The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-02

what would De likely TO become applied 10 the States
OF TINS continent! | trust II will be so considered
The doctrine OF Intervention maintain the balance OF
power essentially OF modern origin From the earliest
ages 1t IS true occasional combinations have been formed
by particular States, Tor mutual protection against the
aggessons OF apoweu neighbor History is full these
examples. Such cooperation is dictated by the PLAIN
est principles OF sepreservation Tor the purpose OF
guarding against the danger of being destroyed in detail
and II IS founded upon such obvious maxms OF common
that would have been remarkable il it had not
been resored to, from the moment human society as
sumed regular form OF organization. These defensive
alliances were deficient IN the permanence and mehod
cal arrangements which distinguish the modern system OF
the principle OF the right of Intervention to preserve the
balance OF power which asserted at the present day
But could only have been the principle which was de-
veoped they certainly attained the maturity or the
efficient force OF a regular system.
The modern doctrine of Intervention IN the affairs OF
other States which has sprung up within the last two
centuries IS TAR more comprehensive in lis scope 1t has
grown into practical system of supervision on the part
OF the principal European powers their own relative
forces and those OF the other States of Europe; and
though It may in instances, have been productive
of beneficial effects in maintaining the public tranquility
II has as frequently been instrument of the grosses
injustice and tyranny From the first extensive coalition
of this nature which formed during the long series
of wars terminated by the peace of Wesphaa, in 64S,
down TO the interference of Great Britain Prussia. Aus
tra and France in the contest between the Sultan and
Mehemet Ali, IN $780, period of nearly two centuries
interference designed, degree, to prevent what
was regarded as dangerous proectorae over the affairs
OF the Porte by Russathe exercise OF the right has been
for the tranquility of Europe and the independence OF
States. Practically it has often been perverted to the
worst purposes of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and cupdity.
II we look into the writers on International law,
think shall find sufficient ground for the right OF
intervention Grous, who in the early part of the
seventeenth century, denied its existence. Fenelon, who
wrote about half century later, denied it, except as
of self-preservaon and then only when the dam
ger was real and imminent Vatel, who wrote nearly
century after Feneon, and century before our own
times, regarded the States OF Europe as forming pollt
cal SYSTEM and he restricted the right OF forming con-
federaces and alliances for the purpose of Intervention in
the affairs of each other to in which such combi
nations were necessary 10 curb the ambition OF any power
which, from ITS superiority in physical strength, and ITS
designs OF oppression conquest threatened to become
dangerous to its neighbors De Martens who wrote
stence of the right under certain conditions, though he
hardly admits it TO be well settled rule of nterna
tional law; and he limits its exercise to neigbboring
States States occupying the quarter OF the globe
But, according to the two last writers, who have per-
haps gone far any other public ursts of equal emf
justes union of inferior States within the imme
date sphere OF action, to prevent an accumulation OF
power in the hands of single sovereign, which would
be too great Tor the common liberty.
am confident, Mr. President, tina. no one can rise
from review of the history of modern Europe and
from examination of the writings of her public usts,
without being satisfied that the right of Intervention
recognised by civilized nations what have stated II
to be-a mere right on the part OF weaker States
to combine for the purpose OF preventing the subverson
of their Independence, and the alienation of their terri
,Oi~''
be exercised only in cases of urgent and immediate
danger 1t is simply right of self-preservation, INDIE
foundation in public law, TO be asserted only in
necessy and when arbitrarily applied to practice amost
fruitful source OF abuse, injustice, and oppression. One
clear and certain limitation it happily possessesa mi-
taon which, amid all its encroachments upon the indie
pendence OF sovereign States has been surpassed
By universal consent by the unvaryng testimony of
abuse ITSELF 1t is not to be exercised beyond the mmed
ate sphere of the nations concerned pertains, rgidy
and exclusively, 10 States within the circle of poll
teal action It only by neighbors for the protection of
neighbos against neghbors that itscan, even upon the
broadcast principles, be rightfully employed When it
raverses oceans and looks the regulation of the pot
cal concerns of other continents it becomes gigantic
assumption, which, for the independence Of nations for the
interests of humanity, for the tranquility of the Old
World and the New, should be significantly repealed.
Mr. President review of the history of Europe dur
ing the last two centuries will bring with another con-
vcton in respect to the right OF nterventionhat
lance can be placed its restriction in practice to the
objects to which is limited by every public ust, who
admits its existence at all and that nothing could be SO
dscouraging TO the friends of free government
tension OF the system to this continent if the power
listed to Introduce it here. Though the combinations il is
claimed to authorize may, IN some instances, have pro-
teced the coalescing parties from the danger of being
overun by conqueng armies, the cases are perhaps as
numerous, in which their nerposon has been lent TO
break down the independence of States, and to throw
whole communities ofimen into the arms of governments
to which their feelings and principles were alike averse
The right, as has been (and IT cannot be too often
repeatedly with the utmost latitude claimed for it by any
public jurist, goes farther than to authorize league
the part OF two or weaker States to protect
themselves against the designs of ambitious and
powerful nelghbor In its practical application, it has
more frequently resulted in combination OF power
full States to destroy their weaker neghbors, for the
augmentation of their own dominions those of
their allies From mere right to combine for self
preservation they have made it in practice right to
divide, dsmeber and partition States at their pleasure
for the purpose OF diminishing the strength of pow
eu adversary but under the pretence Of creating sts
of balances which is artificial in its structure and,
some degree, ncongruous in It's elements, and which
single political CONFUSION may overturn and destroy DO
we need examples of the abuse of the power- will not
ment OF Saxony the annexation OF the republic of Genoa
the kingdom of Sardinia and the absorption of Venice
by Austria There is another and more aggravated
OF abuse to which recent events have given new
prominence In 772, Russia, Prussia, and Austria, I'M
der the pretence that the disturbed condition OF Poland
dangerous to their own tranquility, seized upon
about onehrd of her territories and divided it among
proportions she had become dangerous and they
seized half OF what they had left TO her by the first part
ton Sir she continued TO grow dangerous "a she grew
weak and years after the second partition, they
stripped her of all that remained In 1915 the five great
powers at the Congress of Vienna from motives of policy,
and not from returning OF Justice organized the
city OF Cracow and portion of the surrounding territory
with apopulaon OF about 100000 souls, into republic,
under the protection of Austria Russia and Prussia with
guaranty OF IFS independence IN perpetnty. Russia
pledged herself at the time to MAINTAIN her share OF
the spoil as the Kingdom of Poland, In name and form,
with constitutional government, She kept her pledge
seventeen years and then virtually Incorporated IT. as an
integral part into the Russian Empire The little rePub
lie OF Cracow was all that remained as monument OF
as an Independent State by the three great powers of
and northern roDe violation of their solemn