The southern press., 1852-07-13

tions of true policy are seldom legitimate or
practical, within which they are imperative and
then would the men of Massachu.
setts-received at Mr. WEBsTERs valuation, as
desiring freedom only with America, and pre-
ferring to share her subjugation if subjugation
were her destny-have been recreant to their
soil and their race. But we think better of
them, and we call in question Mr. WEBsTER's
facts ..
The early patriots of Massachusetts-ev
honored be their names-while liberal and phil.
anthropc enough to desire and to aim at the
liberty of all the colonies, not the continent, as
result concurrent with and in aid of their own
purpose, yet gave their allegiance and directed
their efforts, if we have read history Alright
primarily to the welfare and liberty of Massa.
chusetts Alliance was the path to success,
and they chose it. Having entered into union
for the war, honor and good faith, elements as
vital to nation as liberty ITSELF demanded that
they should make common cause to the end,
But it by no means follows that, could Massa.
chusetts have seen her own separate way to
independence, she would, or should, have sur
rendered that certainty for the problematic
Liberation of all. The truth is, that this colony
was urged to war by its own grievances, and
not by abstract aspirations for universal liberty.
Such theories were then unknown. Her people,
already advanced to high state of civilization,
were large consumers of those luxuries and
appliances on which Great Britain laid heavy
taxes; upon her towns were fastened the offen-
sve burthens of British garrisons; her leading
spirits, learned, able and accomplished, were
CALLED by an inferior position in the State which
they felt qualified to govern. With the other
colonies their commerce and sympathy was
comparatively small. The Purtans, who had
been rather inclined to the roasting of Quakers,
would scarce have been moved to war at the
prospect of Lord NoRTH's picking the pockets
of Friends in Pennsylyana-nor had they any
excessive affection for the Catholics of Maryland
But they felt that, however distinct in national
characteristics, the colonies had all common
interest as against the dominating power which
repressed their natural rights and fettered their
material energies, they saw that in the union of
the weak lay the only hope to overcome the
strong. They embraced alliance as a means,
not an end-and faithfully, honorably, they
played their part in that alliance up to its sue.
cessfu issue. Doubtless, in the hour of victo-
ry, their noble hearts rejoiced in the fact of its
having been so ordered by Providence that the
same blow which struck for the rights of Mas
sachusetts, had been potent for the achievement
of continental freedom. But shall we predi.
cate upon this laudable sentiment the probabi-
lily, or proprety, Of voluntary abandonment of
their own liberty in order TO share the fate
of their neighbors under a different com.
bination of circumstances Not so. Let
US illustrate by the case of Hungary and
Italy, revolted against Austria both at the same
time and with similar ends, but too far separated
for intelligent and useful cooperation. The
former country had at one time we'll nigh wrest
ed from Austria peace and independence. Had
such offers been made her, We spprehend that
neither Patriotism nor philanthropy would have
justifee the Hungarians in replying: We &C.
cept no independencc-we seek no rest-we
ask no peace-until the doubtful and distant
event Of universal European emancipatonEor
until struggling Italy at least is free. There
exists perhaps breed ofsuch madmen-but we
are hsPPy to believe that they cannot control
the patriots of any county now on earth-we
are very sure they could not have led revolu
tionary Massachusetts,. The history Of that
State, from the hour Of liberty achieved and
through the formation and earlier stages Of this
constitutional Union, shows a high appreciation
by her leaders Of their paramount allegiance to
her sovereignty and duty to her interests. Many
Of them hesitated about jeopardizing that SOW.
ereignty by what might prove too liberal del.
egation of its powers. ELBRIDGE GERRY re.
served its rights in opposing grants of control
over the militia to the President, lest such pow.
er might be used for the coercion Of States
and for the prevention Of di,union. The Hart
ford convention had its foundation in the asser.
ton Of distinct interests and separate sover.
eighties. II remained for the degenerate sons
OF Massachusetts, at later day, 10 offer her
birthrightin barter for mess Of Pottsge. Mas.
sschusetts had once rights TO defend against the
sggtessions Of amsjority. The march ofevents
has since thrown power into the hands of that
section with which she is most identified in
interest and sympathy and the msxims of liber.
ty then cherished as barrier against aggression.
have now become an obstacle in her path.
Hence the principle Of State sovereignty and
State allegiance is now ignored by the WEE
sTERs, WNTHRoPs, and statesmen Of their
school, not as an idea for which they have really
lost all reverence, but as plea too convenient
for minorities in their clamor for equal rights
and their justification Of resistance 10 wrongs
We have denied that the more recent course Of
Massachusetts and her statesmen has evidenced
the large love Of liberty, and extended phan.
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