Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-10
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY
ON MR.. CAsSs RESOLUTION.

/ was
other day by the honorable Senator from Michigan to
me, to aid him in sustaining the proposition which he
has thought proper to submit, entities him, from the
great respect bear him, arising from the long acquain-
lance that has subsisted between u.s. TO response NV
worthy friend expressed very confident expectation
that would succor him and support the resolution that
| he has submitted on this occasion
! Mr.. KING. Will the honorable Senator, rs the hour
| IS late, permit me TO move an adjournment
| Mr. CLAY. ! am under the order of the Senate, and
am very thankful to the honorable gentleman from Ala
bana tor the kindness which prompted the notion but
| as ! am upon the floor, viii say few words.
| The honorable Senasorfrom Michigan was pleased to
express, in very confident language his expectation of
| my support on this occasion He expressed in still
stronger language his confident anticipation Of the sup
port OF the American people, and he will excuse me for
saying that there being these of gratifca
ton to him think the latter will be admitted to Be much
more agreeable to him than the tonner--inuch more
agreeable than the qualification to be afforded by any
aid assistance that could render in the passage of
| the resolution that he has proposed
Sir, the proposition which he has submitted to for
consideration whether in Its original form upon the
amendment which is proposed TAFT is a grave and Sc
rious proposition all propositions that are connect
ed with the foreign affairs OF this country The propo-
sltion that the COMMITTEES on Foreign Affairs be III
sructed inquire into the s1pediency of suspendinc
| diplomatic relations with Austria The worthy MEM
Der in front OF me MIR Halo proposes to comprehend
Russia also 1t proposes the inquiries merely in re-
ference any representative to this country from Aus
tria in respect to any representative Of Austria in
this country 1t proposes not the recall OF minister of
own, but it accomplishes only his recall but the
sending out OF the country the Minister of Austria who
! is here
Sir it is very it is put in the shape of an inquiry
and why it put in that shape2 1t not like the or
binary case OF private or local matter in which the
Senate caun0t be presumed to be in possession of all
facts connected with the case--in which it may be ex-
pedlent IN order to ascertain he refer the matter
70 commlttee tor investigation. and have report made
by that committee to the Senate. ALI the facts upon
which the honorable Senator bases his proposition are
IN their nature historical They relate to the war con-
Quoted by Austria against Hungary, to the rights Of
If tbo
empire, 10 the manner in which the conducted
to the manner IN which puustmens have been inflicted
upon those who unfortunately fell within the power of
Austria All these, sir, matters Of historical ma
! ture, not requiring the investigation OF committee
They are known to the Senate and it is my humble
opinion that the proposition which is before
ought to be presented exactly it it direct and
positive requirement. OF the suspension OF diplomatic
tercourse with Austria. Sir, have great confidence in
the members OF the committee to which it is proposed
to address tins inquiry should have been extremely
glad to have heard from my honorable friend from Ala
bama, and TO have known whether in his mature and
experienced Judgment in his superior knowledge of all
matters connected with foreign relations the propo
siton now under consideration does dot meet his
appreciation Ishoud be greatly disappointed if he had
gwen to any Previous or would bestow upon any
subsequent concurrence But sir, though have the
greatest confidence in him and the other gentlemen of
the committee, think he will concur with mo in sup
posing that is not fit subject of inquiry by eommt
tee The facts are national they are historical they
are known to the whole world and Just as much
prepared now to say whether diplomatic intercourse
should be suspended with Austria and Russa-for Rus
STA, too, Is named-aS shall be after the most eabo
rate report that can be prepared after the most abo
rous research by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Sir think that the question ought be treated as if
it were dires proposition to suspend diplomatic inter-
with the Power indicated in the original resou-
ton And, sir, have been at first very much struck
with the ofsympahy between the premises and con-
cluson OF the honorable Senator from Michigan In
his premises ne depicted the enormes OF Austrian des
posm Who doubts the preparation of those enormi-
ties In the most glowing streams of eoquence he por.
