The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-12
For the Southern Press.
Relies OF Scraps and Musings.


Relics OF Scraps and Musings.
No. SO.
TIE PROTEST.
This great gun seems to hang fire in the Sem
ate, and there is reason to hope that all its pow
der may explode in speeches, which will probably
produce greater effect on Buncombe, than
on either Russia or Austria The more reflect
on the subject, the greater are my objections to
all protests. threats or interventons, except in
cases where the United States are obliged, from
direct motives Of honor or of interest, to become
parties. As to the "common welfare of ma
tions," which Mr.. Seward makes the ground for
the interference Of the United States in behalf
of Hungary, it Is shadow-a non.entity.
There is no such thing as the common welfare
of nations, and if there were, it would be i'm
possible to make them agree in what that com
mon welfare consisted. They rise in course of
nature on the ruins of each other, and the down.
fall of one is stepping stone to the elevation
of it's rival.
But this is not the most important and inter-
estng view Of the subject. For ages past all
Europe-with the exception of Turkey, which
has but lately acceded-has at least proposed to
be governed by one great system of interna
tional law, in the application of which the
powers of that quarter have acquiesced, at least
in all cases where their own interests were not
directly concerned. But being neighbors, and
consequently having something like common
interest p preserving their political relations, as
we'll as restraining any one power from acquir-
ing preponderancy dangerous to the safety of
all the others, they have always assumed and
exercised the right, as part of the code of ma
tons, to interfere with the internal struggles of
neghboring States, either because they endan.
gered the peace of their own, or in some way
interfered with the general tranquility of Eu.
rope. Whether they had a right to do so on
the great general principles of international
law, is another question. 1t is sufficient that
they have always assumed and exercised that
right-England as we'll as the rest-and that it
has become recognized principle of the Eu-
ropean code Of international law. The right
of interference in the internal dissentions of a
neighboring people, or in behalf, or against any
one of the parties in a civil war, has been exer-
cised, as policy or interest may have dictated,
by every great power of Europe, on the ground
that # had direct interest in the issue of the
struggle.
Should the United States assume to dictate,
or even proclaim their adhesion to system of
international law, so directly opposite to the
maxims and practices of Europe, they will then
be brought into direct collision on great
question which must necessarily be decided one
way or the other, either by one party abandon
ing its settled policy, or the other relinquishing
its opposition. 1t has been long an established
principle of international law, that all States
refusing to adopt and adhere to that code, were
placed beyond the reach of its protection, and
considered as barbarians entitled to none of the
privileges or courteses of civilized nations.
They were in fact outlawed; for nations paying
no respect to the recognized law of civilized
States, could no more be associated with those
who did, than the Camanches or Apaches could
be incorporated with the States of this Union.
elf the United States intend to enforce this
new system of international law on Europe. or
to place themselves in direct opposition to its
application to one of the most important cases.
they might perhaps be placed out of the pale of
civilization, and secuted as Ferae Nature,
unless they would consent to respect the laws
OF those calling themselves the opponents and
arblters of the intercourse of nations. Thus
the Maui World no,,lA h., L.
direct conflict with the Old, as Europe and Asia
have long been, and one or the other be Obliged
TO acqulesce in the old or Few system of inter-
national law. Nations living under systems of
internal government entirely opposite, may
preserve pacific relations towards each other SO
long as they agree in those laos and usages
which regulate their intercourse with each
other; but such is not the case when they differ
in any great maxim of international law. They
must then either cut each others acquaintance
or cut each others throats, and the great law
of force decide the question.
That in the natural course of things such
contest may take place between the national
law of republics and that of monarchies is |
think very probable. But there is no occasion
to anticipate it by premature action on our part
1t will come when it will come, and the United
States will every day wax more able to main
tain the great conflict against an old moth-eaten
world onehalf Haunting in all the imbecility of
overweight refinement; the other composed of
an infinite variety of semi barbarans, who re-
main in precisely The same state they wee in
the days of Hesodotus. If the protest means
any thing, it means mischief; if it means moth.
'ng' that is the weakest Of all arguments in
'aVor of measure. Let it die out with Kos
SUN and his Hungarian bonds
ine CHOLERA has broken out among the labo-
uJ 90 ~" '''s Wabash and Erie canal, sections 81
ana "a. Many were dying.
Inc cholera has broken out violently in Jack.
son, Cape Gir.rdeau county, Mo. The inhabi.
tanta Wara aaizod with ,''o '"''"o'-