The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-16

0amensAl principle oil mt caring ABOUT European
concerns aud having shown not theoretically
bat practically, that il is mistake to think that
you had, at whatever time, such policy, and
having shown that yol should ever have enter
tanned such policy, you had abandoned il. SO
much, at least hope to have achieved Ally
humble requests 10 your operative sympathy
may still be opposed by don't know what other
motives; but that objection will never more
meet--not 10 interfere with European concerns
this objection Is disposed of, and forever,
hope. II remsias now to investigate, that hav-
ing professed not TO DO Indifferent to the cause
OF Hungary such as to be Indifferent to the cause
Of European Freedom is the cause Of Hungary
such as to have just claims to your active and
of erative assistance and supports is, gentle.
men, to prove this do not now intend to enter
into an explanation of the particulars of our
struggle, which had the honor to direct. "a the
chosen chief magistrate of my native land-it
is highly gratifying TO me to the cause Of
Hungary is--excepiing some ridiculous misrep-
reservations Of will--conectly understood
here will only state one fact, and that is our
endeavoring for Independence were crushed
down by the armed interference of foreign des-
potic power-the principle of all evil on earth
Russia. And stating this fact, will not again
intrude upon you with my own views but recall
W yOut usculOty viz uoSLiiCo cotaoisohou Wy yout
own statesmen.
Firstly: Again return to your great Wash
ington. He says in one Of his letters to La
Fayette, MY policies are plain and simple;
think every nation has right to establish that
form of government under which it conceves il
can live most happy, and that no government
ought to interfere with the internal concerns Of
smother" Here take my ground-I take my
ground upon principle OF Washington-a
principle, and no doctrine Of temporary policy,
calculated for the first 20 years of your infancy.
Russia has interfered with the internal affairs
Of Hungary, and by doing so, has violated the
policies of the United States, established as
lasting principle by Washington himself. 1t is
lasting principle would invoke in my sup.
port, the opinion of every statesman in the
United States, Of every party, of every time.
But to save time, come from the first Presi
dent of the United States at once to the last,
and recall to your memory this word of the
present annual message of his Excellency.
President Fillmore Let every people choose
for itself, and make and alter its political insti-
tutons to suit its own condition and convent
ence." Here take my ground upon the pr
ciple established by shington-making the
basis Of your own existence, and professed and
acknowledged by your very present government,
only to show that am aware of the policy and
political opinion of your present government
also. | beg leave to quote YOU present Secre-
tary Of State, Mr.. Webs,er's statement, who, 10
his speech on the Greek question, speaks SO
The law of nations maintains that in extreme
cases, resistance is lawful, and that one tion
has no right to interfere in the affairs Of
a. other" Well, that precisely is the ground
upon which we Hungarians stand. But may
perhaps meet the objection. am sorry to say
have already "Well, we own that it has been
violated by Russia in the case of Hungary, but
after all, what is Hungary to us? Let every
people take care of ITSELF what is that to US :"
So some speak; it is the old doctrine of private
egotism, "every one for himself, and God for
us ALL" | will answer the objection, not by my
own humble views, but again by the words of
Greek question, having protested the sovereign
right of every nation to dispose of its own con.
Germs, to be a law of nations-thus is going on.
But it may be asked what is all that to us
The question is easily answered. We are one Of
the nations, and we as a nation have precisely
the same interest in international law, as pri-
vate individual has in the laws Of his country"
You see, gentlemen, | had again a good au-
thority to quote. The principle which your
honorable Secretary of State processes is prin.
cple of eternal truth No man can dsavow it,
no political party can dsavow it. Thus am in
the happy condition to address my humble
prayers in that respect, not to party but to the
whole of the United States, which will g on
to do so long as have no reason to contemplate
one party opposite or Indifferent to my countrys
cause, because else of course would have to
address those who are friends, and not those
who are either indifferent or antagonistic.
But it may be from some quarters avowed
4 ~, ,>ff Ict
ciple of every nations sovereign right-we nc
knowledge it TO be a law of nations that no for.
eipn power has right to interfere in the affair."
of another, and we are determined to respect the
common law of mankind, but if others do not
respect that law, it is not our business to med
die with them" Let me answer by an analysis:
"Every nation has the same interest in the in
ternational careersas private individual has in
the laws of his country" That is an acknowl
edged principle of the United States. Conse
auently every nation is, in respect to nterna-
tional law precisely in the same condition as
private individual is in respect to the laws of his
country. Well what is the condition of pri
yate individual in respect to the laws of his
country? Is it only that he has himself not TO
violate the law or is it that so far as is in his
power he should also prevent others to violate
the law? Suppose you see that wicked man
is about to rob-to murder your neighbor, or to
burn his house, will you wrap yourself in your
own virtuous lawfulness, and say, 81 don't rob
don't murder-don't burn, but what others
do is not my business. ! am not my brothers
keeper sympathze with him; but am not
obliged to help him that he may not be robbed,
murdered, or burnt" What honest man of the
world would answer so! None of you. None
of the people of the United States, ] am sure.
That would be the damned MAXIM of the Phar-
sees of old, who thanked God that they were
not AZ others were. Our Saviour was not con-
tent TO 90 himself treading in the hall of the
temple, but he had driven out those who were
treading there.
Now, what the duty of an individual il in re-
spect to the laws of his country, the same duty
has a nation in respect to international law.
This duty has no other limit, but only the
power to fulfil it. OF course, it cannot be ex-
pected that the republic Of St Marine, or the
Prince of Morocco, should stop the Gar of Rus
sia in his ambitious annoyance. 1t was redicu-
lous when the Prince OF Modena refused to re-