AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL FOR EUROPE. 351 



the exercise, by the Executive Authority of the Supreme Court 

 was a proof of its weakness, but, on the contrary, its strength ; 

 for this great exception, must prove the rule. 



The Supreme Court of the Federation nobly vindicated its 

 authority, the glorious Union of North and South has been main- 

 tained, and one of the basest conspiracies of modern times, that 

 of a Confederacy, based on slavery, has been for ever swept away. 



But not only is our homage due to the United States of America, 

 for the practical adoption, the triumphant establishment of a Tribunal 

 of Arbitration, of a High Court of nations for dispensing law and 

 equity in International Affairs, but Europe and the world is indebted 

 to America, its government and people, for their persistent 

 endeavours, to secure the adoption of the same great principle, by 

 all the governments of the civilised world. 



Public meetings have been held, agitations of all kinds carried 

 on, to prove its necessity and its practicability, and even the Legis- 

 lature of several States, have addressed memorials in its favour, to the 

 Government, and to the Congress at Washington. 



We will quote one memorial which was addressed from the 

 Legislature of Massachusetts in 184.^. 



" That it is our earnest desire, that the Government of the United States would 

 take measures for obtaining the consent of the 'Powers of Christendom, to the 

 establishment of a General Congress of nations, for the purpose of settling the 

 principles of International Law, and of establishing a High Court of nations, to 

 adjust all cases of difficulty which may be brought before them.'' 



This scheme proposes, first, to define and settle the principles of 

 International Law, and then, secondly, to establish a Tribunal of 

 Arbitration, which shall interpret, and so duly apply that law, to such 

 International questions of difficulty and dispute, that may be 

 submitted to it for arbitration. 



This point cannot be too clearly, or too emphatically stated, as it 

 is not simply that nations need an arbitrator, one chosen from each 

 nation, or the recourse to a neutral or a friendly power, but the 

 great necessity, is a Tribunal of Arbitration, a Supreme Court, as 

 previously referred to in the United States of America, to decide, 

 what is the law of nations in every matter of dispute, and that will 

 give a decision, which shall be accepted as final, and, as binding, and 

 that will also prove a statutory enactment for all time, and a 

 precedent to all nations. 



This subject of an International Tribunal in Europe, has recently 