trayed to US toe wrongs Of suffering Hungary. Who
doubts them2 He speaks OF the arocious executions
committed by her-the disgrace of the age, and above
all, of Austria Who doubtsit? These were the pre-
misses OF the honorable Senator, but what his con-
cuson 1t was requiring the recall OF little charge
dattares that we happen to have at Vienna. Why the
natural conclusion would be, to declare war Immediate
y against Austria il SHE had committed such enormi
ties though from the mpossibity OF coming in contact
with her, this resource might be difficult of accomplish
ment But, sir there another mode that is much more
congenial much more compatible with the course we
ought to take The exies from suffering and bleeding
Hungary now scattered through all quarters Of the
globes some have reached hospitabe Shores some
are now vending their way thither, and many scat
tered throughout Europe. Let the honorable Senator
bring forward some original plan for affording
and relief to the exiles OF misunderstanding that
shall be worthy of their acceptance and the bestowing
| OF which upon brave and generous people shall do
honor to acountry rich in boundess resources-sone-
thing that shall be worthy OF country which the asy
rum OF the wretched and oppressed from all quarters
OF the worldsomething that shall be worthy the ac-
ceptance OF the gslantry and patriotism with which
those exes fought in defence OF their country
When the honorable Senator shall have done this then
he may call me- and call not in vain for succor and
and support IN behalf OF proposition such as / have
indicated.
Why, sir great is the incongruity between the pre-
misses of the honorable Senator and his conclusion To
recall our charge atfares. Sir think instead pur-
suing that course by which shall close the door of
intercourse with Austria by which we shall gain nothing
in behalf of the suffering Hungarians and the suffering
exles from Hungary very different course, indeed,
would have been the one that ought to have been sugges
h,,fh Tho tiA
diplomatic intercourse would have sent from this
country some eminent and distinguished and enighen
ed ctizen some who possessed the confidence OF the
Countrywide honorable Senator himself would have
been very fit and suitable representative ON such an
| interesting occasion--l would have him to the
Court OF Russia, to plead the noble OF the Hunga
mans, and ii she would not open her the dictates
OF humanity which might be infused into her through
an agent such as have described, l would have in
structed him to remoRstrate in the of suffering
humauity-in the name OF Christiany>-to rebuke her
for her lnhumanity.
The honorable Senator, among the other documents
winch ne adduced on the occasion OF his interesting ad
dress referred to what had been proposed by eighty
three members OF the British Parliament to Lord John
Russell and to Lord Palmerston What did they pro-
pose? To stop intercourseto deny the British Gov
eminent any access to Australia recall in a moment
OF resentment and passion the minister who represented
| them at the Court OF Venna2 No, sir, The re-
QUESTION Of these members OF the British Parliament,
slstng OF Lords and Commons, was that Austria should
settle the question between herself and Hungary upon
grounds that would be satisfactory to bothto
pend the atrocous executions OF the victims that had
fallen into their power In Short the course proposed
by the eighty members OF the British Parliament
keep open the door, and suspend all inter
course with Austria But sir to look little further into
this subject, naturally inquire, what is the object of
foreign minister? The honorable Senator from Mich-
gan does propose, of the writers in the be-
ginning Of this century did to do away with ambassa-
doris altogether, regarding them only Of priyi
legged spy in foreign country. He does not contend
that there is no OCCASION under certain circumstances
OF maintaining intercourse with Austria. He puts it on
none OF these grounds. He puts it the sole ground
of Austrian tyranny-Ausuan excesses-Austrian
butchery-Ausrian disregard OF Hungarian Liberty
What SIR do send minister abroad for the sake Of
the cosntry which the minister is deputed2 take it
to be for American interest that he goes and resides
abroad that take of our commercial affairs
to take of our seamen to that the treaties ex-
listing between those countries and ours faithfully
observed and executed. These OF the duties
that "A tOreipn minister We cd