justice, it is one of your noblest duties, gentlemen,—­having no written Code to fetter justice within the bonds of error and prejudice,—­it is one of your noblest duties to apply Principles, —­to show that an unjust custom is a corrupt practice, an abuse; and by showing this, to originate that change, or rather development in the unwritten, customary law, which is necessary to make it protect justice, instead of opposing and violating it.

If this be your noble vocation in respect to the Private laws of your country, let me entreat you, gentlemen, to extend it to that Public law which, regulating the mutual duties of nations towards each other, rules the destinies of humanity.  You know that in that eternal code of “nature and of nature’s God,” which your forefathers invoked when they raised the colonies of England to the rank of a free nation, there are no pettifogging subtleties, but only everlasting principles:  everlasting, like those by which the world is ruled.  You know that when artificial cunning of ambitious oppressors succeeds to pervert those principles, and when passive indifference or thoughtlessness submits to it, as weakness must submit:  it is the noble destiny—­let me say, duty—­of enlightened nations, alike powerful as free, to restore those eternal principles to practical validity, so that justice, light, and truth may sway, where injustice, oppression, and error have prevailed.  Raise high the torch of truth; cast its beams on the dark field of arbitrary prejudice; become the champions of principles, and your people will be the regenerators of International law.

It will.  A tempestuous life has somewhat sharpened my eye, and had it even not done so, still I would dare to say, I know how to read your people’s heart.  It is conscious of your country’s power; it is jealous of its own dignity; it knows that it is able to restore the law of nations to the principles of justice and right; and knowing its ability, its will shall not be lacking.  Let the cause of Hungary become the opportunity for the restoration of true and just international law.  Mankind is come to the eleventh hour in its destinies.  One hour of delay more, and its fate may be sealed, and nothing left to the generous inclinations of your people—­so tender-hearted, so noble, and so kind—­but to mourn over murdered nations, its beloved brethren in humanity.

I have but to make a few remarks about two objections, which I am told I shall have to contend with.  The first is, that it is a leading principle of the United States not to interfere with European nations.  I may perhaps assume that you have been pleased to acquaint yourselves with what I have elsewhere said on that argument; viz. that the United States had never entertained or confessed such a principle, or at any rate had abandoned it, and had been forced to do so:  which indicates it to have been only a temporary policy.  I stated the mighty difference between neutrality and non-interference; so I will