The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-22


and the differences drawn by our contemporary
| AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN EUROPEAN Az
FAIRs-THE BEGINNING OF THE END While
our learned contemporaries are gravely discus
sing the inexpediency of abandoning the veneer
able policy Of nonintervention in the affairs OF
Europe, they seem to forget that il has already
been abandoned. The doctrine has practically
become an obsolete idea--a dead letter--a ira
diton from the primitive days Of the republic.
II was we'll enough in the DAYS OF four-hOrse
post coaches and s4iling vessels; but in this age
of electricity railroads, and steamships, the an
! tiquated idea of passive neutrality is exploded.
The action of Congress, and of the Executive,
at Washington, has introduced the modern doc
trine of active Intervention in behalf of republic
can principles on both sides Of the water. We
have broken ground in several initiative steps, in
this new policy
| |. The act of Congress detailing vessel of
the United States navy to the shores of Asia
was substantially an act of Intervention in sup
port of the republicans of Europe, and the cast.
ing down of the gauntlet to the despots
Q. The recommendation by the President in
his annual message, of an official reception by
Congress, of Governor Kossuth, was a second
step of active co operation with the cause Of the
European democracy.
g. The Joint resolution of the two Houses
welcoming Kossuth to the country and the CAPT.
tai, the despatch of a special messenger by the
President to bear the official invitation to the
distinguished exile, and the appointment of COM
mittees in Congress to receive him upon his ar
rival at Washington, form another very decided
chapter of active Intervention.
1t is not necessary to refer to municipal and
popular demonstrations---to proceedings Of
State legislatures, and party assembages of all
parties-to the thousand Populations of welcome
extended to Kossuth since his lin support
of his principles and his cause, as marking the
inclnations of the people. Nor is it necessary
to advert to the enthusiastic response, on all
sides, to the appeal for material and financial
aid" to Hungary. Our reports of the donations
and collections, from day to day, to the Hunga-
rian fund, afford the most striking and absolute
ly startling proof of the substantial character
Of American sympathy. No sooner does the
great exile proclaim the financial branch of his
mission, than money comes pouring in upon him,
as if his cause and the liberties of Europe were
our own cause, and the guarantees Of our own
Independence. But these proceedings are not
strictly part and parcel of the practical adop-
ton by the United States of the doctrine of ac-
tive Intervention. Congress and the Executive
Department of the general government are alone
invested with the practical control of our for
eign relations, and their action alone can decide
upon the future policy of the country. But
they have done enough to initiate the new doc
trine of active Intervention in European affairs,
in favor of republican principles, and against
! despotisln.
The old doctrine of neutrality being thus
practically superseded, it becomes an interesting
question how far the new one is likely to be
pursued. What course will it take ? Perhaps
it may 90 no further; but new principle once
introduced into the policy of our government, or
of any government, is more likely to be prose-
cutcd than suddenly relinquished. This is es-
pecialy true of a popular doetrine--a republi-
can doctrine--a doctrine fully up to the lift OF
, those high pressure engines Of popular senti
ment, steamships and electricity--a hundred
pounds to the square inch. The iniatitive steps
] have been taken. We have crossed the Rubi
5 con Of the old stand-still idea of Chinese neu.
rality and isolation from all 'outside barbarans
Whittier are we tending, and what are the pros
poets of this enlargement. of the area Of our for
egn relation
During the last summer we had several inter
views in Paris with Nap0lean Bonapare, son
of Jerome and nephew of the great Napoleon,
and the only remaining scion of that family
who bears resemblance to the great conqueror,
in his eountenance and in his naturally quick
perception of correct conclusions. At one of
these interviews he remarked that the act of our
gs1ernment of sending a vessel OF war to the
relief of Kossuth and his associates in captivity,
was an act of direct intervention in the affairs of
Europe, and in support Of the republicans, and
that it would probably lead to consequences OF
the greatest moment, in view of the threatening
aspects of affairs upon the continent. Step by
step that act has been followed up by govern
mental action, until nothing is left to be done
excep, the Official declaration of Kossuth's doc
trine of Intervention to eDfoIee non-interven-
ton.
|, Mr.. Walker, of Wisconsin, the land reform
, candidate for the Presidency, has introduced O
resolution in the Senate, covering the whole
ground. We can hardly venture to predict the
passage of the resolution; but its introduction is
8 significant of its popularity in the West; and
the agitation of the question in the Senate will
be like adding combustibles to the fire. II will
be laid upon the table, but il will still be agi-
n tated throughout the country, until the meeting
Of the national party conventions to select their
: candid ties for the Presidency.
What will be the action of these conventions
: on this important subject--ths grave and tre-
O mendous bject-becomes the next inquiry 1t
Is Is manifest that the Wings will have nothing to
d do with this thing. They will not touch it. Tam
many Hall has indicated decided leaning to in
. tervention but the South is jealous of it. The
e movements of DR.. Kiqkel and the Abolitionist,
:, have rendered Southern politicians suspicious O
the ultimate consequences of lunging into
general war. 1t may rebound upon them and
= their institution of slavery. SO that what will
s the conservatism of the old hunkers, and the
G misgivngs of the South, the doctrine of active
A interference in the prospective European convul
sion is not likely to lie adopted, even by the
Democracy, as their platform for the Presidential
u campaign
n But there is third pnrty--a party Of activ,
g vitality in the North--a party which seems to
=, have received new impulse since the arrival o
Kossuth, in having opened to them new felC
of agitation This is the Freesoi and Abolition
party. Nothing will suit them better than th,
II rejection Of this new doctrine by the Wings anC
IN the Democrats. The Freesoil convention a
Pittsburg will then do the business-adopt IN,
principle, and fling themselves into the gran,
crusade for the emancipation of mankind, in al
quarters of the world, and from all sorts of vas
IN saage, oppression, serfdom, and slavery-whte