Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-04-08

the suggestion had been made either in resolution or in
debate BY other member who had taken special part in
these proceedings but he could not reconcile to his udg
ment sit by while action about be taen without
ntimang this suggestion, which important In any move
ment which the House might see fit 10 adopt.
Mr. CUMMINS said il was not his purpose 10 enter at
length into debate upon France her history her pesen,
condition. or her prospects But nasmuch his friend from
Alabama (r. HlLLlAnD) and his friend from Tennessee
mr. HAsKELL) seemed 70 have inexperienced the spirit
and perhaps the OF the resolutions had honor
to Offer he deemed il nothing than right in seIfjus6ca-
lion TO say few words on this subject
Those gentlemen seemed TO apprehend and to intimate
not by expression direct but rather ty nnuendohat there
was something n those resolutions that breahed spirit OF
Propagandsm, 6r If you please. the spirit revolution He
begged leave say those gentlemen and TO all others that
he had drawn up the resoluon he conceived with
the separate and distinct propositions which had bear
ing on the political condition of France the general prin
cipes Of segovernment in republican forms Of government
To vndicate himself against the mpuaton either direct or
collateral of having introduced into this hall any thing nam
maory, jacobnica proPagandist he would proceed TO
read the resolutions in their order, and any gentleman
fit take exception Them OF to what he should say upon
them, he desired to have him rise and express it.
He read the first Of his resolutions.
There nothing than the ayerment Che sadly of
abstract proposition and he asked gentlemen there
any thing in it to which any gentleman could take exception
either language sentiment If there he desired
hear it, Were they not the principles Of self government,
emanang, like the OF the sun, from the centre, and
land, and combining themselves to this happy country,
but crossing the confines Of tyranny, entering within the
borders where rule and where soldiers control the
mind Of the people, where political and religious liberty
not tolerated. and where the press muzzed 1t became the
people of the United States to rejoice that the principles of
sef-govemmen had been disseminated and favoaby
ceved Did gentlemen take exceptions to this not
He then read the second resolution.
He had object Che sad) in drawing this resolution and
his purpose was that when this naon through its epesen-
taves in this hall and the other hall of Congress- should send
to France the glad dngs our sympathes with them when
should promugae them to the world whether bond Free
whether ruled by officers of their choice, he
wished to proclaim TO them, accompanying sympahies,
accompanying appreciation OF all audabe, all rational
efforts to free mankind from the shackes Of tyranny the high
principle which hold sacred and right that the legitimate
of all political power is the will Of the people only
the object of its exercise their good 1t would be recoeced
by gentlemen that the principle announced by the Pre-
mie of the late Government Guzot when speaking of the
French constitutions not year since, that the King
the Of all political power and that whatever power
not granted by the King his subjects reserved to the
King This the doctrine of monarchs Of the crowned
heads Of the world TO show that held doctrines dame
hicaly opposite, he had framed this resolution.
Did the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. HAsKELL) and
the gentleman from Alabama Mr. HLLTARD) take excep
ton to the language Were they unwilling say that the
only legitimate Of political power is the will Of the
people, and the only rghtfu end of its exercise their good
That resolution framed the principle which involves
radical difference between republic and monarchy Here
maintain that the people the of all power and
tnat Whatever power Is not delegated by the constitution is
reserved to the people, But in France the Premier declared
that all power inherent in the King and that all powers
not conferred by the King reserved by him. Now he
desired France and the world know the fundamental prn
cipe which maintain, and wherein differ in that
spec from the doctrine which has been cherished by the
pant Of their throne and his minister's So much for the second
resolution.
His third resolution forth the sentiment that sincerely
hope the may succeed in breaking down all forms
of tyranny and oppression, and in the establishment of free
and national for the good governed and not
for the aggrandzement Of those who govern And did gentle
men take exception TO that Was that incorrect Was not
government Of laws good for the governed of laws for the
general good Of all and for the aggrandzement Of those
who govern He thought 1t sef-eviden proposition.
He did not 10 that gentlemen of education might
not have expressed themselves in better He thought
possible that gentlemen of high aanmens bellies letters
scholars, might have made the language pleasing; he
sought only the of such language would clearly convey
the sentiment which he desired express courteousy and
snectfuly. That all he desired
And what the terms of the next resolution That
tender sympahies the people of France
and Italy in their present struggle for reform, and sincerely
hope they may succeed in establishing free and constitutional
government emanatng from and based upon the will of the
governed suited 10 their and condition. and such
will TO them liberty and safety He did not desire
TO tender sympathy with France she in '92,
she to be turned loose like wounded tiger to destroy,
and acerate and tear to pieces He expressed no sympathy
with RIGHTEOUSNESS any where. He had approval for
Con destruction at any time He desired that the good Of the
people should be secured and made safe He simply expressed
that resolution the hope that France would succeed the
establishment of free constitutional government the
suit Of her present struggle for reform and he had motive
for using the terms Unconstitutional government he used
them with the succeeding explanatory terms "emanatng
fom and based upon the will Of the governed suited TO their
wants and condition, and such will TO them liberty
and safety. because he thought evidenhe history
Of mankind had shown the Of his opinion and he
doubted not would continue show its correctnessthat
republican government could not exist great central
The histories Of France and Rome, and Greece,
gave their attesaton to this truth France cannot maintain
great central republican government France must divide
her empire into States She establish local governments
where the rights OF property and personal liberty shall obtain
security from local legislation. And when she has divided
her EMPIRE and in each division established local govern
ment which shall satisfy and depend the will Of the gov
erned, she must emulate still further She must link those
several divisions together by national government, esab
shed on the principle Enlightened this
Congress might be patriotic be doubted not il was,
could not satisfactorily eesse for twenty eight thirty States
Of this Union There many interests which could NOS
be legsaied upon but by local legislature Congress could
not wisely egae for Maine and Louisiana, for Michigan
and Virginia The legislation for those States must be local
and Immediate II would be efficient and such would
answer the purpose Of their citizens So If France were
made great central republic, and il Paris made the
heart of that mighty republic when Paris should move
every limb and would culver in sympathy There
would be danger in such government would be imprsc-
cabe in ts operation Make such republic and il would
inevitably dissolve in comparatively short period Of time IN
confusion and blood Hence he had introduced into his
utons the qualifying terms which he had read hoping that
she would succeed in establishing free and constitutional
ements, emanang from and based upon the will Of the
erned suited their and condition. and such will
10 them liberty and safety Did gentlemen take