Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-07
SPEECH OF MIR. HUNTER.
On suspending Diplomatic Relations NTH AUSTRIA
OF VIRGINIA,

| OF VIRGINIA,
| IN SENATE, THURSDAY, JAN 81, 1850.
| coNcLuDED.l
Mr.. President, believe it the universal sense OF
mankind that the admission of the principle of non-in-
ervention corolary from the right of man TO self
| government and the existence Of independence in a
nation Who that is familiar with the feelings of that
period, can forget the anxiety with which looked to
the maintenance OF that principle at the time of Mr.
Monroes celebrated declarations, or the Importance
which we attached to itl We prepared ourselves to
maintain the principle upon this continent according to
our own lnvarIable practice towards the other nations
ofhe EARTH and were willing TO stake all upon the issue
And yet here, in Senate there proposition
IN direct opposition to that great principle. which
that time we Were willing to stake every thing to main
tam In 1879, Mr.. Monroe announced the foreign po-
icy Of the United States in such terms as these:
ln the of European Powers in matters relating
Nb a hay s taken
fore to candor and to the amicabe relations existing
between the United States and those Powers declare
that we should consider any attempt on their part to
extend their system any portion OF this hemisphere
dangerous to our peace and safety" with the exist
ing colonies and independencies Of any European Power
| we4 have not interfered and shall not interfere But
with the Governments which have declared their indie
pendence and maintained it, and whose independence
we have great consideration and just principles ac-
knowledged we could not view any nterposition, for
the purpose otoppessng them, or controlling in any
other manner their destiny by European Power in any
other light than as the manifestation of an unrendly
| disposition towards the United States"
| Again, he says:
&c The late events in Spain and Portugal show that
Europe is still unsettled. OF this important fact no
stronger proof can be adduced than that the allied
Powers should have thought itproper any principles
in the internal affairs of Spain. To what extent such
nterposon may be carried on the same principle is
question in which all independent Powers, whose gov
ernnents differ from theirs, are interested-eyen those
| most remote, and surely than the United
States. Our policy in regard to Europe which was
adopted at an early stage OF the wars which have
mains the same; which is, not to interfere in the in
terna concerns Of any Of its Po1oerSto consider the
Government de tacto the legitimate Government for
| us to cultivate friendly relations with" &c.
These extracts Mr. President are sufficient to show
thatthe great obecto Mr. Monroes declarations was
to protest against any departure from the principle of
non-intervention. He stated what was historically
truethat had practised towards other Powers upon
this principle from the institution OF Government to
that period. Such sir has been the wise and consde-
rate policy OF our Government towards foreign nations
| hereotore--a policy which has preserved our peace
with the rest of mankind for the greater portion of our
national exstence which has challenged the respect Of
others and under which we ourselves have grown and
prospered Nay, more, sir it has been glory to
have contributed something towards procuring some of
the advantages OF the principle OF Intervention to
other nations OF the earth; and in doing SO. have
added to the securities for the right Of self government
IN man. But we are invoked to reverse this wise
policy and overthrow, far declarations can do
so this great principle of international law and what
IS strange, invoked to do under the preence of
showing sympathy Tor down-trodden humanity and i'll
| dgnalon at the violation OF popular rights
Or, what greater INJURY could we niiict upon the
cause OF popular rights in system like the European
where arbitrary governments the rule, and free 60
vernments the exceptionhan to overthrow the prnci-
pie of non-nterventon? What new line of toreien
policy could we adopt so likely to endanger our own
peace the precedent of ourselves interfering in
the domestic affairs OF ohers2 What greater outrage
could we offer the right of people to govern them
! Of ffar in
tries not connected with politically physically and
overpeope who have never delegated to such auho-
rtys Where the authority to be found for such an in
reference, cannot Enthusiastically in the laws Of
nations or in any OF the maxms upon which we have
heretofore pracsed hear much said about the public
opinion OF the world and some talk OF the punishment
OF those who sin against it, fear there is some vague
idea lurking in the popular mind, and insensiby inu
encng men to regard this public opinion of the world as
positive political force upon which it is allowable for
particular governments to act have heard reference
made to certain very beautiful remarks of Senator
from MASSACHUSETTS the influence OF public opinion
upon this very Hungarian struggle and it to have
been supposed it was necessary consequence of such
views to carry out this public opinion of the world in
| this legislative action.
MIR. President, sir, struck with those remarks;
they were beautitu-and just beautiful in the sense
ID which they were probably designed. But the public
opinion Of which he spoke was not to be executed by
political or physical, but by moral force; not public
OPINION to be represented by any Government of the
earth or enforced by actual legislation. Sir who or
what body undertake collect represent the pub
TIC OPINION OF the Wordi A thousand invisible rills
swell the great stream OF that public opinion whose
current and whose course mark the speed and the d.
recnon OF the progress OF man. And who shall arm
himself with physical force to execute its decrees Like
heat and light, 1t pervades the universe 1t moves yr0-
PRO usore-none can hasten retard its course Its
subject is the human heart its agents thought and
speech it felt In every ham every house in the
civilized world; unbldden, and often unwelcome it en-
tiers where 1t will peneates into the secret receses of
tine soul of man, and the bravest and the most reckless
pause under that invisible touch which bind loose
a IN fplio IL
be beyond its reach and low indeed must be he who is
beneath its visitations. Arm it. sir with physical DOW
er! What need has it OF such assistance When right
II is Irresistible as truth itself and is only when wrong
when its own agents are in rebellion against it, that its
influence fails As moral power, its influence upon
man is great and benefcent its tendencies are towards
the promotion OF peace and progress; but treat it
as the subject OF political action, and the whole scene
is not merely changed, but reversed What had been
common blessing will become the scourge and the curse
OF mankind in the collisions which it would occasion
Peace will no longer be the general rule and war the
exception but will be the rule and peace the excep
ton. know, sir, that the sentiment is too prevalent
that this thing called public opinion authorizes and IL
interfere with the affairs OF our neiqhbors
This sentiment is the result OF that antagonism which
is going in this great moral world OF ours between
the principles OF individualism and sociaisman anita
gonlsm found every where, and daily growing tiercer
and deeper In State it is the contest between him
who would preserve as much OF the right OF individual
action is consistent with the peace and security of
society," and those who would give the majority not only
the rights but, in the end the property OF each and al
If you take more extended view, and look to nations
you find the same antagonism al work between those
who maintain the Independence OF each nation and its
right to act according to its own will long as it re-
specs the equal rights OF others and those who believe
that there Of natural bond of federal union be-
tween the nations OF the earth, and thar every naon.
under the authority OF public opinion is authorized to
nepose and Interfere with any and every other These
claim the right to take charge OF the general interests Of
humanity, and oppose the general will and opinion Of
man to the wishes and interests of any particular State
Sir this attempt to set up the authority of the nnhlic
opinion OF the world in any particular State as above
and beyond the sovereignty of its people within their
own borders, had It's commencement, as far as can
trace it, in the movements OF Exeter Hall-moyemenls
emanatng from excellent motives and pure designs but
which nevertheless led their authors to system Of in
reference in the affairs OF Others which has proved very
acting upon their own Government they undertook TO
move upon other nations TO influence their legislation.
Not satisfied with the moral force Of this public opinion
/ 40 To Tho 81 trade which thew ,ara 90 -.