Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-02-26
IPoIiGa9a1.
From tie United States Gazette.
WASHINGTON, Jan. so, 1916.

WASHINGTON, Jan. so, 1916.
Joseph r. Chandler, Esq
In giving an account of the debate on Wed.
nesday last, which arose in the Senate upon
Mr.. Aliens motion for leave TO introduce his
resolution of non-interference, spoke OF the
remarks made by MIR. John Nj. Clayton. in
noticing the declaration of MIR. Allen, that this
doctrine ofnon intervention, was democratic
and that il was hereafter to be made one Of the
test questions of the party. also stated tina,
| MIR. Clay ton asked when this doctrine had been
adopted by that party as one OF ifs articles OF
/ faith. and that he should, by reference to the
celebrated debateon the Panama question. that
those who now constitute the leaders of the
modern democratic party. were then opposed
to this doctrine, and spoke in opposition TO it
in both branches of Congress. Mr.. Clayton
in support Of this position, referred to and read
an amendment offered by Mr. McLane, of his
| own State, TO a resolution then pending in the
House of Representatives to appropriate mo-
ney to pay Ministers to the Congress of Pana-
ma. This amendment, among other things,
declared that the United States ought not s'to
become parties with them. the South Ameri-
can Republics or either of them. to a Joint de-
| cimution for the purpose Of preventing the in
| reference fany OF the European Powers with
TO any compact for the purpose Of preventing
colonization upoa the Continent of America (;
but that the people Of the United States should
be left free to act, in any crisis, in such man
ner as their feelings of friendship towards
those Republics, and as their own honor and
policy may, at the same time dictate"
Mr.. Clayton said that by the Journals of
Congress which he held in his hand, Mr..
Buchanan and James K. Polk of Tennessee
(not some Mr.. Polk" as the Union has it--he
said no such thing) the very man who is now
President of the United States, voted In favor
of this amendment.
Mr.. Clayton's object was twofold first, to
show that if those who claim to be the demo-
cratic party, attempt to make the doctrine of
non-lnterlerence a democratic doctrine, they
viii face TO the right about since 1896, when
that party which is now called, or calls itself,
the democratic party, was diametically OPP
posed to this doctrine, and made such opposi-
ton one of the tests of party faith: secondly,
to show that MIR. Polk himself had changed
| front on this doctrine, and went for what he
then denounced as heresy This was placing
| Mr.. Polk in no very enyiable category, and
one from which he would, Of course. be anx-
| ious to escape. TO help him out of his I'M
| pleasant dilema, the Union OF last night comes
| TO his aid in long article, believing here TO
| have heen written or dictated by MIR. Polk HIM
self The article, however, by whomesoever
written, does little more than raise a smoke for
the purpose of hiding Mr.. Polk, and allowing
| him TO escape in 1t. The article is headed
"SMALL WING TAcTIcs"-a very Polkish
| heading-and processes to prove that Mr.. Polk
| has not changed front, but occupies the same
ground now that he did in 1926. | shall not
I ,bra,,oh he "A
| half of rigmarole and fog, the fog increasing
in thickness as he proceeds, but will place an
extract from his speech on that occasion--that
is, upon the Panama question, side by side
with that part of his Message relating TO the
subject of non-iuterlerence OF European Pow
ers in the affairs Of the Independent nations of
this continent. and ask your readers to Judge
| for themselves whether he has not faced to the
| right about
Ertruot from Mr. Potf's speech IN 1896.
| Speaking of the amendment offered by Mr..
McLane, Of Del, which has been adopted by
the House, Mr.. Polk, on the Dist Of April 1896,
said: "He had voted for it, because he believ-
ed il was declaratory of that uniform course OF
policy so happily pursued by the Government
| from the adoption Of the Constitution TO the
present period; because it was, as he conceiv-
ed, still the true policy of the eountry and
| because, being opposed, as he was. to the pro-
posed mission 10 the Congress of Panama.
under any circumstances. he wished to signi-
| fy to the President and his Cabinet, by dis
| tinct expression of opinion by the popular
| branch Of the Legislature of the Union, the
views which they entertained of the true poll
cy Of the country. That object had been eff
fected by the vote of yesterday. BY that vote,
it was distinctly announced by majority Of
the House, as their opinion, that our policy
with foreign nations IS the same now as that
laid down by Washington in his Farewell Ad-
dress to the American people; that no circum-
stances had occurred In our foreign relations,
or in the political connexions of other Powers
with each other, which authorized us TO
change that policy, or to hazard the expert
ment of new one. We had distinctly de-
clared it as our opinions, by the adoption of
that amendment. that our policy was now, as
| it ever had been to observe a strict neutrality
between all belligerent Powers; that ia ertead-
ing ON commercial relations NTH foreign aatioas
,ce should hare tciih them as lille political con-
merton as possible > that we should 'preseue
peace, commerce, and friendship nth all nations,
and form entangiing alliances oitt none,' that
we should not form any alliance, otensire or
defensive or negotiate respecting such alliance
nth all or ang of the South .4aaeric@a Repub-
Ecs;' nor should ',oe become parties with them,
or either of them, to any joint declaration, for the
purpose Of PRE.N'E.N1TNi; THE INTER
| FERENCE OF any or THE EU-
ROPE.4.N POHERS WITH THEIR IN,
DEPENDENCE OR FORM OF COZ
ER.N.MENT' OR ITO ANY COM
PACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRE-
RENTING COLO.N1Z.41TO.N ON THE
! CONTINENT OF AMERICAN These
are sentiments, Mr. p said, to which he most
willingly subscribed However strong his
sympathies might be in favor OF liberty and re-
publican institutions, in whatever part of the
world they might make their appearance, the
peace the quiet, and prosperity Of has o'oa country
lcere paramount 10 erery other consideration
Eaiiuct from Mr.. PoDk's Message.
sit is well known TO the American people
and TO all nations, that this Government has
never interfered with the relations subsisting
between other Governments. We have never
made ourselves parties 10 their wars or their
alliances; we have not sought their territories
by conquest; we have not mingled with parties
in their domestic struggles ; and believing our
own form of government to be the best, we
have never attempted to propagate it by diplo
macy, or by force. Wemay claim on this con-
tnent like exemption from European inter-