Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-07
For the ENQUIRER,
THE DUTY AND MISSION OF TIE UNITED STATES.

THE DUTY AND MISSION OF TIE UNITED STATES.
The recent expression of the Pennsylvania Legislature In
regard 10 the between Mr. Secretary Webster
and the Chaveer Bunsen the Austrian Envoy touching the
doctrine of national intervention appears TO awaken sym
pathetic echoes in all parts of the country The national in
terests undoubtedly points in this direction and law Of
tue geter than the OF men, the speculaons
of ordained that like shall sympahize with ke
is impossible repess the bosom OF nation OF free and
intelligent people, the emotions of sympathy which efforts
for political and civil freedom in other nations cacua
ted to call FORTH
from Europe hand by three thousand miles Of
sea- and from ASIA the other by ten thousand young
Americans think sometimes that can look on the convul
sons and revolutions OF other lands with indifference and
that interests possibly be affected by what trans
pres beyond the Here in this Western world with
territory without limits and beyond calculations
and with climate which produces every variety of food in
exhausess abundance feel that do very well by
ourselves and need not therefore, concern ourselves with the
troubles of other nations Thrones may rise and fall kings
may appear and vanish like meteorstas new governments
may be established and then crumbe; may dcsolae
whole empires and entire nations be swept from the light of
the sunand yet of believe that the silence of
valleys will not be disturbed by single echo the placid
ity Of be rued by the breath of these terrible
storms
But here we are wrong In that great struggle of nations
which sure distant period TO come cannot stand
neutral We belong to Humanity not to ourselves alone;
and the United States bound in the most solemn duties
and engagements the whole world In the bosom of all
civilized society," ideas principles, and moral forces are sug
Cling and must make themselves visible in revolutions in
wars storms thunder and blood In these new ideas and
principles ia hid the real life of Humanity They must
work their way out-crea,e new political institutions and
reform the DID, the human will be given 10 the
evil powers and march backward 10 barbars and perish
Great social and political questions stirring the
tons of Europe as tempest and thus age must furnish
their solution. And young ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF De-
mocracy-have something do here The American heart
full OVERLOOKING with burning thoughts fresh and vgor
sentiments radiant hopes and boundless ambitions
Through the thought every American Democrat there
fits the dream Of universal eedomand TO make this dream
reality s the mission of the u States This will DC achieved
1t may be through tho influence or eraure-he commerce
of IDEAS and the arts of peace; or through tho terrible min
stry of and blood In that grand DRAMA where nations
be the actors and the whole world the theatrehe
overture which is preparing at Paris Vienna ST. Pc
tersburgh and Rome,we must play conspicuous part And
why should shrink from it 1t the glory of the old
point of her victorious sword she carried civizaon and
all of its embclishments-art, literature philosophy and
science to the ends of the EARTH Why should not be
glory give liberty suffering naonsl To overthrow dcs
potism and tyrannyto establish the downodden nations
in their rights is surely something worth laborng for
something worth dying for.
We would not, indeed, have tho United States this
men nterpose in European affairs but when the day shall
come and il ,o when the oppressed nations will call
for aid and longer evade that call with no.
nor then will be duty to act God has not placed US
here this retreat and exalted and prospered
above all other people, for special benefit alone
He is respector of persons nations IL for the world
for ourselves that thus favored. In some way
other-through such providence shall supply
through the friendly intercourse of peace the fiery
of these great social and political ideas which
ncarnaed in institutions be communicated TO the world
Universal society IS perfectly agta,ed and excited
to make final stand for Republican principles. But first
and foremost in this great march of the nations appears
youthful but mighty Republic Her banner floats proud
above all Others like the Of heaven and the
stormossed and oppressed people of the earth, that
curiy and peace which Repubcansm alone gain and
guarantee