Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-29
4 SPEECH BY LORD BRoUGHAM.
HIS VIEWS ON THE AMERICAN WAR AND THE FRENCH
OCCUPATION OF MEXICO.

MS VIEWS ON THE AMERICAN WAR AND ON THE FRENCH
OCCUPATION OF MEXICO.
Lord BRoUGHAM delivered an elaborate address at the
opening of the Seventh Annual Meeting Of the National
Association for the promotion of social Science at Edn-
burgb the 9th OF October In the Of his speech
made the following reference to the Mexican expedition
aud American topics in general;
great and but for its success very unpopular
petition has resulted in the occupation oil Mexico by the
French Government, and the foundation OF monachcal
regime nearly upon the principles adop in France both
regards the power OF the Crown and the rights of the
people 1t is impossible to question the advantages de-
vable from the change by the Mexcans, who for many
had suffered all the evils Of alternate anarchy and the
violence and plumber OF petty tyrants. Nor can any
friend of humanity and of peace begrudge the influence
acquired by France cav at the made of in favor
of Austria The peace Of the Continent is fthered by
whatever brings these two great Powers into friendly
But the establishment of French influence in Mexico is
likely to produce uneasy feeling In the now unhapply
dis United States of America and may by remote pos
sibity lead to amcabe intercourse with the South,
not perhaps against the North but in formal recognition
of the secession, and in breach OF the blockade The
friends of humanity would have good for amentng
any thing msnfesty tending to promote the contnu-
ance of the aud extend It's mschefs The term civil
war is now hardly applicable to this miserable contest
The people of the South banded against those Of the
North exactly any two European nations, dtripg in
all respects language have been banded against each
oher-the Austrians aud Prussans, for example. But
il what name may, can doubt that 1t
cruel calamity to the Americans themselves and though
in much less degree to the rest of toe world, which
with accord joins in reprobatng their conduct while
lamentng it's effects Each party of seeks to cast
on the other the heavy blame Of breaking the peace On
side is the wicked allegation Of property III human be-
ings the other, the hollow pretext Of making to
free American slaveryher shame and her curse, as all
except slaveowners admit to be- Hollow we may call
for those who proclaimed emancipation confess that
was Of hostility to the whites and designed to
produce slave nsurrecton from which the much enduring
rafur Of tha uhApn HVaf ha v
esteemed friend the preate who exas by his eoquence
and his virtues the of Wilberforce which he nhe
rts declare that the authors OF the cared
little for the blacks freedom for the whites and
they cali for determination of the to berae the
other.
| But. whatever may have been the proximate cause
of the contest the continuance is the result OF
tona vanity without example and without bounds lnd
vduas subject to this failing despised not hated and
is an ordinary expression respecting him who Is without
the weakness that he ia too proud to be VAIN But when
people seized with it they change the name, and call
it love of glcy of the individual we often hear The re-
remark that depcabe as the weakness IT, it leads to no
bad actions Nothing false. 1t leads to many
and TO that disregard Of truth which the root of
all offences. Certainly It produces none OF the worst
crimes The man who aRrey to vanity hirss not for
when nation is its slave Magnfying itself beyond all
measure and despsng the rest of mankind blinded and
intoxicated with sefsa'isfacton persuaded that their
very crimes proofs of greatness and believing that they
admired and enved the Americans have not only not
been content with the destruction of halt million, but
been vain of the slaughter Their object being to retain
great among nations for their extent Of territory,
they exuted the wholesale boodshed by which it must
be accomplished because they unable to make such
a sacrifice.
bonds which hold society together, and gave to millions
the Of showing their capacity has produced no
genius, civil or military while the submission to every
caprice Of tyranny had been universal and habual and
interrupted by single act Of resistance to the most
fragrant attractions of personal freedom. The mlsshes
Of mob supremacy have been constantly et for the Ca
lam. ty af
the management of affairs has resulted in the tyranny of
| the multitude To this tyrant the nominal rulers have
withheld their submission and the press catering
for the appees OF the popuace aud panderng to their
passions has persisted in every Misrepresentation which
might most disguise the truth to passing events exag
geratng each success extenuang each defeat often de-
scribng failure victory; while the multitude If the
truth by chance reached them, day sunk IN de-
spar another ested to scstacy almost at the pleasure of
their rulers and their guides.
Nor the alsehOods thus propagated confined to the
event of the war they extended to all things-to the
Of the Government and the acts of foreign
tons The public feeling must not be tbwarted the peo
pie desired to hear whatever grat6ed their vanity or
raised their spirits and in this deuson must they live
long the lasts and the rule in the hands Of the
mob The truth they will hear because they desire
to hear what pleasing and not what Is true But it
would be great mistake to charge on their alse guides
the foes and the crimes which they chime in With aud do
their best 70 perpetuate The people determined to
their Far from feeling Shame at The cruel scenes
which modern ages-Day, which Christian times-hsve
seen nothing to equa-a spectacle at which the whole
world stands hgnast almost 10 ncreduy-they ACTUALLY
glory in proof Of their higher nature. believe them
selves to be the envy the flower Of mankind aud fancy
that their prowess would triumph the most powerful
States Of Europe In such illusions their chiefs may not
practically join but the people beyond doubt prey
To them, and will continue 80 TO the end
Hear the just law, the judgment of the skies
They that hate truth shall be the dupss of lies
And If they will be cheated 10 the last,
Decisions strong rs hell shall bind them fast
The feeling toward England which prevails among the
American people, though arsiDg from the excess OF ma
ona vanity and its kindred envy certainly IN part the
remains Of the old quarrel that led to the separation We
hated and despsed neither feeling is at all reciprocal
but among kinsfolk il prevails in. degree almost
amounting to mental alienation; IL be hardly account
ed for without recurring to the ancient grudge OF the
American and it illustrates the soundDers OF the view
taken by those who have most considered the great sub
sct OF colonial policy that must govern our settle
nents to prepare for separation friendly terms,
always assuming that later their growth Will
bring about their nda pendence Some dstnR men
in the literary well political world have lately ma
tnlBed the opinion that colonies only burden and
that they give benefits worth the Expense they entail
This is great error, and for the first time
that describe it, Sixty years ago while residing here
published work 10 which the whole subject was fully
examined 10 all its branches, and demonstration gwen OF
the benefts-pOlitica social aud commercialof colonial
establishments with detailed proofs that their cost falls
far short OF their benefits and that the ascrbsd to
them had another origin The book very out OF
print, and have always refused to allow secoud edition
IL might now, however, be Of some the inorma-
ton contained respecting the colonies Of all nations ought
to be more generally dused The lapse Of sixty years
has doubt made great changes and the work to DO
viewed as historical with regard to the facts but the doc
trnes have been confirmed by all that has happened they
are entirely applicable to the present state Of affairs and