The southern press., 1852-07-13
For the Souihsra Press
Relies Of scraps and Musings.
NO. HS.
IuE PROTEST

For the Southern Press.
Relies Of scraps and Musings.
..'s No. 9S.
.. me PROTEST.
This great run seems 10 hang fire in the SEN
ate, and there is reason TO hope that all its pow.
der may explodein speeches, which will probably
produce a greater effect on Buncombe, than
on either Russia or Austria. The more reflect
all protests, threats or inteyeutons, 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, il is a shadows non.enlity.
There is no such thing as the common welfare
of nations, and If there were, il 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 a stepping stone TO the elevation
of its rival. ~
But this is not the most important and inter.
esting view Of the subject. For ages past AL
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 a common
interest in preserving their political relations,
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 ne
tons, to interfere with the internal struggles Of
neighboring 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 right 10 do SO on
the great general principles of international
law, is another question. II is sufficient that
they have always assumed and exercised that
right-England as well as the rest-and that il
has become recognized principle OF the Eu.
ropean code of international law. The right
of interference in the internal dssentions of a
neighboring people, or 10 behalf, or against any
one of the parties in civil war, has been exer.
cised, as policy or interest may have dictated
by every great power of Europe, on the ground
that it had direct interest in the issue of the
struggle.
Should the United States assume 10 dictate,
or e!sn proclaim their adhesion 10 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 relinqushing
its opposition. IL 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 10 none Of The
privileges or c0urtesies Of civilized nations.
They were in fact outlawed for nations paying
no respect 10 the recognized law Of civilized
States, could no more be associated with those
who did, than the Camsnches or Apaches could
be incorporated with the States Of this Union.
II the United States intend 10 enforce this
new system Of international law on Europe or
to place themselves in direct opposition TO it,
application TO one Of the most important cases
they might perhaps be placed out Of the pale OF
civilization, and secuted as Feros nature
unless they would consent 10 respect the laws
OF those calling themselves the sKponents and
arbiters of the intercourse Of nations. Thus
the New World would be brought at once into
direct conflict with the Old, as Europe and Asia
have long been, and one or the other be Obliged
to aequiesce in the old or rev 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 IaDs and ussQes
which regulate their intercourse with each
other; but such lie not the case when they differ
10 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 a
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 il by premature action on our part
It will come when it will come, and the United
states will every day wax more able to main.
tam The great conflict against an old moth.eaten
world, one. half Haunting in all the imbecility Of
oVerwrought refinement the other composed Of
an infinite variety Of semi. barbarians, who re-
) main 10 precisely the same state they were il
the days Of Herodotus. If the protest mean.
any thing, il means mischief; il it means moth
ing, that is the weakest Of all arguments il
favor Of a measure Let it die out with Kos
suth and his Hungarian bonds.
, The cholera has broken out among the labo
rers on the Wabash and Erie canal, sections 2
and %. Many were dying.