The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-05

On the contrary, the course propose
would lose half its value, were any doubts to rest
upon the motives that dictate it,
And certainly, were they not open To the day,
should not look for that cordial appreciation which
! now anticipate from the American people for this
first effort to rebukc, by public opinion, expressed
through an established government, III the name oil
a great republic, atrocious acts OF despotism, by
which human liberty and life have been sacrihced,
under circumstances OF audacious contempt Tor the
rights of mankind, and the sentiments Of the civil
lied world. without parallel even IN tins age OF
warfare between the oppressors and the oppressed
say this first effort-for though the principle OF
public dsapprobation, in situations not very dis
similar, may be traced in the proceedings OF at
least one ofthe representative bodies OF Europe,
do not recolect that any formal act has been adopt
ed, rendering the censurc more signal and endur-
ing. If we take the first step in this noble cause
where physical force. with its iagitious abuse, II
not conquered, may be ultimately restrained by
moral considerations, shall add to the value OF
the lesson of l776, already important to the world
and destined to become far more 80, by furnishing
one guaranty the more for the preservation OF hu-
man rights where they exist, and for their recovery
where they are lost
Mr.. President: l do not mistake the true POSI-
ton Of my country, nor do seek to exaggerate
her importance by these suggestions. am per-
fectly aware that whatever we may do or say, the
march of Austria will be onward in the
course of despotsm; with step feeble or nrmer. as
resistance may appear nearer or remote, TIL she 10
stayed by one Of those upheavings OF the people,
which is sure to come as that man longs ior Tree
DOM and longs to strike the blow which shall make
it his. Pride is blind and power tenacious; and
Austrian pride and power, though they may quail
before the signs of the times-before b1Ticadss
and xation-by which streets are made foot
less and armies revolutonists, new but mighty an
gines in popular warfare will hold out in their cit
adel till the last extremity. But many old things
are passing away, and Austrian despotism will
pass away in its turn. Its bulwarks will be shaken
by the rushing Of mighty Winds BY the voice OF the
strained by the kindred sympathies of arbitrary
power.
: desire, sir, not to be misunderstood. do not
mean that in all the revolutionary struggles which
political contests bying on, it would be expedient
for other governments to express their feelings OF
interest or sympathy. / think they should not;
for there are obvious considerations which forbid
such action and the value OF this kind OF moral IN
terpostion would be diminished by its too frequent
recurrence It should be reservation great events;
events marked by great crimes and expressions on
on the one side, and great exertons and misfor-
tunes on the other, and under circumstances which
carry with them the sympathies OF the world, ike
the partition of Poland and the subugation of Hun
gary. We can offer public congratulations, as we
have DONE to people crowned with success In their
struggle for freedom We can offer our recogni-
ton Of their independence to others, as we have
done, while yet the effort was pending. Have we
sympathy only for the forunatef Or is cause less
sacred or less DEAR because it is Frustrated in the
dust by the foot of power? Let the noble senti-
ments of Washington, in his spirit stirring reply
to the French minister, answer these questions
sBorn in land of liberty, my anxious recollec-
tions my sympathetic feelings, and my best wishes
are irresistibly excited, whenever in any country
see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners OF
freedom
freely confess that shall hail the day with plea
sure when this government rejecting the true SEN
timents of the people, shall express its sympathy
for struggling millions, seeking, in circumstances
Of peril and oppression, that liberty which was
given TO them BY God, but has been wrested from
them by man. do not see any danger to the true
independence of nations by such course; and, in
deed, am by means certain that the free inter-
change of public views in this solemn manner
would not go far towards checking the progress OF
oppression and the tendency TO war. Why, sir,
the very discussion, in high places and free places
and here is one of them-even where discussion is
followed by act, is itself great element OF re-
tributive Justice TO punish it, when an atrocious
deed is done, and great element OF moral power
to restrain it when such deed is contemplated.
claim for our country no exemption from the de-
crees of these high tribunals and when we are
guilty of 1.-THE of the oppression and cruelty which
have made the Austrian name name OF reproach
through the world, hope we shall receive, as we
shall well merit, the opprobrium Of mankind
| anticipate, with confidence, the cordial sup
port Of the distinguished Senator from Kentucky
in this effort l will not doubt 1t, though l am
afraid from a somewhat playful remark he made
the other day. that he is a more jealous disciple Of
the stand still school than he was some years since,
when he proved himself the noble advocate OF South
American and Of Grecian freedom. have just re-
newed my recollection Of what the honorable Sena-
tor said and did upon those memorable occasions;
though, indeed, both the one and the other are
deeply imprinted upon my memory, as they are
yet upon the hearts Of his countrymen. Among
the many splendid efforts, both as an orator and
statesman, BY which he will go down TO posterity
honored and applauded, there are none higher or
boiler than these.
al have no conmiseration for princes" was his
characteristic declaration; "my sympathics arc re-
served for the great mass Of mankind. selfgov-
eminent is the natural government of man"
at ought to animate US" he said, upon another
occasion, "to desire the redemption Of the minds
and bodies of unborn millions from the brtaaiizng
effects Of system whose tendency is 70 stifc the
faculties Of the soul, and TO degrade man 10 the
level OF beasts"
Every where" he says at another time, ''the
interest In the Grecian lie felt with the deepest
intensity, expressed in every form, and increases
with every new day and passing hour" And he
puts an emphatic question emphstically, which
repeat 10 him and 20 every one If there IL any one,
who hesitatcs 10 Keep on dsitns, as MIR. tanning
said, with the opinions OF his countrymen, "And
are the Representatives Of the people alone 10 be
isolated from the common moral atmosphere OF
the worldS" These scntmenuhave no connexion
with the recognition Of Independence, nor IL their
expression claimed as the right the consequence
Of mere political act. They belong 10 man wher-
ever nc Dt pioStts
The honorable Senator describes, in burning
words, the crueltics Of Spanish and Turkish war.
fare, and in Murllo we have the very prototype Of
Haynau, and recent Austrian enormities may be
read in the .normitics powerfully portrayed al
most thirty years ago; and this apostrophe comes
10 close the reorganization: "Are we 30 mean, 20
base, 70 despicable that may not attempt 10 ex-
press our horror and our indignation at The most
brutal and atrocious that stained the earth
or shocked high heaven"
And am happy, also, 10 anticipate the cordial
cooperation Of the distinguished Senator from
Massachusetts,, who, upon a recent occasion, ex-
pressed his sympathy for downtrodden Hungary,
and his adherence OF despotc sway, in strain Of
indignant eloquence which would have done honor
10 the elder Pitt in The brightest days Of his intel
Iect awe have had all our sympathies much in
terested" he truly said, Gin the Hungarian effort
for liberty We have all wept at is failure; we
thought we saw moro rational hope Of establish
ing independence in Hungary, than in any other
part of Europe where the question has been in ag-
taton within the last twelve months. But despotic
power from abroad has intervencd 10 suppress H."
And the honorable Senator, in scathing terms
which will touch chord in the hearts ofsll hs coun
trymen, rebukes the Russian emperor for his inso-
lent demand q tho fugitives who had sought re-
fupe within the Turkish frontier
"Gentlemcn,v he says, "thcre is something on
earth greater than arbitrary or dcspouc power.
The lightning has lie power, and the whirlwind