The Nevada journal., 1855-12-14
National Honor.

National Honor.
To every American citizen it belongs as one
Of the sovereigns from whom all political power
10 derived, aud by whose sancton oil treaties
are made, to regard.the national honor and, faith
in the observance of stipulations in which on
the one side his own voice has been heard, with
the same sensitive integrity and devotion to
principle as when his own individual word of
honor has been plighted with his neighbor. =
Indeed the personal honor of every American
is pledged to the sacred observance of the treat
les made by his agents, the rulers elected by his
sufrages to power. Our government is a Joint
stock concern whose character is dependent
upon the individual conduct of every share
holder. A higher degree of morality, and q
more intimate blending Of personal with nation
al affairs is to be observed 10 republics than in
arbitrary govern ments. Individual reputation
in the one case is involved with that of the
nation, OF which he forms an integral unit, aid
tht public opinion Of nations judges of the
whole, by the regard shown by individuals to
the good faith Of the government they have
erected. In tie case Of monarchies it is diff.
ferent. The citizen is alien 10 the political
power that rules. His vdce is not heard in
the compacts entered into with foreign poten.
tates, and his individual will is not known in
the diplomacy of his country On him does
not rest the soemnity of obligation that the
citizen ofa republic feels, but the authority
that makes treaty is alone responsible, and
having arbitrarily pledged the subjec. to the
support Of its acts. must arbitrarily compel an
observance of them. Thus the subject in a
measure stands in state militant with his
government, and when without the domin;ons
Of his sovereign and on foreign. soil may not
FEEL the tender solicitude for the honor of the
government he Las left, as he would had he a
personal interest in its reputation aud main
tenance.
Looking upon the action Of American fill
busters in this light. how sadly must their del
icate sense of honor be blunted, how faint nnd
obscure their ideas of Irrational faith and Justice
how dark the soul where the spark of patriot
ism should illumine
Can Walker and the vagabonds who hay,
aocked TO his sullied standard, like vul
lures around carcass, lay any claim to per
sonal honor, to the finer sensibiities of the hu
man breast, to that love of his country, whose
character aud untarnished name the patriot
cberishes as the apple Of his eye, Are they
AhzRIcANs-Americans in feeling, spirit and
truth No, choicer epithets than pirates md
murderers ought never be applied to them.-
Every true hearted lover of his country and
her fame, should hold them as traitors and
treat them as such.
When q vagabond maraudcr leaves our
shores to pillage and convulse peaceable peo
pie with whom we are on terms of amity, the
execrations Of Americans should be heaped on
his forfeited head, he should be e1patriated,
never more to enjoy the blessings of the insti-
tutions upon which he has brought dishonor,
but suffer ingloriously the penalty of malefac
tors at the hands Of men Of law an d order, eve.
ryvhere. Public sentiment ought to regard
public conscience as outraged, and counte
rance the wanton barbarities of men seeking
military glory At the expense Of the National
character, as il would the spoilers ofdomestic
happiness.
But so long as the press of o party, regard
less OF the rights of others, Of the duty we owe
to ourselves and the government We have es-
tablished, and for whose good faith our private
honors are virtually pledged, regardless too oil
hegood opinion of the civilized world, prates
OF manifest destiny and lauds the actions oi
6llbusters as the legitimate means to fulfil
that destiny, We may expect piratcal descents
70 be made upon the weak and inoffensive na-
tons, our neighbors. We may expect the
name Of that Union to be stained which gave
birth to hordes Of freebootcrs, and worse than
all, not only apologies for their outlawry, but
snstains and supports it by the sentiment oil
the majority, and in cowardly manner refu
ses to allow The government, sustained by the
same public sentiment and party, responsible
No Democratic President has actually fused
the strong executive arm of the government tc
crush tie spirit ofpiracy which has been ram
pant under their administrations, but if not Sc.
crctly conniving with it, has at least allowed a
laxity in the execution OF neutrality laws
But MilIard Fillmore annousced for the honor
oftbe republic, that fillibusters were without
.bc pale of the Nations diplomacy and pro
lection, and subject to the vengeance Of the
countries whose laws they outrage. For thu
restoration of the national character, it is tt
be hoped he will once more be seated in tht
Presidential chair and assume the reins o
State.