Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-05-25

| consequence of the necessities OF
Spain, and Of her recklessress in push
ling the contest, which might affect the
fate Of these countries. French or
English assistance might be asked for,
and rights conveyed which would in
dvce these powers to take part in tbs
struggle, with view to ,ake part in
I the. spoiIs which might result from it.
4 On this, as upon many other occasions,
we halted in our course, and did not
come up to our own work. Such de-
clarations as those referred to- when
made by the head Of European ma
ton, are made authoritatively, because
he who pronounces them has the pow
efto enforce them. They become
settled maxims of policy, and other ma
)tions are aware that they cannot be IN
(terfered with, except at the hazard Of
war. But it is far different here
Great principles of conduct depend es-
sentially upon public sentiment, and
can only be enforced by the action Of
Congress. Public sentiment in this
country has, I believe, with unusual
unanimity, approved this principle; but
Congress has never, by action or de-
claration, given it the sanction of its
authority. ) 1t has rested, therefore,
barren among our archives, only to bear
fruit when the Legislature of the coun-
try adopts it as its own. My honora-
BILE friend from Ohio, [Mr. ALLEN
with that sagacity and energy which
mark his political course, seeing this
state Of things, and foreseeing lis con-
sequences, endeavored some two years
since to draw the attention Of Con-
gsess 20 this subject, and to procure its
authoritative action. But he failed
not, however from. the want Of those
Iexertions which ought to have insured
success; and we have come down 10
the present day with this great princi-
|ple-recommended, indeed, but not
asserted. by the only body which has
the power to give efec, to the asser
ton. H., ,r.-.. ....... ....s... .r..
Mr.. President, a few brief rehec-
tons will, l think, satisfy us that this
measure is as just as it is important;
and now, when we must discard or
embrace it, tits our duty to examine
the considerations which are connec-
Ited with It, That law which regulates
the INSTRUMENTATION of nations, is
mot rigid and stationary. ltrests, in
deed, upon certain fundamental prin-
ciples ofrigh: and wrong; but many of
its principles change with the changes
Of nations, and accommodate them
selves to the progress Of society and to
THE existing opinions of mankind
/ Illustrations of this principle are famil-
lar to every reader ofmodern history. -
I They are to be found in the questions
(which have been agitated about the
Baltic; the Black sea; the right of Eng
Hand, claimed and exercised at one
time to control the navigation Of what
she called her narrow seas; about the
equally absurd claim of Spain. which
she actually enforced for many years,
to prevent the vessels of other nations
from sailing within the neighborhood
Of her American colonies; and about
the. right of the Pope to partition the
new continent among the powers ofthe
I DID, have not had time to advert to
| the historical authorities, bit | am
strongly impressed with the conviction,
that when the Portuguese government
Fhad been transferred to Brazil, and the
permanent condition of the two coun-
tries became the subject of considera-
|tion in Europe, it was contended, and,
( l believe, admitted, that the two ma
tions must be eventually separated II
! the government remained in Brazil, as
the principle gould not be admitted that
European nations might become the
colonia! establishments ofthe American
powers. This was assumed as kind
of family law belonging TO the nations
Of that hemisphere, necessarily arising
out of their condition. s.a9 yitall II
When this continent was first set
tied, its true destiny seems never to
d have occurred even to the most Saga
! cious statesman. The colonial estab-
lishments were formed and settled for
the purpose Of commerce and profit,
and were held only for the benefit Of
the metropolitan governments. The
memory Of this condition oftbings sur
wives in the word plantations, yet re-
tanned as the name ofone Of our States,
land Indicating the object Of its early
establishment; and, in the term general
court, the appellation of the legislature
Of several members of the confederacy,
identical with the name Of the direc-
lting power of large corporations in
I England-such as the East India
/ Company and the Hudson's Bay Com