The Nevada journal., 1856-12-12
Gbe Neoaoa yournal.

than the laudations bestowed by the
press of an ascendent party upon a
pirate. Once it was not so. The pa
triot fathers who planted the young tree
of the republic and wateredit with their
blood, in whatever they did, invoked
the God of impartial justice and called
upon the nations of the earth to witness
the rectitude of their intentions. The
descendants of the stern old Puritans
had transmitted from sire to son the all
absorbing desire of the pilgrims to found
a Christian commonwealth, and the
chivalry of that period disdained to
build itself on murder, robbery and
wrong. National virtue, in the early
years of our history, was throned in
every true American heart, and sat ir
judgment on every measure proposed,
where the honor of the nation was in
volved. So nice was the sense of ma
tional honor, that in the first commercial
treaty with Greet Britain, an article was
inserted preventing, in case of war, the
seguestration of debts 1ue one nation to
another, though greatly against the in
terests of the United States, many mil
lions of dollars being due British mer-
chants at the time. This article was
proposed and inserted by John Jay, an
American. How closely those old pa
triots of that time adhered to all the
obligations of solemn treaty stipulations
Bonds of neutrality had strength and
durability then. Self-interest or popular
sympathy swayed not the right Full
faith was given to international agree
mcnts without vaIiabieness or shadow
of turning.
But to an instance. from which, COM
pared with scenes now enacting, par
allel may be drawn unfattering to our
selves. Who has not read the career of
the brilliant Aaron Burr, once wanting
but little of becoming President? 1t
was surmised that he designed to invade
Mexico and establish an independent
State, with himself at the head He was
seized and tried by the laws of his
country, and though he escaped justice,
the severer punishment of scorn and
execration followed him to the grave
Aaron Burr would be a hero now, instead
of traitor to his country. 1t was an
unlucky fate that his birth had not
been postponed to the present age. If
he was attempting to levy war against
his own country with the design of
wrestling a section from the Union, what
less has Governor Bell, of Texas, en-
deayored to do? How much less guilty
are several governors of sovereign
states, sworn to support the constitution
and laws! If his designs were against
Mexico, how much higher would he be-
lauded as his genius and capacity for
evil exceeded that of the owl-eyed free
booter of Nicaragua
There are neutrality laws now, but
government, if it does not secretly con-
nive at their violation, at least confesses
to an inability to enforce them. Ma
rauders leave our shores daily, bent on
murder and pillage. The strong arm of
the nation is held pinioned by party
which cheers on the rabble to rapine
and blood. More-to give full vent to
the spirit of carnage, and relieve the
government from the charge of helpless
ness or imbecility, General Quitman has
the boldness to advocate in his place in
the popular branch of Congress, the re-
peal of all neutrality laws. And to cap
the whole, demagogue has been elect
ed President of the Republic founded
by the virtuous George Washington
and his compatriots, who proposes to
make piracy conscientious crime bv
offering a price for property, and take
It without conn unction if the sum is re-
fused as insufficient by the rightful
owner. O, teapora o, mores