrine in customary law which is contrary to
the eternal principles Justice 1t Is Of your noblest
duties gentlemen, to avail yourselves Of the privilege
of not having written code to fettsr justice within
the bonds Of and prejudice (applause 1t Of
your noblest duties to apply principles to show that
unjust custom Is a corrupt practice an abuse and By
showing this to originate that change rather deveope
ment in the written customary law which necessary
to make protect justice instead Of opposing and viola
ting it. Applsuse) this be your noble vocation in
respect to the private laws of your country let
treat, you, gentlemen, to extend to that public law
which, regulating the mutual duties of nations towards
each other, rules the destinies of humanity. ZAP
plause) You know that upon this field, where rests
ccde but that Of nature and Of natures God which
your fcrefathers invoked when they raised the colo
pies Of England to the noble rank Of . free nation
and en- independent power esrth-you know that
in that eternal code there not written pettifog
ging subtleties, but only everlasting principles:
everlasting like those by which the world is ruled By
God You know that when artificial cunning Of ambi
us oppressors succeeds to dtort those principles into
pra,tce contrary to them and when passive indifference
thoughtessness submits to that above, as weakness
must submit It is the noble destiny-let say, duty
Of enlightened nations alike powerful Free to restore
those eternal principles to practical value that justice
right, and truth mV sway where injustice, oppression
and error prevailed. (Applause) Raise high with
manly hands the blasng torch Of truth upon the
dark field Of arbitrary prejudice Become the cham
pions Of principles and your people will become the
regenerators Of international public law. (Appause
1t viii. tempert tossed life has somewhat sharp
done So stin would dare say know how to read your
peoples heart 1t Is easy TO read It, because It Is
(Appiause) May others shut their to the cry Of
oppressed humanity because they regard duties bat
that iSs,inc. Of justice and generosity which the stamp
Of nankinds heavenly origin and II is conscious Of
D0rs thai the to restore the Law Of nations
to the principles Of justice and right and knowing It.
self to have the power Il willing to be as good :. Its
this eternal object Of my feelings and Of my thoughts
Of my sorrows and my hopes, becoms the opportu-
national law. Mankind Is come to the eleventh
hour in its desnies One hour of delay and Its
ciDations of your people-so tenderhesrted noble
and kind-than to mourn murdered nations Its
honor on a former occasion, these humble wishes to
sse each Of them connected with principle Of the
% S S
ttates may be pleased TO protect the sovereign right OF
the encroacbng interference Of foreign pc owers. Zap
plsuse) gentleman who came TO honor me with the
invitation Of Cir cnnaathat rising ,s wonder Of the
| which speaks volumes In one word, qualified that
to be PIRACY s Tne ,ss .a
ject. II convpces the mind, and warns the heart l
felt when heard the word sort Of moral power, which
almost made me forget that am but powerless exile
| felt but to BE- man, q member Of humanity; and
almost cried out Pirate where Is he' Let us go and
IGreat appiau,e) There IL such a moving power In
| word Of truth That word has relieved me Of many
speeches, (Laughter) want tore to discuss about
| the principle In that respect There be doubt
about what Is lawful what Is duty against piracy:
| tiors which ] am told I viii have TO contend with
| The fret is, that II Is leading principle Of the
ard that therefore you will not do II. suppose that
you pleased to become acquainted with what had
the honor to say on certain occasion in that respect
stating Jrsgmaticsy that the United States had never
entertained cone,sed such principle; and that had
Il done the United States had abandoned It. and
obliged to abandon It. because IL could have been
no principle, but a matter Of temporary policy the
exigencies Of which have entirely changed l stated
reference go win only briefly remark precisely
the same difference exists between alliance and inter
ence. (ATpaure) Every inderendent power nas tue
right to form alliances but has not the duty to do so
IL ain nsut II plesses to remain so Neither
alliances nor neutrality matter Of principles, but
simply Of policy and In that respect power has the
raht not to consider anything but IL. own interest BY
forming alliances, or BY sbstainng from them and re
naming neutral you may, perhaps contravene the in-
trests Of every other people but you offend not their
rights II is quite 20, as for instance you may have
chosen dine this evening at the Trpler Hail. and not
In some hotel you can choose not TO dine at any
hotel at all, and remain neutral towards all You OF
course will not very much have forwarded their in
terests by your neutrality, the interests Of the
hotel proprietoIs, BY entansling yourself into
treaty of decisive alliance with Mr. -. How
ever you have violated no aw-you have offended
no right either by your neutrality or by your alliance
reat appause) Ibeg to be excused for the vugarity
this comparison but want 10 be exactly understood
that II IL not cunning subtlety which intend to start
when speak Of an essential difference between neutral
ity and non-interference 90 may be permitted 70