The southern press., 1852-01-10

uuutCSo
GENTLEMEN: The Association proposes al
expression OF its feelings and opinions ia toas
which requires few PREDATORY remarks, to pre-
vent the conclusion that II conlemplates a chang,
in the policy OF our government--an interfer
ence in the concerns Of foreign States, the atti
tude OF which does not involve interests Of GU
own to warrant IT,
The right we indicated as nation in estab
fishing the government we enjoy brought with i
the right to interfere with the course of any gov
eminent that endangered it. We called to ou
aid foreign power to sustain the independents,
we asserted and the judgment Of al-includ
ing that of the government which opposed it,
now justifies the act. Are not the principle,
admitted in our own case applicable 10 another
precisely similar! The King Of France inter
posed in behalf OF our country, because he saw
in the colossal power of England, growing tc
omnipotence, through its illimitable increase or
this side OF the Atlantic, danger TO the independ
ence of his nation; and this justified his inter.
vention in the eyes Of all mankind. III the PEG.
pie of this country see in the march of military
despotism on the old continent danger to the
| liberties of the newt they see in the over
throw Of the independence of Poland, in the dis
memberment Of that republic, and its distribu
ton among the despotsins of the North--if they
see in the bloody sacrifice of Hungary, in the
utter subversion OF its time honored inderend
ence and the bitter oppression of its people I'M
der the lash, the hangman's halter, and military
executions en- masse--if they see in Austria and
Prussia the pledges OF the reigning houses to
govern under constitutional forms limiting their
power violated, and their adhesion given to the
Cars principle of extirpation of all govern
nient save that dependent on the sovereign's
will, enforced by the bayonet-if they see
the proposed German confederacy of States
vanish, and every petty prince become a
despot under greater de- pot-if they see
France that but yesterday had representative
government founded on written constitution,
put in an instant under the foot of standing
army, hired by largesses to immediate hecatomb
of the friends of the republic, and to force the
survivors to vote dictatorship, with the sword
at their throats, and the cannon sill sounding in
their ears the knell of the constitution and its
defenders-if they see this war of extermina-
ton triumphing over the principles on which
they repose for safety, and arraying the whole
power of continent in deadly enmity to their
institutons-may they not be permitted to look
abroad and gather some strength for their de-
tence-may they not make an effort to interpose
the masses OF the people, who IRE the immedi-
ate objects r attack, and by sustaining them,
ward off the danger threatened by the coalition
of despots-may they not be allowed to resus.
citate Hungary, and make her the barrier against
the endorsements of Russian ambition, as She
was once the buwark of Christendom against
Mahomet's religion and the rule of the Janissa-
ries? May they not discharge, in some small
degree their Obligations to France, by giving
their countenance at least to the revolt of her
people against the substitution of the sword for
their constitution! And if the French people
should fail in maintaining the free principles
which they carried from our shorss to their own.
may not ours be allowed to unite with kindred
nation, from which they inherited their kindred
institution (now threatened alike with a COM
mon danger,) for the purpose of arres'ing the
progress Of domination which would desolate
the earth
If the conflict shall be renewed in Europe
between the free and the despotic principle,
England, beyond doubt must have share in IT,.
She is too rich, too tempting to lie almostin the
bosoms of the victorious usurpers of the CONT
nent, and escape undespoiled, if size should be
neutral and wait zntil every other people have
suffered spoliation. And what have we to ex.
| pect from neutrality while Russia wages her war
for universal dominion, and England, and such
| allies as she NAV attach TO her cause, make re-
1
which we received from the belligerents when
Napoleon pressed on 10 empire over all the ma
tons, a Russia does now. Then our commerce,
and the pursuits which bring civilized nations in
contact, exposed our unarmed ships and citizens
to insult and robbery, our sailor 10 impressmeni,
and our government TO conte1 pit. To secure
our country from the ouirages inflicted by both
belligerents, IL was compelled to declare war
against that one whose insults and injuries were
the least tolerable. Can we hope now, when
the war Is intended to ex ermnate the principle
Of which our government is the great exemplar,
that our people " i'll be allowed the immunity OF
free trade and intercourse with the belligerents,
TO grow rich and strong amid their calamities,
uuder the pretext Of nonintervention in a con.
troversy which originates in the indictments ard
lungings Of the revolving nations growing out
of the blessings they see conferred by our repub-
lie.
If general war grows out Of the attempt TO
establish absoluism, we shall in vain try 10 evaie
our responsibility by pacific professions The
impending danger can only b. averted from us
by the ability Of the people of Europe, now kept
down by military mercenaries, to rise, like the
French against tie BourbOns, and assert their
own rights To encourage such efforts is the
duty Of every free people, and Of all that would
be free.
The Sultan, although a sovereign, did not
withhold his encouragement from Hungary in
asserting her ancient rights and independence.
lie gave a safe retreat and deliveraDce TO the
chiefs relied on for renewal Of her struggles
under happier auspices He defied the Au,ocrat
ard his ally, who demanded their surrender, and
risked the war denounced as the consequence Of
refusal. He maintained bis own good faith and
vindicated the law Of nations. An shall we
shrink from this dutyl Shall our .vernme I
hesitate 10 denounce ms a violation OF the law OF
nations tho intervention Of The Gar 10 crush
the free nations Of the carihl Snail il hesitate
10 declare il justi6cation--as n counter inter.
vention on the part Of every independent gov
eminent, and especially Of that whose principles
are struck down by the aggressorl
Our countrymen will not assent TO the one.
sided doctrine. They will intervene 10 liz up
those stricken down by Intervention.
"The exiles from Europe-Liberty and Louis
| KoSsuth y
The band struck up the weILknown Mar.
settles Hymn, and Kossuth, rising 10 respond