Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-02-25

be suspended. Assuredly there would be as
much reason for thus Furnishing Russia as Austria;
tor the offence is the same OF even worse What
shall we say to France, too, if we are to assume
this general supervision of the conduct of foreign
Governments Is there nothing in the course of
the French Government in Italy TO shock our re-
publican sensblities! Have they not inerfered
against the rights ofman and popular liberty. &C
coiding to our conception of the terms2 Nay.
sir, the conduct Of His Holiness hmselfis not he
yond the reach Of our criticism for his course to-
wards his subjects has been utterly opposed to our
view of his duties and their rights. We ought,
then, in order to be just suspend our diplomatic
relations with all of these courts Austria Russia,
France. and Rome. am not sure, sir, that the
list would stop here, if chose 10 pursue Ibis ex
animation further. But it is unnecessary for my
purpose TO continue the investigation ; l have said
enough to show the inequality Of the proposition
as it now stands, But have third objection to
this resolution, which is founded on the fact that
1t casts reproach on our history and past conduct
towards foreign Governmental reproach which,
in my opinion, has not been deserved by the sages
and patriots who have gone before us, or, indeed
by any of those who have hitherto been RESPONSE
BILE for the course Of ou1 Government. If, as this
| resolution assumes, it is duty to observe the
conduct of foreign Governments towards then
own subjects, and to punish them in this mode
for acts of oppression towards their citizens, or
for violations Of the gtta Of man according to our
conception OF their nature, then, sir, in times
pas. we have grievously failed in the discharge
Of cur obligations. From the institution Of our
Government M TO this period, how often ought we
no: to have exercised this power in the discharge
OF snei. duties ! With how many Governments
should We not have suspended such relations at
the time Of the partition Of Poland With how
DARN, han r
Which of the Euro!-ean nations would have esca-
ped after the treaty of Vienna, and during The en-
istence of the Holy Alliance ? Why, sir We
could not have recalled ministers fast enough q.
bout that period to have sgnalized our adherence
OF the daily violation Of the rights of man. in the
arbitrary disruption OF territories long united to-
gether, and the forced connection of people to
Governments to which they were ayerse
should waste the time Of Senate, if were 10 at
tempt the enumeration Of the casts iu which we
have failed 10 act as this resolution assumes we
ough. to have done. How often should We have
suspended relations with France, with England !!
Indeed, what Government is there in the clviliz-
| ed world with whom We should not have suspend
ed our relations at some period of our history, &C
| cording 10 the principles now laid down2 Per
baps we might have preserved diplomatic rela-
tons with the republic uf San Mnrno, by way Of
showing that it was possible to maintain such a
connection with somebody, according to the prin-
clpes OF action which we had laid down upon
such subjects. Sir, if this resolution be right,
then cur Government has been grevously wrong
in its past course in relation to these matters 10
vote for this resolution is to record that censure.
For one, | am not willing to do It, | believe they
acted wisely and we'll. They deserved the thanks
of mankind for their foreign policy, which has
won, as had supposed, universal respect.
But, Mr. President, object to this resolution
also, because it is indefinite in its nature We are
TO suspend diplomatic relations for how long g
Until Austria either establishes a government Ia
suit not herself OF the Hungarans, but to suit us
in that province, or until she makes an apology to
us for her misconduct TO her own subjects These
are the only modes OF atonlng for this offence upon
which we have acted. Having once entered upou
the affair, we could not withdraw from it with
honor, until some such satisfaction was afforded -
Should we have right to expect such termina-
ton of the dificulty2 Could we ever hope thus
to humble the pride of the Austrian Government
think not and if so this suspension of diplomatic
relations would be for an indefinite period. But
the question OF time is not the only thing left in
definite in these resolutions; the manner in which
the deed is to be done is also indefinite. We AFT
to suspend diplomatic relations with Austria. In
wha, maoner2 BY merely recalling our own min.
iser, or by Offering passports 10 the Austrian
charge who is now near this Government? This
resolution, 10 be consistent with ITSELF ought to dc
both for these relations would not be suspended
If an Austrian minister were here. Bat it may
be said that, under the circumstances connected
with the passage OF this resolution Austria would
| certainly recall her minister. Undoubtedy. she
would be forced to do SO from self respecl and al
though ii would have been more manly to have
dismissed their minister at once, yet it would be
Il 81, 4
mode as in the Other. We consirain the minister
to depart as much by one mode Of action as the
other. Now, sir, ii am right in this cons,ruc
ton of the resouliun--and maintain that am
whatever may have been the Intentions of its a,,-
thor-We, IN effect, deny 10 Austria the RIGHT Of
embassy TO us--a right secured to every sorereien
State al peace with us by the well-esablished
law of nations. | need rot quote authors up-
on national saw for SO well established prlnciple
as that Of the right of every sovereign State t.
send ministers TO another sovereign State whilst
there is peace between them. There is no res
pectable writer on the law of nations. with whom,
am acquainted, who does not recognize this RE ht
Indeed, it belongs to the very nature of diploma
tic functions that such right should exist
These were created to settle disputes and secure
peace. AS ministers Of peace, these persons are
respected by all civilized naluns and men civil
Ied man shows Ills homage to peace by the secu-
rites and safeguards with which he surrounds
such missions. Nay, under certain precautions
and formaities, the right Of embassy exists even
as between beliigefents otherwise all the ave
nnes to peace would be closed, except those OF
conquest on the one side and absolute submission
On the other. IL is and ought to be the universal
sense Of civilized man thai the doors Of peace are
never to be closed. Instances have been cited
know, in contravention Of this principle, but they
were not even exceptions to tie rule. IL has
been said that Government may. dismiss TO-
leen minister. So it may for his personal mis-
conduct, bnt not for the acls Of his Government.
unless this dismissal is the precursor Of war.
There are instances enough, know, of minis
tiers who were dismissed tor PERSONAL offences
which they could not claim to commit near another
Government, under any impuui,y pretended To be
derived from the law of nations. The Duke Of
Orleans. when Regent Of France, during the mi
norily of Louis XIV, imprisoned Spanish minis
ter but he detected him in plots not only agains,
his life, but his Government. SO too, in other
cases of personal offences against the municipal
law, or for insults offered TO it, passports have
been given by the offended Governments near
which the minister resided. But this right ofdis-