The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13

No. yL-Obstacles to a Federal Union OF Nations.
No one, we presume, will venture to deny,
that IL there existed code Of international law,
we'll digested, embodying only principles Of nat
urll justice, sanctioned by adequate penalties and
adopted by the free consent AMI choice of the
great Powers of the world, it would constitute a
basis upon which such confederatsd States might
hope prosperously and permanently to rest. The
Sxasnpie o. our own redSs~i u uon Ia entirely Ia
point, and may justly be regarded as settling this
whole controversy. It 10 constituted according to
the doctrine, that Force is a miserable safeguard
of the rights Of States, and Law the only sure
guarantee of public security. Accordingly we find
that thirteen independent nations, in the storm
lest period of the worlds history confederating
and resting together upon the simple platform OF
Law, have existed prospereusly and harmonious
ly for three-fourths Of a century during which
period, eighteen other independent Powers have,
at different times, joined the original thir-
teen 80 that now the world sees thirty-one stars
of different magnitudes bound peacefully into a
compact system by the predominating, all-pervad-
ing influence Of one grand central Luminary
that Luminary is Law, embodied in municipal
Constitution.
And our history triumphantly shows that Fed
eral Law is an efectual defence of State rights for
nowhere do our annals point to period when II
was necessary for State to arm herself against a
sister State either for the purpose Of asserting
the rights Of her own citizens, or Of repelling a
hostile invasion. This illustrious example ought
therefore to convince the world that similar
plan of Union, modified to suit the exigencies Of
the case, might be adopted by nations which now
maintain an independent and distrustful attitude
with respect to each other.
But, says an objector, the world is not prepared
for so radical n movement In consequence of the
general prevalence Of ignorance, its Importance is
not, nor is likely to be- sufficiently appreciated by
ruler and subject, to warrant any rational belief
on our part in it's practicablity. Indeed then what
is to be donel Must the political world forever
continue as 1t Is at the present hour Evidently
not. Inspiration, as we'll as the ohangeess law OF
society, points us to brighter day. Let us, how
ever, always bear in mind this important truth,
the more important from our disposition 10 over
lock it) that human mstyumenalai>s, Heaven
inspired, arc 10 create that happy day.
Ii is readily granted that the existence of so
much ignorance In relation 10 war and its evils,
is O great hindrance to the adoption Of the pro-
posed measure. Were the inhabitants of Chris
tendon generally enlightened on these points, we
might expect soon to see them gradually fall In
with this movement; but no one, IL is presumed,
not even the most sanguine, expects TO see it
crowned with complete success the next month or
the next year. II Is project Of great magnitude,
such as always advances slowly, and yet always
keeps advancing. We are confident, however, that
in no other enterprise Of corresponding import
ance was persevering effort ever attended with
more cheering success, than that which already
crowns the labors Of such men rs Worcester,
Ladd, Burritt, Golden, Lsmartine, Jay, Sumner,
and Claiming
When 1t is shown that the prevalent ignorance
cannot be REMOVED, then only let as cease to hope
then II will be time TO talk Of mposibilaHs. Bot,
knowing that Truth is the antagonism Of igno-
rance and error, the duty Of US who hold the
Truth ON this subject 10 quite manifest TO cit
no longer paralyxed by sef-crested spectres Of
Impracticability but to arise, and, like true
hearted men, address ourselves TO the work of en-
tightening the public mind. We beseech you,
reader, do not get befogged just at this critical
point Remember, 1t belongs TO the creed OF all
who are truly men, that every Just measureis also
Possible. Believe that with Hcsven-nspircd
faith and you become one Of the true Heroes
believe less than that you cannot without forfeit
ing your God-given title TO manhood.
That q vast accumulation Of facts seemingly
lie opposed to our theory, We do not care to deny
IL Is too true that nations are unhsppiy divided
In sympathy and interest To maintain degree
Of selfrespect and to crafty feeling OF national
pride, Governments between which there exists
no dangerous collision Of Interests, generally we,
believe, observe q cold and distant cviity In their
diplomatic correspondence; but so beautiful q
thing as love, interlnking and binding together
distinct nations, has never yet been realized be-
meath the stars; whilst even the common courte.
sizes demanded by purely selfish international
code are often sadly neglected in the public In
tsrcourse Of States.
We appreciate, perhaps rs fully as others, the
obstacles 10 the unity Of mankind interposed by
the diversity Of races religions, creeds, rituals,
customs, and languages. We feel seriously en-
barrasssd by the hereditary preudiees, feuds, and
antipathiss, which prevail 80 extensively In all
States, as we'll a. by the laws and ordinances
Of which these ere the foundation
But with distinct perception and realization OF
oil these painful facts We still urge our plan ~
highly practicable ons-indsed, - the only practi-
cable one; for who does not know" says the
great Milton, that Truth 10 STRONG, S.rr TO
vaE A,slaHrY N and that Justice aios> 10 con-
servsbls7 Who doubts that all these impedi-
ments are such a. 10 vanish before appropriate
inf asuoss, which are at the command Of all true