The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-05-10

judgments, than from the position which it holds
as the supreme tribunal of our country, uniformly
regarded expeditions fitted out within our jurisdic
ton, for their assistance iniractions OF our NUM-
| cipal, as well as of international law; and pursued
| the parties through all the various windings of
fraud and deceit, to stamp them with its reproba-
ton, and 10 inflict such punishment as lay in its
power Do not these conclusions, apply, tortiori,
to case where all is peace in the bosom OF that
land against which that expedition is directed; in
which no blow has been struck, no decisive action
taken by the inhabitants themselves! If so-and
it cannot be doubted-what becomes of the author
ity of Pinheiro Ferreira! Can it for moment
weigh against tina. of Chief Justice Marshall, sus.
tanned by learned bench, and the still stronger
support OF reason "Do as thou will be done by
is the maxim of Christian morality. Its direct ap-
plication is, perhaps, the best test of our conduct
Let us apply it. We will suppose Mr. Rhett and
half dozen such Carolinians, disguised with the
government of their country TO go over to England
and issuing bonds on the faith of the public lands,
10 e luip an expedition, by means of which they
would hope to reorganize the government in accord
ance with their views. What would the Delta
say of such an enterprise, and of the Engshmen
who should embark in it! We trust that its con-
fidence in our ability to defend ourselves would
have no influence upon its judgment Such prn
ciple is that of the bully, who is ever ready to
browbeat the weak, and truckle to the strong, and
not of the gentleman, whose conduct, under all
circumstances, and in all events, is governed by
the rule of right. But need not to have resorted
to hypothetical case. With what indignant
| language did the Delta speak of Mr.. Thompson,
the English aboliIionist, for merely talking in a
cause which he deemed that of philanthropy Now
1t appears to, us that either that journal is wrong
IN Its present principles, or it has done Mr.. Thomp
son the grossest injustice, for which an apology is
due from 1t. If this doctrine of Pnheiro Ferreira
endorsed by the Delta, is to have currency among
us, and it is TO be deemed virtue to enter with
blood and slaughter upon this Quxoiic crusade of
philanthropy, surely it can be wrong to under
take one with the milder weapon of the tongue
We shall, however, do all in power to dishonor
it, and we hereby enter most solemn protest
against it. We think all who attempt to carry it
into effect should be punished, and we would have
sent Mr.. Thompson back, in chains, if necessary,
by the return trip of the vessel which brought him
There are numerous other Inconsistencies and alb.
surdites into which our neighbor is drawn by his
adhesion to these principles, but have not space
TOR their exposure at present, and indeed we think
That we have done enough to satisfy almost any
intelligent mind. We will merely observe, in con.
GLIDING this part of our subject, that as he who
commits crime, in weakening thereby the social
bond, lessons his own security, is that of ma
ton impaired by any nfraction of that law which
serves as its protection and principal source of
greatness, by chershing its commerce and promot-
ing free interchange Of thought and art with its
neighbors
A few words to Pinheiro Ferreira. with whom
We have now, for the first time, mere speaking
acquaintance, and we have done. 1t is evident
that he has borrowed his principles from the jaco.
bncal clubs ofthe French revolution. Those doc.
trines were first proclaimed by Brissot in the Ma
tional Assembly of France, when that terrible con-
vusion was at its height. For ten years they des-
ecrated Europe with fire and sword, and by the
horror which they created for the very name of
Liberty, eounteracted in great degree the in
fuence which our country was beginning, even
then, to exert upon the world. Such was the pro-
pagandsm OF France, and it sunk, we trust for
ever, with the many wild ideas of that period,
under the cold embrace of military despotsm
That of America has been the reverse. Instead of
the sword and baycnet, her instruments of propa-
gandism have hitherto been the productions of her
industry and art, and she has sought to advance
the cause of liberty by showing the world the SUI
perior virtue, prosperity, and happiness of free
people. Glorious have been The results of this
method, which is daily making a steady progress,
and which must ultimately prevail.