The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-01
he conduct of any government towards its sub

I : I515,
principle had been again established Lord Pal
merston thought proper to send despatch TO the
minister OF foreign affairs in Spain, urging that the
spanish government should treat more literally
her subjects The old Castilian blood took fire, and
treated It as an insulting intrusion into the affairs
OF Spain. In the minister's reply TO Lord Palmer
ston he denies the right of England 10 interfere
between the Queen Of Spain and her subjects, and
| significantly asks what would Lord Palmerston say
| II Spain requested England to treat her Irish sub
Jects more literally? Lord Palmerston, in his re-
| PLY 70 this, admitted that England had no right TO
Interfere but states that the letter was written sim
| ply as friendly advice, which England thought she
might ofer, having been instrumental in placing
| the queen on her throne.
He considered tho object Of the resolution as
total departure from the policy always pursued
by this Governments policy which has preserved
| the nation in peace with all the governments OF
Europe That policy he desired to continue and
that this nation should never allow herself to be
drawn into the controversies between nations, or
between foreign subjects and their governments.
Il had been stated that public opinion demanded
| this suspension Of intercourse with Austria, and
| the remarks made by the Senator from Massachu-
sets at public meeting were cited as the reason
| for the grounds on which the resolution is based
He took It for granted that the public opinion OF
which that Senator spoke was moral force, and not
aleglsiatlve or physical demonstration. Who could
teiiwhat popular opinion was, or how it could be
asoertained? Public opinion was great moral
power, and there were none SO high as not to feel
its influence, and he was low indeed who could not
witness its effect. 1t was the mind of man, scat
tered among the whole human family, which, il
left TO its own free action, powerful for good.
But the moment you attempt to turn public opin-
ion into legislation and physical action, it becomes
a scourge.
He of opinion that this principle intended to be
carried outby this resolution had its commencement
at Exeter Hall, by meeting of very conscientious
people, no doubt, who desired TO have introduced
certain innovations on the code of nations. The
| Senator from Michigan had distinguished himself
in his resistance to those efforts. But the feeling
still existed; 1t could be seen every day; il could
be seen here in the frequent attempts the part Of
States TO interfere with the institutions Of other
| States. He belonged to an older if not better
school of politics. which taught him to leave every
individual and every State much as possible TO
| the management of its own affairs
He entertained the utmost sympathy for the
Hungarian, but he was not quite so universal in
his sympathy and philanthropy as the Senator from
New York. That Senator had declared his love for
every race on the earth--he loved the American,
the foreigner, the Turk, the Tartar the negro and
the Hottentot all alike There was general rule
and perhaps the Senator may be the exception-that
those who expressed love for everybody loved none
but themselves. The Senator may be an excep-
ton, and with him the rule may be reversed that
is, he loves everybody but himself. The Senator,
however, would doubtless have loved himself il he
had been born in Ireland.
MIR. II. said he had been attentive student OF
Hungarian history, and an admirer of the oriental
fervor and western gallantry Of her peoples and he
then gave thrilling sketch of her past conduct
when she stood the dividing line between the Chris
tan and the Infidel-and Of her future glory and
destiny As the il-timcd discussion of the affairs
OF Poland in England and France had FASTENED the
final ruin of that nation, he thought this resolu-
ton, and the false hopes that it might create in
Hungary, would injurc and rctard her progress.
Mr.. FOOTE addressed the Senate in reply to the
Senator from Virginia, maintaining and contend
ing that the course pursued by the resolution was
fully sustained by preccdents and by the law OF
nations.
Mr.. SMITH said he rose only to make few prac-
tcal suggestions. He was at a loss to know what
il was proposed to be done by the resolution Ac-
cording to the broad language Of the resolution the
Committee was to inquire into the expediency OF
dismissing the Austrian charge now in city,
as well as the recall of charge now on his way
| to Vienna. What has Congress to do with il? Is
it not matter entirely within Executive control?
The only control Congress has over the subject
OF foreign missions is to make or refuse appro-
priation for them. Congress has already made the
appropriation, and the mission has been created
for the fiscal year. The only practical thing that
the Committee has to inquire into, is the expedi-
ency of repeating the appropriation for this mission,
already made, or to recommend that no appropria-
ton be made for the year TO come. And under the
rules of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign AZ.
fairs has this subject already before them for their
consideration. The fiscal year is more than hall
gone now, and if you introduce joint resolution
repeating the appropriation, before il could be
passed in the Senate and the other House, and in
formation Of it sent to Austria, the fiscal year will
have terminated, and the appropriation will be
hausted. ~
The only practical inquiry. therefore, is, whether
an appropriation shall be made for the next fiscal
the Senate, the Senator from Michigan can then
move to strike out the appropriation for this mis-
sion. In this way the thing be done in a sensi-
BILE and parliamentary manner, and that, too, with
out resorting TO the expulsion Of the Austrian
charge, and without producing any unnecessary
irritation.
Nor can any thing be saved by the breaking up
Of this mission. We will have a charge there by
IL. sl~l
you break up the Office of charge by law. Upon
breaking up of foreign missions, il Is the duty OF
the ministers TO hand over to the consul the ar
chives of the mission and his experience, a
member OF the Committee Of Foreign Affairs in
the House, had shown him that in all such cases,
where consuls secretaries Of legation had de-
posted with them the archives of the mission they
always claimed the came pay allowed TO the minis
ter In the examination of the appropriation bills
for several years past, he had found that in all OF
them was an appropriation for some consul or Sec
rotary who claimed to have performed the duty OF
charge or minister He could sec no advantage in
adopting this resolution, and producing irritation
and perhaps strife, when Senators could accom-
plish their object in another and less Objectionable
manner.
He saw no advantage in interfering with the
mission Mt all. II Congress refused 20 make an
appropriation for the mission the Presiden--if in
his opinion, the thing was necessary-could send a
minister TO Austria, and call upon Congress TO
make the necessary appropriation afterwards. Nor
did he see any reason for suspendng this mission
for the cause stated He thought that the greater the
tyranny and authority ofa government, the great
err was the necessity for an American minister be-
ing at that court.
II no American minister be in Austria, how could
any interference be made in behalf Of any Of our
citizens who might be seized by that government
or put in jeopardy. He thought, therefore, that
the greater the tyrant, and the greater his barbsr
ity, atrocity and unchristian-h Ike conduct, the
greater the necessity for an American representa-
tive at that court
Mr.. FOOTE replied to the Senator from Connec-
ticut, commenting upon the pronunciation Of that
Senator, and congratuatng the Senator from Vir-
ginia the able and powerful adjunct he pos
scssed in having the Senator from Connecticut
the confidential advocate Of the Administration
on the side Of the opposition 10 the resolution.
Mr.. SMITH rejoined, and was again replied TO
by Mr.. FooTE.
On motion Of Mr.. BERRIEN, the Senate pro-
cceded to the consideration of Executive business
And, shortly afterwards, adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,