Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-01-09

'heIp' bTdHu Isle ConntN, Tor thc purpose OF
expressing sympathy for the mission of the
great Hungarian. On one or two Of the well
drawn and rcihly-expressed resolutions
adopted by this meeting, we desire to say n
word.
The 80 Resolution is as follows =
Rcscired, That us genera principle every Ma
ton has tly!it t. determine lie own form OF Gov
eminent, uui that my Foreign Nation tho attempt
o interfere 10y iotre, prevent the tree eXercIsr ui
Nations viii, as TO its own internal institutions
tranSgrc~"rs what oulh, to be one OF the most vital
Principles Of International Law, aud deserves the
tKcrcratiUn OF all men.
All rigtt, and let us exccratc" it with all
our hcarts, and by the strong power Of en-
lgh'cned OrINioN and the still stronger power
of our own great EXAMPLE, 90 on, as ,cc hare
done, dltfusing the principles Of Rcpublcansm
throughout the world. Our firm conviction is
that the American People have done more, and
can do more a thousand thousand times more.
TO advance the cause Of rational Freedom en-
The continent Of Europe, by the Plough-Share
and the Loom, than BY the Sword,-bv the
Arts of Peace than by the blind madness of
War,-by following the precepts of WASH
INGroS, rather than the bloody footsteps of
ALEXANpER,--by mnding their own business.
i'll short, than BY cmbarkng III Il Crusade to
the ends Of the earth to fight for general
principle.' We perform our duty, in the eyes
%. God and man, we unhcstatingly believe.
and prove, also. our adherence to the general
principle" named. when we abstain from " in
rcrferng by force in the affairs Of the other
Nations Of the World.
The ith and 9th Resolutions are
Resolre1, That the time has fully come when our
Country should take a bold stand N behalf OF tins
Principle, and tina; the Government OF the United
states ought not only to protest against its viola
uun but also to back up such protest by the whole
power Of the Nation.
Resoired That while it is the duty of our Gov
eminent TO assume this position before the world
clone, II need be- yet ii ought, tar as possible ~
Hcure the cooperation OF other Governments.
Is il so obvious, then, that God has planted
tins Republic OH the American Continent, made
1t emlnenty and emphaticaly Republic Of
PEACE, raised it to a position Of urexampled
prosperity and power solely through the Arts
and the Principles and the Policy of PEACE.
for the purpose Of having it become, in due
time, Warllke and warning Republic, and its
great mission be, not the safety, happiness and
prosperity of its 25,000,(O0 of peaceful and
contented inhabitants, but the propagation of
"a genera! principle" in Europe, or elsewhere,
by fire and sword? We very much doubt It
Rather, we think, is it our duty and our exal,-
cd mission, (Flaying indicated the general prin-
ciplc named, by establishing our right 'to de-
tcrinlnc our own form OF Government W to pre-
sent 10 the World, by the excellence of our
institutions. the prosperity which has resulted
from their practical working, and the blessings
that have been st7cwn in our National path-
way by that Providence who teaches us to turn
our swords into pioughs, the noblest and most
effective argument to induce other Nations and
People to initiate our Example.
But, say our Grand Isle friends, it is not on
" "rHE DUTY Of cur Government" to cram this
general principle" down The throat5 of the rest
OF mankind, but it is lis duty to do it ''aioue ~
Verify, ox,rayayant admiration of the eloquent
and able Magyar, can 90 no further! Verify,
too, If the Guty Of Intervention, as expounded
by kossuth, necessarily flows from the recogni-
t'on of the princlpie that every nation has
light 70 determine its own form Of Governs
incnt,' then our Grand Isle friends cannot stop
an inch short OF where they arc! But there's
the ruo' 1t Is admitted that "eyery Nation"
has the right asserted, but it by no means fol.
lows that 1t is the duty Of every other nation to
protect her III the enjoyment Of that right 1t
Is the widest QuiXotisn to pretend any such
tang. The first and highest duty of 'our
Clos c9nmcnt' Is to the American People and to
take care that the Republic receive no detri-
rnent. 10 say that we are bound BY ann prin-
c!Pc, general or particular, lother than to main
tain the rights and dignity of the Nation) to
plunge. "solltary and done" into the field off
European revolutions and politics, to cxtricate
from It's bloody entangicments those for whose
oppression We may deeply sympathiac, is what
the sober second thought Of those who say it |
will rcpudiatc.
But, says the 9Th Resolution, We must sc
cure the cooperation of other Governments"
II possible. What other Governments ? Shall
We JON hands with MonarchcaI England. ,
which for centuries has oppressed Ireland with
= far beaver hand than Austria has imposed on
Hungary, and on behalf of the victims ofwhose
oppression the very American Congress which |
offered Il home on our Shores to kossuth and
has associates, directed our Executive to inter- |
fore; IF not, wlat other Government = |
France; Prussia If not, then VIC mus,
"assumo this position" as our Grand Isle friends
gay, alone" But We can't fight for liberty
IN Europe, alone, and that would seem to be |
the end Of it.
The 9Th Resolution Isl
kesotr'd, That while have every reason 10
hope that VAR would not grow out ot such course.
II inken by cur Government, and while we nre lovers
oi Peace yet there are things which We deem worse
than war, aud that to sui-r any foreign power, un-
resisted, Ia Interfere 10 crush the liberties of another
nation struggling to be tree and independent, is one
oil those more to be dreaded than war.
Very well. But there is another thing that,