The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-05
THE REP u BLIC.
WASHINGTON:
SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY 8. 1850
General Cas.,. speech.

we PuDllSH lHis HiolhihS '~h iSPoi'
of the speech of General CAss on his re-
solution of inquiry into the propriety OF
suspending our diplomatic intercourse with
Austria. The merits of the proposition
we do not intend to discuss. When
Senators are only prepared to inquire, it
does not become journalists to dognatize.
If there is any thing valuable in the mod
ern system of diplomatic intercourse, the
proposed measure is grave one, and
should be discussed with deliberation
corresponding to its importance. 1t is
very certain that there was nothing in the
speech of General CAss to enable an i'm
partial auditor to make up an opinion on
the main subject. 1t was a very elabo-
rate essay. The encomiums upon Mr..
WEBSTER and Mr.. CLAY were very we'll
deserved. The sketches revamped from
the newspapers, of Austrian barbarities,
were set off with pretty flourishes. If
the facts were drawn from reliable sources,
we should say that General CAss succeed
ed in showing that Austria was despotic
power, and that she had exercised her
power in the spirit Of despot, and very
much as despots have been in the habit OF
exercising power for many centuries. But
all this does not bring us nearer to the
point presented by the resolution. Be-
cause Turkey committed similar barbara
ties in Greece, did we dissolve our diplo-
matte relations with Turkey When
Spain was expressing her South American
Colonies, did we suspend diplomatic rela-
tons with Spain Because Russia OPP
pressed Poland, did we suspend diplomatic
relations with Russia These inquiries
suggest themselves to our mind in con-
nexion with the inquiry proposed by the
resolution. When we have examined
them for ourselves, we shall be better
able to understand the force of General
CAss's citations and pictorial sketches.
1t may be that when this matter is pre-
sented in statesman-like view, we shall
arrive at the same result which has been
reached by General CAss. Our feelings
90 with him. If he only asks us to abhor
despotism, and rejoice in free institutions,
there will be no difference of opinion.
But whether the cause of freedom and of
free institutions is to be the gamer by the
measure proposed by General CAss, is
another question. Despotc principles in
this age are not catching. There is no
danger of innoculating our republican insti-
tutions with despotic views; but is there no
reason to fear that the liberal cause may
suffer detriment, by withdrawing from the
Austrian court minister who serves at
least to remind the people of Austria that
there are free nations, and that the last
link between themselves and a more
highlyAfavored people is not finally sew
eredi ISupposing every thing that Gen.
eral CAss states to be true, is the ssgood
old cause" TO be advanced by the measure
he recommends
Suppose that the French and English
ministers had been withdrawn from Con-
stantinople, in consequence of the Turk
ish cruelty practised in Greece-is it not
probable that KossUTH and his companions
would have been delivered up on the de-
mand of Austria and Russia. If we had
sent minister of vigor and boldness to
the court Of Vienna, is it not possible that
American intercession might have arrest
ed or alleviated the suferings Of PROSTATE
and bleeding Hungary
But while we are not prepared, on a
hasty consideration, TO take ground against
a proposition which General CAss has
started for the avowed purpose Of making
himself acceptable 10 the American peo-
ple-there is one point Of the Generals
speech on which we are disposed to make up
an issue with him. And here we do not refer
TO bis treatment Of his old friend Colonel
WEBB In this matter there was an evident
difficulty in the Generals mind, to recon
Gle his avowed old friendship for this gen
tleman with the determination to vote
against this confirmation. He was obliged
to say that Colonel WEBB was highly quail
fed to discharge the duties con6ded to him;
but he could not do away with the ''precip-
itation" which he exhibited in entering
upon them. To this point we shall recur,
when we have had an opportunity TO read
the printed speech. We confess that it
seemed to US, in view Of the high com
mendation which General CAss bestowed
upon Colonel WEBB, and the sincere
friendship that he protested for him, that
he reserved very narrow basis to Justify
vote for his rejection.
The remark TO which we allude above,
as that on which we are disposed to take
issue with General CAss, touched the de-
sire for office which he seems TO think is
unusually prevalent at the present day.