Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-07-12
From Charlest on Courier.
SENSITIVENESS OF OPINION.

der to elicit an authoritative expression of the
opinions entertained by the "JefferSonian Re-
publicans" of Europe; concerning American
aifairs-the slavery question especially Kos
suth answers explicitly for himself, and also un-
dertakeS to answer for Mazzini, dsclaiming all
idea or intention of interfering in such affairs
The impression is strong on our minds that a
letter was read from Nazzini, at one of the an
tlslayery meetings of May, 1853, in New York,
which is not reconcileable with this declaration,
but We cannot now find the document, and it
s~stters not. We only refer to the snbjec. to
introduce the following sensible comments of
the New York Erpress, which show the spirit
that we should more generally entertain on such
points,
ave beg leave to assure Mr.. Saunders that
he need not have been in so great q hurry to
have Mr.. Kossuth's explanation 90 out by the
first mail steamer" We, on this side ofthe At
lantic, are not at all uneasy on the subject. In
fact, we do not believe our wretched country
would 90 into mourning, even if that 'explana-
ton should never have been sent. We have
now happily learned to survive the good or bad
opinions of foreigners-distinguisbe or undis-
tinguished. Ofcourse, we should MI be ambi-
tious to obtain the good opinion of the world in
general, but there has been of late years so
much running out of the way on the part of our
domestic demagogues, to produce the favor or
good opinion of this or that distinguished
stranger" thai it must not be wondered at if
the common sense portion Of the American pee
pie are sick of the whole system-for it has
really begun to be system. Who cares what
NJ. koSsuth may think of US or our institutions?
Who cares what the Manchester Abolitionists
may think of US? Who cares whether Mazzini
speaks well or i'll of MS? We can assure those
gentlemen, one and all, including Mr. George
Saunders, that they are absurdly exaggerating
their own Importance, and the Importance of
their opinions this side of the Atlantic, if they
imagine for a moment that what they speak or
write against US, is considered matter of con-
sequence. We are, fortunately, not so sensitive
a people, as We used to be, and can listen to
the "reprOaches Of distinguished strangers"
with equanimity and unconcern. When the
republican statesmen" of Europe make as
good home for freedom on the other side of
the Atlantic as american statesmen" have
made for all mankind on this side, it will be
time enough then for US to defer to the partic-
ular "opinions' which this man or that other
US or our country"
After introducing the letter of Kossuth-the
purport of which we have indicated-the En-
press continues:
The air Of selfimportance and the patrOni-
zing condescenson of Mr.. Kossuth are set forth
here with coolness that is refrigerating. THE
United States do not vet appear conscious of
their competent position. What pity tits, to
be sure? i would not contribute anything to
its (our) internal divisions How thankful,
indeed, we ought all to be!
Impertinences like these, however, do but
disgust rather than amuSe. Yet one is tempted
to inquire why it is that these gentlemen, whose
blatant iterations used to ring in our ears here
of the mighty deeds they were going to per-
form for Hungary and for Europe, the moment
the Russians crossed the Danube, why is 1t we
say that these personages are not redeeming
their promises at the seat of war-the war that
has been going on now for months-instead of
sitting in their cozy parlors near Regents Park,
inditing ridiculous epistles about America? =
As Consul Saunders is given to writing letters,
perhaps he will be kind enough to write one
more, pressing this query; for we beg leave re-
spectfuy to assure him that there is far more
curiosity on this side of the Atlantic to have
some light on that subject than there is OF anX-
iety as to what the sOi-diStant Jefersonian re-
publicaus ofEurope may have to say of u.s."
We think, also, that on the part of the South
ern press there has been manifested an undue
sensitiveness to the anti-slavery opinions Of
portion of the North A late instance of the
administration of criminal justice in our own
State, and another in Alabama-the first an
execution for the murder Of slave, and the
second a condign punishment for mayhem COM
mitted against save-have frequently been
commented on with such questions as these:-
"What will the Abolitionists think of this?"-
"What will Mrs. Stowe say now, &c.?"
To all this we need only reply to Southern
States and Southern Shareholders both have
higher and nobler motives to control their con-
duct and are sufficiently possessed of their du-
ties and responsibilities to be "a law unto them
selves" subject not to the capricious or preju-
diced opinions of others, but only to the Great
Judge Of men and States.