350 AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR EUROPE. 



created amongst neighbouring states, from their unjust exercise of 

 this potential power, but, it will be found, that their downfall, was an 

 evidence of the abuse, not the legitimate use, of the executive 

 authority, and, therefore, that this exception, should not prove the 

 rule. 



Yet, although to Europe, especially to Greece, and to Switzerland, 

 in particular, belongs the honour of founding first and foremost a 

 High Court of Arbitration, still it is to the United States of America 

 that belongs the greater honour, of establishing an International 

 Tribunal, and in giving it a practical character. 



Founded by the great American Statesman, George Washington, 

 in 1775, co-temporary with the foundation of the great American 

 Republic, this International Tribunal of the United States of 

 America, has flourished for upwards of a century, and is thus 

 referred to by John Stuart Mill, as follows : — 



" The Tribunals of the United States, which act as umpires between the Federal 

 and State Governments, naturally also decide all disputes between two States. 

 The usual remedies between nations, war and diplomacy, being precluded by the 

 Federal Union, it is necessary that a judicial remedj' should supply their place. 

 The Supreme Court of the Federation dispenses International Law, and is the 

 first great example, of what is now, one of the most prominent wants of 

 civilised society, a real International Tribunal." 



And it is a remarkable, but no less authoritative fact, that, through- 

 out the memorable history of the great American Republic, during 

 all the great events of the past one hundred years, of its wonderful 

 career, this Tribunal of Arbitration, founded with such conspicuous 

 wisdom, by that eminent man George Washington, has proved so 

 signal a success ; because, in every difiSculty and dispute, which have 

 arisen between the Federal Government at Washington, and the 

 Governments of the various Thirty-nine States of the Union, they have 

 been peacefully and satisfactorily settled by a reference to theTribunal, 

 and that only in one instance, and that instance the most memor- 

 able event in the history of that Great Republic, did the decision of 

 that Tribunal, fail to secure a peaceful settlement of the difficulty. 



In that instance, of 1861, the Supreme Court of the Federation 

 exercised its legitimate authority by force, on the ground, that no 

 one State of the Union, had a right to secede from that Union without 

 the sanction of the whole of the States of the Union, and the 

 result was, the tremendous conflict between the North and South ; 

 and, deplorable as was that conflict, few persons will contend that 



