Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-15
Non-IntercOurSe with Austria.

Lewis Cass, in support of his motion to
withdraw our Charge d'Affaires accredited
to the Court of Vienna. The occasiof
afforded Gen'l Cass an opportunity to give
expression, in an influential place and way
to those sentiments of disgust and abhor-
renee for the conduct of Austria in heI
treatment of down-trodden Hungary, which
persade, with unbroken unanimity, the
mhsse American people. Speaking foI
ourselves, we thank Gen'l Cass for having
moved in the matter, and we know Of no
means to effect the object better than that
he adopted. He moved for nothing more
than enquiry into the Prepriety of sus-
pending our intercourse, and the motion
gave occasion to a debate, which will be
read with profit throughout the civilized
world. We do not mean to say that we
advocate the protested end of Gcn'l Cass--
we certainly do not-and it is simply be-
cause such a course would be ineXpedien,
that we value the opportunity to speak out
which his motion gave place 20. Even
Mr.. Clay's reply will hetp greatly to give
effect to this public expression Of Ameri-
can sentiment, for Mr.. Clay places the
conduct of Christian (D Austria in the
same category with in6deI Turkey, bigot-
ed Spain, and SO forth, and only opposes
the non-intercourse, because, if we begin
thus to punish the crimes of Austria. con-
sistency might demand us to pass IL.
sentence upon half the world besides.
Whilst thus dissenting from any public.
overt action on the part of our government
in resenting the bloody inhnmanily OF
Austria, we do not say that there is not
another duty, of kindred though not iden-
tical nature, which demands performance
at our hands. We hold that it is not in
competent for the American people to in
form the whole world that it believes the
interference of third power in the domes
tic struggles between two parts of nation,
to be uniustifable, and at war with the
principles Of the law Of n0tions. As par
ties to the common law ol nations which
includes within its jur,sdic.o on every civil
lied people, we have right, nay it is our
duty, to protest against its iniraction.-
This is not going out of our way, or in
volving ourselves in the internal concerns
of other countries. tits, on the other hand,
protest against such interference, and
we'll becomes US to make, Whilst Hun
gary and Austria were at war, the inter
ference of Russia in favor of either party
was wrong, as wrong as it would have
been in the United States, TO have become
a party to the contest between Great Brit
ain and the insurrectionary Canadians, a
dozen years since. If, out of regard for
neutral duties, we hold our hand from aid
ing the strugglers for liberty and indepen-
dence, who almost always engage our
sympathies, we must insist that similar
line Of conduct be observed by those des-
potic powers who sympathize with the
other side. We 60 then to the length Of
asserting that it becomes the duty of the
American Congress to empower the Elk
ecutive of the United States 10 make a
protest, in the name Of this people, against
the principle involved in the late armed
Interference of Russia in the domestic af-
fairs Of Austria, that principle being hos
tile TO the common law of nations, and the
general welfare and happiness of mankind.
If we omit this measure, through negli-
gence, timidity, or false caution, we shall
have reason to repent the omission, and
shall be Justly chargeable with faithless-
ness to high and positive duty.
The ostensible purpose of Gent Cass,
viz: 10 suspend diplomatic intercourse with
Austria, is highly Objectionable on several
grounds. If we withdraw international
intercourse, we should endanger in no
slight degree the safety of ON large Medi-
terranean commerce. We have no guar,
antee that, in such an attitude as that OF
non-intercourse, the Austrian Government
might not permit the use of its flag by
any and all, adventures who might choose
to commit piratical depredations upon our
unarmed commercial marine. And only
at one point, Trieste, could we hope to re-