The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-01

speech, freedom Of the press and the mighty
power Of holding such meetings l have lately
had the honor to address. England has her
parliament, which is more or less the representa-
tive Of public opinion. Cheers BY all these
MEANS peaceful progress is secured. Hear,
hear But you know that history, that book
of life, teaches one thing--that every age
has its ruling principle, and that these principles
have directed the whole world. There were the
crussdes, for instance then feudality and
lastly, the reformation. All Europe was shaken
by these principles. and so it rs with those prn-
ciples that when one of them starts up, no ma
ton can avoid feeling its influence. The direc-
ton of the present era is freedom. Much
cheering The human mind is more developed.
and the past expectations have failed in the d.
recton of freedom. In England, freedom has
always been the direction of public opinion. and
under its influence you have peacefully deve-
oped your institutions. But their further devel-
opement depends on the condition of the princi
pies Of freedom throughout the world. Should
absoutism succeed the continent, it would
recoil upon you. ] will now point out to you
the strong connection between the commercial
prosperity of England and the freedom of the
world Ii is fact that the commerce of Eng
land is from year 10 year losing its name in the
markets of the continent of Europe, and this
will 90 more strongly when absoutism gains
more ground. Abs)ulism cannot agree with
free trade, because free intercourse with such
mighty and free nations as England would bring
upon it such moral batteries Of freedom, as
would soon eDdanger its existence. Cheers.
Therefore, day by day you we'll lose these mar
kets, and-t is prophetic word crying
land will at last be put in condition to look
for wars to preserve her markets. Hear.
Whereas, seriously aiding the nations of Europe
| N tatf a1.m will rat mar kato nj hon at
your own door, such no other part of the
world could offer. Now, what is to be done for
the principle! England has many means in her
hand to influence the situation.
! First, believe that even the success of the
internal questions of England is deeply con-
cerned in the administration of your foreign
affairs. Therefore, my most humble prayer to
you, in the name of oppressed mankind, is that
you may inquire more how the foreign relations
of England are managed. Until now the pub
lie opinion of England did notinterfere, perhaps
with reason because England has grown up
from within, but nov she is fully grown, and
therefore think it most important public opin-
ion should be brought to bear on foreign affairs,
and those affairs should not be settled without
the knowledge of the people. MI de nobis sine
nobis is good constitutional maxim, and if it
has no application to question of foreign affairs,
the people are left uninformed. To alb dish, then,
the slavery of diplomacy would confer benefit
upon humanity. Hear, hear. | fairly state
| do not consider ii is the Russian arms that are
omnipotent in the world. 1t is the intrgues of
Russian diplomacy that are most dangerous.
| There is no cabinet in the world that would not
be affected by such dangerous intrgues, and
these can only be counterbaanced by putting
down this dangerous principle of secresy, and
by opening the eyes of the people to the whole
IF | | info mad ot
in few weeks hence it it intended to have re-
form meeting in Manchester. Suppose it were
to adopt such resolution that the meeting
declared itself to be entirely convinced that the
peaceful development Of freedom, connected
with the security Of social order at home, is
strongly connected with the principle of freedom
on the European continent, and being so con-
nected, the meeting declares its opinion that
every nation has al right to dispose of its domes-
tic affairs, and that to secure those interests it is
the duty of England--not to interfere, but not
to allow other powers to interfere; and that this
meeting considers such principle TO be neces-
sary to the peaceful development Of itself Then
such declaration of mighty meeting could
not fail to influence the de.tinies Of humanity
Going further, might not the chamber Of CON-
Inerce petition parliament, declaring themselves
to be alarmed at seeing the commerce of Eng
land on the continent decreasing from year to
year. and that knowing what is the cause of
this decrease they have come to the conviction
that it is the absoutist principle, and out of that
consideration they petition government to act in
such manner as that nations shall have full
facilities for using their natural rights and dis
posing of their alters on the basis of natural
, freedom, and not to admit Of armed interference
deprving them of that right? If such decla-
ration were to go to parliament from such places
| nd uho in e
the fearful agitation were to 90 on AS it did on
every great question, believe the position of
England, as regards freedom, consummated, and
that the destnes of Europe might he protected
without the shedding of one drop of blood, or
the expenditure of one shilling of money.
{ But if this does not go on, if public opinion
falls asleep, of course the despots will not care
for it, They will consider that England fears
war and will not interfere. 1t is not the frst|
, time that have heard the public opinion of
, England pronounced in favor of freedom, with
, out effort The treaties of Vienna have been|
abolished entirely, and believe a great reason|
has been the secrecy of diplomacy. Secrecy Isl
the great agent of absolutism and if you allow
absolutism to 90 on, you may depend upon i6
that free trade will soon suffer. The next pon
is, that the slightest material interest of England
, is in immediate connection with the freedom a
, the world, the proudest and most honorable pd
siton TO which a nation can raise itself. Lou
cheers. With respect to foreign effairs, hav&
: undertak en- no: to interfere in your internal az
fairs, and therefore will not pronounce m opk|
rion as to how your foreign affairs conduc'ed
, All ask is. that you will read the blue book
! : laugh and then form your opinion as I'd
/ how vour foreign affairs are carried on. Hear
hear Read your blue DO, ks and, as am going
TO America, eutreat you not to forget my poots
/ country in any meeting You may have, for it vii :
have its influence in the destinies of the world (
and in America, the opinion of Manchester, Sd
intimately connected with the United States, will
7 assist me in my task, which is TO show that tho
union Of those two free powers is the key of thd
future of the world. II both these States adopt
the wise policy then, Of conrsc, the liberties oq
the world are safe. One word more. | said
yesterday that for myself | wart no PERSONAL
aid. This is a susceptibility of mine. Whenl