Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-09-22
IIon. George T.. uarsh,s Address.

A large and appreciatvo audience filled the
spaclou, Town Hall Tuesda, afternoon, to
hear Hon. Geo. p Marsh. After few words
ofgrateful introduction, in which he spoke of
the pleasure it gave him to be back once more
in his former home, and tho comparatively
slight changes he found in the village, and es-
pecially in the faces of his friends, or in the
number of their circle, Mr.. Marsh announced
that he should speak of the opinions held
abroad Of u, as Nation, and Of some of the
questions involved in the great contest now
going on in Eastern Europe.
In general, abroad, on every question, the
Governments entertain one class of sentiments,
and the people another and there, as we'll as
here, the Government is usually less worthy
than the people. BY the Governments Of Eu-
rope, then, we are regarded as a daring, un-
conscientious and unscrupulous nation. The
chief grounds of this opinion are, lst, On"
rapid extension Of territory. This they be-
lieve to have been uncallcd for by the noces-
sitics of trade or national growth-to have
been the result of the submission of the North
to the demands of the Southern States, and
intended by the South to secure the eSten-
sion Of Slavery. I'd, The change Of tone IN
pnbhc sentiment on the subject Of Sidrey, es-
peclaly among the Shareholders themselves.
Instead Of confessing a. they used to, that 1t
il an evil, they now defend it as a blessing,
and support it as the monarchies of Europe
support their thrones, by an appeal to Drine
H.. dc
non Of more territory 1t has been de-
cared in th, country that our system Of en-
tension i. to go on indefinitely. This threat
of universal dominion, while it has not
cited any actual fear lest we should anucx to
the American Continent the Continent of
Europe, ha. had an unfavorahle effect on their
opinion of us. 4th, Our disposition 10 poll
ticdl propo edndism. They charge us with
exciting revolutions wherever we can. 5th,
The position taken ,cith reference 10 our Ma
turoh; ed citi.en,, and those who haze declar-
ed their intention of becoming SO, Abroad,
some Governments admit tho principle OF ex-
patriation and naturalization, some do not
but all admit it with limitations. Our Gov
ernment allows no limitations 1t says that
he who has declared hi. intention to become
q citizen, is on leaving the country, clothed
with all the rights of n citizen, thus giving
him the full rights Of an American citizen
witiomthe limits Of our country before he
Is entitled to all those rights within the
country. 9th, Some Circumstances connected
r,th our National Administration such rs
the making Office a reward Of political ser
vice to the enormous extent to which it is
carried, and which is without a parallel else
where and especially the character of the
Ministers and Consuls sent out by our Gov
srnmcnt. The administrations of both par
ties, for the last twenty years, have sent out
for the most part. to represent us abroad,
persons distinguished only by ignorance.
ruiearity and rice. They have not been on
par with the average at home, and commonly
are ignorant of the language, manners and
business relations Of the country to which they
60, and even of the French. the almost uni
versai language Of Europe,
Thus, while as vet no great National harm
has followed, we are lowered in the eyes Of
foreign Governments. They look upon us as
a bold, bad people, They regard us as the
| New York Dutchmen did the Yankees. with
"groat respect and abborrencc.' The people
of Europe, however, look upon us with more
indulgence, They regard us as the great
source from which universal liberty is to flow,
The increasing prominence of the popular
element abroad, is worthy of notice. 1t in
crcascs in spite Of Its rcvcrses. The multi
! piled means Of fintercommunication, and the
fact that the officials ON all public works, es-
pecially on the railroads, which on the Cont
ncnt are Government works, are from the
people, tends to increase the direct relations
Of the people with the Governments, and to
bring up the people The enormous stand
Governments, may finally become so large as
to embody majority of the people, when
they will turn on their rulers and become in
struments of salvation instead Of oppression
Increased attention is paid to our affair.
abroad. They watch closely the new expert,
ments We arc trying in legislation, and, in
England especially, if successful they ars
adopted. The day i, coming doubtless, wher
Governments of our form will be found scat
tered throughout Europe.
While France is quiet, Europe is also quiet
Thu, far, Louis Napoleon ha. proved himscl
a wise ruler. He ha, built up personal po
pularity by multiplying railroads, and b,
vast improvements in Paris In tho event o
his early death, which may be considered
probable, as every week witnesses some nev
attempts at his assassination, all Franco viii
be in a blaze and Europe will be shaken.
To the revolution in spain, Mr.. Marsh at
tachrd no consequence. spain is almos
! Il, much isolated from the other countries a
japan.
Of Italy he spoke with great interest. IL
: had visited it in its length and breadth, an
believed it b'itcr propared for fr,c ,nst,tutica
M0h any ether CoUntry on the contirent. A
! evidence of this he instanced the rapid pre-
I grcss Of Sardinia in everything good since
| adopted a liberal government in ls+S. froi
lS49 to 1853, real estate doubled in value j
Genoa. During the existence of the Roma
: republic in IS, the private palaces, filled wit
the most costly objects Of art and luxury
J were open 10 the access of tho people and n,
\ n gem was lost. There was no theft and {,
70 period no crimc.-strong proof of the hig
n character Of the Revolution. All Itaiar
. agree n, TO the cause Of their present miscr,
They tell you universally that it is the p,,ss
hood, the ecclesiastical tyranny,
= Mr.. Marsh then went on to speak of tf
J. present contest between Russia and Turke,
s 1t is the great pol''cal question,a Slavery
e tho great morai question. Of tho day, o,
d hopes of liberty from the present contest ha,
II thus far been disappointed, The reason
d that all the powers Of Europe are united
!, maintlining the status quo. No eAceltlC
... l.. -. A. .,... r IL, E..-l.L Ill.