The southern press., 1852-01-17


luton providing for the election of delegates
which was withdrawn by the mover, and the
meeting then adjourned.
II. b. HoLcoMBE, Chairman.
Thos. Buford, Secretary.
For The Southern Press.
Intervention.
No. z.
The question | shall briefly discuss in this
letter is one of peculiar delicacy, and am APP
prehensive my mode of treating it may excite a
suspicion that do not sympathse with the pro-
gress of free principles in Europe With many
| that have come forth under that hallowed name,
| certainly do not; but, at the same time, de-
clare that never wrote line, or uttered SEN
timent in support of despotism; and that the
experience of long life has rendered only my
attachmentsto rational liberty more sincere.
But rational liberty no more consists in the
absence of all restraint, than does rational reli-
gion in the absence of all reason. Everything
is bad when carried to excess and both liberty
and religion, when one degenerates into licen-
tiousness, the other into bigotry, become equal
ly enemies to the happiness of mankind In all
the late struggles for freedom in Europe, many
who, like myself, earnestly wished them sue
cess, must have been forced to confess that the
sacred cause of liberty has suffered more from
the conduct of the people than their kings; and
with all my sympathies in behalf of their cause,
| cannot but say greatly fear the approaching
conflict if now brought to an issue, is much
more likely to end in an inAexible military des.
potism, or a lcentious anarchy, than a rational
enlightened liberty. The people of Europe are
great adopts at pulling down, but know little or
nothing of building up; and when free to act,
seem equally ignorant of their rights and duties;
they appear equally unconscious of the restraints
imposed on them by the exercise of the right Of
sovereignty, and become greater tyranis than
the despots they dethroned. People thus igno-
rant, or regardless Of their obligations to Others,
can never maintain their freedom, for they can
only be governed by force and of the impraet
cable schemes Of a scheming age, there is none
more impracticable than that Of giving anything
like rntonal liberty 10 people not well
grounded in the principles Of reason and JUS.
tice The less they are governed by these, the
more they require the restraint Of force; and
like irrational animals, they must be battered or
chained TO keep them from mischief Hence il
is that 10 people, either very ignorant or very
immoral, can ever be free, except as sayages are
free; for they create an absolute necessity on
the part Of their rulers 10 put rings in their uoses
10 prevent them from roofing up the very
foundations Of society. Hence, ! greatly qucs.
ton If there is any other possible mode Of infus.
ing the two practical principles Of freedom, and
disseminating the blessings Of rational liberty
among the nations Of this continent, except that
Of mixing them up with the people Of the United
States, who will teach them in time what they
will, fear, never learn Of themselves. LetJobn
BullIand Louis Babboon rail, they will, against
the rapacity Of "the great American vulture -
it amounts to nothing bot giving liberty TO our
neighbour, and sharing is blessings equally with
them. The United States subdue but to eman.
cipate, aud every acquisition Of territory is only
an extension Of civilization and liberty.
The great mission Of the United States is on
this continent, not in Europe, and doubtless ],
will one day be fulfilled. II is in the nature Of
man and the nature Of things, and neither the
laws Of Congress, the proclamations Of the Pres.
ident, or the impertiuent Intervention Of Eng.
land and France, can stop the tide Of fate, or ar
rest the progress Of deuge Of men driven for.
ward by the hand Of God. The United States
are destined TO give The tone TO the New World
in spite Of ignorance and bigotry. But for the
old threadbare, weatherbeaten world, question
whether il can ever be regenerated, except like
all the race of mortal men, by passing through
the valley Of the shadow Of death. There is no
cure for old age, 10 heaven above or on the earth
beneath; no fountain Of youth, except in fable.
The nations Of Europe must 90 through as many
transformations as Indur, and there is no telling
whether they will end N a sham or monkey
flock Of tame sheep or Of rampant boobies
Every dog has bis day 80 has every nation; so
has every quarter Of the globe. Asia led the
van; Europe followed it is now the turn of
America, If she will only mind her own business
and not be meddling with such rotten concern
as Europe. There is plenty of room for her
philanthropy in the New World Europe seems
to want the raw material for renovation, and the
remedies applied for its resuscitaiiou, will fear
only hasten ifs dissolution. To transform her
people into rational, enlightened freemen, is not
the work Of year, a generation, or an age.
Perhaps II they we're left to themselves, without