The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-22

which stand in the place of reason, argument
and experiences, that of the general welfare o
nations" is becoming the most haekneyed, witt
the exception of progress" "malch of mind,
and other delectable common places The no
torlous Senator from New York, in his la:.
speech in favor of "the Protest. dweIs emphat
ically on this point, and urges its adoption as
step towards the attainment of this great objec
of universal philanthropy.
There is no such thing as the general welfare
OF nations. 1t is a shadow, nonentity or i
it exists at all, is utterly unattainable by human
wisdom and powers. To attempt to administer
to the general welfare Of all mankind, through
the fundamentally of beings so imperfect ant
short-sighted as men, who are incapable Of at
tanning that happiness for themselves, is not the
generous ardor of faith, but the dream of pre-
sumptuous arrogance. He who sees all things
knows all things, and can do all things, He
alone Is capable of administering to the general
welfare of the human race. Even the common
welfare of single nation ia in great measure
independent of the action of its own govern
ment--nay it is utterly beyond the reach of the
nation itself. There is scarcely single mea.
sure of policy, however wise and beneficent il
may seem, that does not bear hard on some
particular class of the community, which thus
pays the price of the general welfare, as it ID
called. 1t is the same to much greater extent
with nations, whose interests never have been
and never will be identified with each other, on
if they were, would never be recognized by all
As in the case of individuals, what one nation
gains the other loses and all grow wealthy and
powerful at the expense of each other. Why il
has always been so. can only be known TO the
Great Disposer of events, who has permitted il
ever since nations existed in the world They
have always risen on the ruins of each other
Were the whole universe but one nation, il
could have no common welfare, because j,
would have no common interests The divers.
ties of habits, manners, climate, soil and races
present on impossible barrier to the adoption OF
any general system of social organization OF
government, because they create conflicting in
terests and prejudices that cannot be reconciled
Has the discovery of America---for example.
contributed to the common welfare of the abo
riginal nations which once possessed this cont
nent? Or has the conquest of India which has
extended the power of England and increased
her wealth, added anything to the common vel
fare of one or two hundred millions of the in
habitants of Hindostan Certainly not The
welfare of England might say that Of al
Europeans been purchased at the cost of the
welfare of the aborigires of Asia and America
This socialism--this community of nations
is even more absurd and impracticable than thai
of individuals /; and the attempt to extend it tc
the former, one of the widest schemes of
transcendental fanaticsm that believes mpossi
biities possible, ever engendered in a supinatec
brain. Nations are nothing to each other, bu
f strict justice in all their dealings This is thu
great conservator of their common welfare THU
, the great principle which is universal in its APP
pllcation at all times, under all circumstances
whether dealing with christian nations or pagan
bar barians. 1t lays at the root of all our obi
: cations to our fellow creatures, whether as in
dvidusls or nations. Even charity, and thai
more enlarged feeling of benevolence, called
! philanthropy, are only virtues when exercised
without violation of justice. If in relieving
the necessities, or administering to the suffer
ngs of one, we deprive another OF what is his
} due; or, if in extending our philanthropy te
other nations we sacrifice the happiness of oul
own countrymen, it cannot be called henevo
lence, because in comforting benefit on one
we do injustice to Others at least equally EMIT
led to our good Offices. In the case of individ
uals that would he no commendable charity
which should be exercised by robbing another
of his due; for if it were so, the villain who
plundered the rich to give TO the poor, instead
of being hanged, should have been canonzed
Neither in that of nations would it be any JUST
fable exertion of philanthropy, to sacrifice, OF
even place in jeopardy the future peace ant
welfare of our country in the mere visionary
hope of aiding another in the establishment o
its independence. This sacrifice is due to our
selves alone, and only imperative when we are
CHIleu on 10 maintain our own rlgnlS ana lDCe
pendence. Neither the law of God, of nature
or Of nations, imposes on them any obligation
but that of doing justice to each other.
| have thus briefly considered this subject
not in reference to the "Prote9t," but the prin
: cipe on which it il founded. II is inmateria
in this point of view, whether if adopted il viii
be beneficial to Hungary or injurious to th
United States. 1t is founded in doctrn
which, if it becomes the basis of the foroig,
policy of this country, will convert il into
mere sentimental noodle, always snivellint
over the bungling dspensatons of Providence
or political knight of La Mancha ever ant
anon sallying forth with lance in rest and vizo
down, attacking windmills, righting wrongs
uncaging lions, installing hocks of sheep TO
Q hosts of armed men, rescuing little boys fror
! being logged, only to be more unmercifu
: nogged when his back was turned, and relieving