The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-27

No. The Stability of Goyernment-Ifow Insured.
in view of the facts and considerations which
have already been prosecuted, we are authorized
to affirm that bqsis IL demanded for The na-
tions OF the world to rest upon That wherein
they now stand IL indefinite, uncertain, insecure
As we'll might We hope to bridge the bottomless
wide-roaring gulf of internal chaos with Conneo-
ticut limestone, or Niagara wire-suspehson, as
to rear an edifcc Of political strength and stabili
ty upon foundation like thai. Legislators and
kings have, With various success, been laboring
at that work age after age. Upon the whole,
history testies gainst all such builders and re-
pain ers OF political fabrics Diyested of all fat
res, cvism, and cant, her testimony, sifted and
simply expressed is this. That constitutions bald-
ing, with some few exceptions leases not yet fully
tested by tinie) may safely be set down fail
ure--the element, which lit is hoped may insure
the stability and pernanenec of political archi-
iecturo remaining still undiscovered Yet this
element as VIC oil know has been confidently
supposed TO be in the worlds possession from time
inmcinoriaL The problem, how to constitute n
State permanently stable IL assumed to be S0lped !;
and the solution, wrought out in the first epoch
Of civilization liz said to be- in the ultimate snay
sia plainly this. By arms and the munitions of
war. This solution however, is unhappily mega
lived by sound reason, rs we'll M by the sad ex-
| pcTlcuCo Oh phHt ages. fOr great
strength has certainly no tendency to encourage
| pacific dispositions in its rossessor. While the
nature Of man remains unchanged, his cupidity,
| oppression, and injustice, will ordinarily be pro-
| portoned 10 his means Of fndulging them, and
those nations will be the most frequently engaged
in war who are most competent to wage it "a
declaration which is fully sustained by the evil
| dcnce Of history. Most civilians convinced OF
this, now propose to rely upon the joint influence
Of military institutions public virtue and nteli-
gence Better assuredly; yet one may still ques-
ton the utility and potency Of arms as national
safeguard. Ii it b. true (tnd history reveals no
truth more plainly, that Sin the righteous retri-
! button Of Providence those nations which most
cultivate the arts Of war are made to drink most
! deeply OF its bloody cup" then surely prudent
regard for the public welfare will dictate the in
expcdiency Of increasing our military establish
| ment
But il, as statesmen teach us nations are both
by habit and by nature hostile to each others in
terests, then are we liable to INVASION however
virtuous or intelligent we may be as people /;
then foreign coalitions against us are possible,
and our national independence stands in jeopardy
every hour. Yet our physical defences are utter
| ly inadequate to such an emcrgency--our paltry
navy, our insignificant army, our few scattered
forts, are entirely insufficient to protect our vast
scaboard and extended frontier against the de-
scent Of the armadas Of an allied foe Ii the best
way TO prevent invasion is to be prepared to meet
II, we can never be really safe I'LL our defences
are stronger than those Of all other powerful ma
tions combined. We must crown our millions
with grim fortresses; erect battery to sweep
every harbor and landing on the Continent; sur.
round our vast empire by q line of Notifications:
I'll its million barracks with the flower of our Cit
liens; tumble every bell that swings in our
steenles into the melting pot tn make cannon bid
war-cilioes and magazines and armories and re-
cruting sergcants and plumed staff officers gods
Of the camp and field by the million, spring up
around us on the soil like mushrooms. BUT our
danger will by these very means be terribly en-
hanced-the engine which repels aggression from
abroad will certainly overthrow our liberties at
home and we shall find too late that our theory
of national stability liz selfsubversive.
Shall VIC then make the strength and security
Of States consist alone in the virtue AMI in'elli
gence Of the citizens SO some believe; and we
regard this theory less objectionable than
either OF the others IL is indeed our firm con-
vic'ion that were we to relipquish the miserable
cxpc,iens in which VIC now implicitly trust, and
in future rely upon our a2,S rather Than our
arm-upon Justice, equity, and honor in all our
public intercourse, rather thin upon mnskcts
swords, and PaiShans --onr position among sister
| nations even in the present enarchisa Of the
world, would he far more elevated than it now it,
and at least equally secure
Yet this is plainly not The true basis OF nation
al stability for it is TOO closely allied 10 that the
Dry unfortunately destined 10 be forever fheofg
ogIg) which assumes that reason AMI morality in
community of persons are themselves sufficient
20 insure happiness and social harmony, in the
absence OF all civil enactmenis.
What, then, IL the basis upon which alono all
enlightened nations may rest securely together?
Reason, necessity, and the Legislator OF the Uni
verse answer, LAw--lam International; law" the
principle, prccept aud requirement OF natural
Justice" As Law is necessarily the only basis Of
individual security 80 it is also necessarily the
only basis OF public security--a proposition evil
DENLY true, which, however, has unfortunately
never found it's way into the halls Of modern legis
lation
The way II now prepared for developing what
We consider 70 be tho true plan for establishing
justice among nations; anil here We intend 20 be
brief, claiming no praise for originality What
t,ons composed Of duly appointed representatives
for The purpose of framing a well-digested aud
authoritative code of international law; and a
high court of nations TO interpret and apply that
cole for the settlement OF all national disputes.
such Congress- remarked the celebrated
Kant ia ll9j "is the only means OF realizing the
idea of a true public law, according TO which the
differences bet ween nations would b. determined
by civil jndicature instead Of resortiug to war-a
means Of redress worthy obIy Of harbarana
IL would he improper il y newspaper article 10
entsrsiato the details Of project which has been
made the sub jet OF numerous extended disserts-
tionsswithiD the reach ~ all Oar next viii lie
devoted TO the obstac which hinder the federal