The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-09

sibiiity Of sending Mr.. Dudley Mann on such an
errand should, independent of considerations Of
propriey have borne in mind that they were e1-
posing their emissary 10 be treated as a spy A
spy is person sent by some belligerent to gain
secret Information Of the forces and defences Of
the other, 10 be used for hostile purposes. Ac-
cording 10 practice, he may use deception, under
the penalty Of being lawfully hanged if detected.
To give this odious name and character to a con-
iicntia agent Of a neutral Power, bearing the
commission Of his country, aud sent for pur-
pose fully warranted by the law of nations is not
only 10 abuse language, but also 10 confouud all
lust ideas, and to announce the widest and most
exiravagant notions, such as certainly were not
10 have been expected 10 q grave diplomatic pa
per and the President directs the undersigned TO
say TO Mr.. Hulsemann that the American Govern
mcnt would regard such an imputation upon it by
the Cabinet of Austria, as that it employs spies,
and that in a quirral none of its own, distinct
ly offensive, il it did not presume, as it is willing
to presume, that the word used in the original
German was not Of equivalent meaning with spy
in the English language, or that in some other
way the employment Of such an opprobrous term
may be explained Had the Imperial Govern
meBt OF Austria subjected Mr.. Mann TO the treat
ment Of spy, it would have placed itself without
the pale Of civilized nations and the Cabinet of
Vienna may be assured that if it had carried or
attempted to carry, any such lawless purpose into
effect in the case of an authorized agent of this
Government the spirit of the people of this coun-
try would have demanded immediate hostties to
be Waged by the utmost exertion Of the power Of
the Republic, military and naval
With respect to the communication Of Mr.
Mann's instructions to the Senate, and the Ian
guage in which they are couched, it hs- already
been said, and Mr.. Halsemann must feel the jus
tice to the remark that these are domestic affairs
in reference to which the Government Of the
United States cannot admit the slightest RESPONSE
bility to the Government of his Imperial Majesty.
No State, deserving the appella;ion Of iudepend-
ent, can permit the language in which it may in
struct its own officers in the discharge Of their
duties to itself to be called in question under any
pretext by foreign Power. But even if this
were not go, Mr.. Hujscmann is in error in stating
that the Austrian Government is called an Iron
Rule in Mr. Manns instructions The phrase is
not found ia the paper; and in respect to the honor
airy epithet bestowed in Mr. Manns instructions
on the late chiefof The Revolutionary Government
of Hungary, Mr. Hu!semann will bear in mind
that the Government Of the United States cannot
lastly be expected. ia confidential oommuniea-
ton 10 its own agent, to withhold from indvid- |
ual an epithet Of distipctioN Qe which great part
of the world THINKS him worthy, merely on the
ground that his own Government regarded him
as a rebel A an early stage Of the American
ReyoIntion while Washington was considered by
garded on the continent Of Europe as an illustri-
Gus hero
Mr. Hulsemann thinks that in Mr.. Manns in
structions improper expressions are introduced in
regard TO Russia but the undersigned has reason
TO suppose that Russia herself il of that opinion.
The only observation made in those instructions
about Russia is that she has chosen TO assume an
attitude Of Interference and her immense prepare
tions for invading and reducing the HuDgarians
to the rule of Austra-from which they desire TO
be reeased-glve so serious n character TO the
contest as TO awaken the most painful solicitude
in the minds of Ams ictns' The undersigned
cannot but consider the Austrian Cabinet as I'M
necessarily susceptible in looking upon language
like this as q hostile demonstration If we re-
member that it was addressed by the Government
to It's own agent, and has received publicity only
through communication from one Department
of the American Government to another the Ian
guage quoted must be deemed moderate and in
offensive. The comfy of nations would hardly
forbid its being addressed to the two Imperial
Powers themselves. 1t is scarcely necessary for
the undersigned 10 say, that the relations of the
United States with Russia have always been of
the most friendly kind, and have never been
deemed by either party to require any compro-
mise Of their peculiar views upon subjects of do
mestic or foreign rolity, or the true origin of
Governments
"Towards the conclusion Of his note Mr..
lIulsemann reasarks that 'ifthe G Government ofthe
United States were to think it proper to take an
indirect part in the political movements of Europe,
American policy would be exposed to acts of re-
taaton, and to certain inconvenience which
would not fail TO affect the commerce and indus
try of the two hemispheres' AS to this possible |
fortune, this hypothetical retaliation, the Gov |
eminent and the people Of the United States are |
quite willing TO take their chances and abide their
destiny Taking neither direct nor an Indirect |
part in the domestic or intestine movements Of |
Europe they have no fear of events of the nature
alluded to by Mr. IIulsomann. 1t would be idle
now to discuss with Mr.. Ilulsemann those acts Of |
retaliation which he imaginos may possibly take
place at some indefinite time hereafter. Those |
questions will be discussed when they arise, and |
Mr.. Husemann and the Cabinet at Vienna may
rest assured that, in the mean time, while per-
forming with strict aud exact fidelity all their |
neutral duties, nothing will deter either the
Government or the people of the United States |
from exercising, at their own discretion, the rights
belonging to them an independent nation, and |
Of forming and expressing their own opinions
freely and at all times, upon the great political |
events which may transpire among the civilized |
nations Of the earth Their own institutions |
stand upon the broadcast principles Of civil liberty
and believing these principles and. fundamental |
laws in which they are embodied to be eminently |
favorable TO the prosperity of States-to be, in
fact, the only principles OF government which |
meet the demands Of the present enlightened age
the President has perceived with great satisfaction
that in the Constitution recently introduced into
the Austrian empire, many of these great princi-
pies are recognised and applied and he cherishes
sincere wish that they may produce the same
happy effects throughout his Austrian Majestys
extensive dominiOns that they have done in the
United Stateso
Messrs Mangum, Cass Underwood, and Rusk
expressed warm admiration Of the answer of the
Secretary Of State, and denounced the inso-
lencon Of the Austrian Government MIR. Davis
of Mississippi thought it good document, con-
tanning sound doctrine, but such rs had always
been held by the American Government MIR.
Clay seemed unwilling to attach so much impor-
lance to it, being reluctant needlessly to irritate
the Austrian and Russian Governments
motion to print ten thousand extra copies
was rcjected-yeas IS, nays 2l-as follows:
YEAs-NIessrs. Baldwin, Bell, Cass, Clemens,
Cooper, Davis of Massachusetts,, Dawson, Downs,
Ewing, Felch, Mangum, Rusk, Smith, Soule,
Sturgeon, Underwood, w 6les, and Winthrop-lS.
NAYS MessTs Benton, Berrien, Bradbury
Bright, Butler, Clarke, Clay, Davis Of MISSISSIPPI
pi, Dodge Of Wisconsin Dodge of Iowa, Douglas,
Hamlin, Jones, King Morton, Norris, Sebastian
Shields, Turney, Walker, and Whitcomb-2l