The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-19

took place recently between Mr.. Clayton, Secre-
tary of State and the Ministers of Denmark and
of Central Germany, in relation to the steamship
United States, her purchase by the German go
vernment, and her conversion, in the harbor of
New York, INTO a steamship of war. II embraces
all the letters written by the members of the ad-
minisratlon of General Taylor, in justification of
the course which it thought proper to pursue in the
matter, as well as those containing the arguments
urged by the Minister from Germany, in opposition
to the views adopted by the administration.
On reviewing that correspondence, one
pretend that General Taylor and his cabinet were
guided, and that they acted in conformity with the
policy which has heretofore guided the United
States in their relations with the nations Of Eu-
rope, where hostilities existed among them. The
principles laid down in the letters that emanatcd
fiom the cabinet are emphatcaly a re-as,ertion
of the policy pursued in former time, and were
based on the old, and we might add an
tiquated, law of 81, which law was founded
on the then existing condition of the United
States, and at time when we were
feeble nation, recently emerged from war of
independence crippled in our resources, bur-
dened with a heavy debt, and possessing no
great weight or influence among the nations of
having successfully resisted the greatest power in
the world, and obtained what we contended
for, although at a great sacrifice of blood and
treasure. This influence, however, was more
of moral than Of commanding description, and
would be of but little account, If thrown into the
scale of any European nation then engaged in hos
tility with any other power on that continent.
Peace and tranquility were what the United
States then wanted for "a state Of peace and re-
pose, after the arduous struggle which the republic
had recently undergone, was essential to our pros
perity, to develope resources, to enable us to
provide for our vast debt, and to restore the pur
suits OF industry, which long, dubious, and vast
ing state of hostility had interrupted. Such po-
lcy was the wlsest that, under the circumstances
in which the country was then placed, could be
| adopted It was founded on the instinct of self
preservation, which, as a general thing, is as
firmly implanted in nations as 1t is IN individuals,
tjand was obviously the best that could be laid
Iydown, at the time at which 1t was pronounced
X But the question naturally arises, does the ext
lsgency which compelled the United States, in 1874,
Ito adopt such line of policy was then laddown
by the United States for its conduct in It's relations
with the nations of Europe, then at war among
themselves, exist in the year 1Si9 Let the con-
tras which the country presents at this time, and
what it presented in 1894, Independent of other
considerations that entitled to elaboration and
consideration, answer. The feeble but indepen-
dent republic of some four millions of inhabitants,
has since then become one of the leading nations
of the earth its flag floats in every sea; its mill
tsry and naval power has been felt by its enc
mics on the distant fields of Mexico, and in the
British channel within sight of the shores of Eng
land; the moral influence which it has exerted
throughout the whole civilized world, may be
traced in the first French revolution, and in all the
struggles between liberty and despotism which
have occurred since that memorable upheaving Of
all the elements of national polty and society took
place From four millions Of inhabitants we have
increased to twenty-five, the sentiments of whom,
| and the manner in which they and their govern
ment look upon the scenes transprng on the other
side of the Atlantic, are taken into account and
deliberately weighed and considered before any
great step is taken in Europe. The people of the
United States cannot but see in the workings OF
the spirit of liberty in Europe-in the dethrone-
ment of kings and despots, the flight of popes, and
the universal thirst for the fountain of liberty
which characterzes the there at the presen,
time the fruits of the seed which their fathers
planted while struggling to sever the ligaments
which bound them to transatlantic master. Are
the people of the United States, therefore, well
as their government, to be tied down to the strict
letter of the law, and forbidden by policy adopted
during an exigency which no longer exists, and
| which, as far as human foresight extends, never
can again exist; are a people situated as we are,
who have been a cloud by day and a pillar Of fire
by night, to the despot-ridden people of Europe,
to arise in their might, assume the privileges Of
manhood, of which they have been for centu-
| ries deprived by force, and by a grand and
powerful effort arise and plant their heels on
the necks Of their oppressors, whether they be
pope. or kings-are such people, we should like
to know, and their government, which their ser
want, to be prevented and tied down by bundle of
musty and anuquated ordinances, from even CIV
| ing an expression of sympathy to those who
are now so nobly striving to accomplish what we
| have encouraged them by example and precept to
strive for, during the whole course of our national
existence? Are we even to be prohibited from enter
ing solemn protest against the minions of Russia
crossing their boundary hundreds of thousands at
the nod of the naughty despot of the North, for the
purpose of overwhelming the farest portion of the
European continent laying waste by fire the most
beautiful portion of creation, and putting to the
sword the millions who have announced their de-
termination to break the letters that bind them, and
| claim the rights of manhood?
Yet so it is. This great country, and this great
| people, are tied down-can hardly lift their voice
in sympathy for the suffering and struggling ma
tons of Europe and no matter how great the de-
sire of General Taylor and his cabinet may be to
give to the struggling masses of Europe the coun-
tenance and support of this government, they are
prevented from deing 80 by statutes passed at a
time when the United States was comparatively
weak and imbecile to what it now is, and when a
policy of strict non-intervention was the safest as
| well as the wisest that could be entertained.
We trust that Congress will, among its first acts
at the next session, take the precedents which GO
vern our foreign policy into consideration, and make
such alterations and notifications as the present