The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-18

by passing convenient RESOLUTIONS, ana ratify
0 ing them to their National Governmental tn
e Independent press would hasten to express th'
public opinion in similar sense-if, in conse
/ quence Of this the National Government would
! instruct its Minister in England accordingly
and by a convenient communication to tn,
Congress give, 80 as it is wont to do, publicit,
to this step, am entirely sure that you would
find the people of Great Britain heartily join
ing this direction of policy Nobody in tn,
world could feel especially offended by it. and
no existing relation would be broken or in
jured, and still the interference of Russia in
the restoration Of Hungary to its independence
formerly declared in iSi9) prevented, Rus
sian arrogance and preponderance checked
and the oppressed nations of Europe soon be,
come free. There may be some over-anxious
men, who perhaps would say, But if such a
declaration OF your Government will not be re-
spected, and Russia still does interfere then
you would be obliged by this previous declara-
ton to go to war, and you don't desire to have
war That objection seems TO me like il
somebody would say: =" II the vault of heaven
breaks down, what will we do!p MY answer
is But it will not break down. even so |
answer--but your declaration will be respect
| ed-Russa will not interfere-you will have no
occasion Tor war, you will have prevented war.
BE sure Russia would twice, thrice consider to
provoke against itself, besides the reused jury
OF nations-besides the legions of Republican
France, also the English Lion, and the star
surrounded Eagle of America. Please to con-
slider the fact that you, united to England
have made already such declaration not to
admit any inteflerence of the European Abso-
tutisticai powers into the affairs of the formerly
| Spanish colonies of America, and has this dec
laration brought you to war; Quite the con-
trary; it has prevented war-so it would be in
our case also Let me, therefore, most humbly
entreat you, gentlemen-let me entreat you ON
this occasion by means Of publicity-the peo-
pie of the United States to be pleased to give
| such practical direction to its generous sympa-
| thy for Hungary, as to arrange meetings, and
pass such resolutions here and there, and in
every possible place of this great Union, as
| took the liberty to mention above Why not
do so! beg leave to reiterate what had the
honor to say yesterday. to committee OF Balti.
more. Suppose there should in Cuba a revolu-
ton occur, a revolution from the inhabitants
of Cuba themselves and whatever European
power should send down. fleet to support
SPAN agam5, se,et~..o,. -. ,->..t-->..
= .c1,s't - = not one, ~ .ha limited.
Ctabeo VIM WOuiu HOt OppOoc lnJerNehlOn.
Then, what is the difference between this sup
posed case and the case of Hungary Is there
a difference in principle? No Then what!
The difference is, that Cuba is at six days dis
lance from New York, on the part of Hungary,
Fiume, at eighteen days distance. That is all,
and who would affirm that the policy of such a
great, free, and glorious nation as the United
States shall be regulated by hours, and not by
10 IL tbok r.
an immense truth in that which the French
Legation in the United States expressed to your
Government in the able note of 9th October
past which beg leave to quote: America is
closely connected with Europe, beingly only
separated from the latter by distance of
scarcely exceeding eight days Journey by one
of the most important of general interests-the
interest of commerce. The nations of Ameri-
ca and Europe are at this day so dependent
upon one another that the effects of any event.
prosperous or otherwise happening on one
side of the Atlantic are Immediately felt on
the other side. The result of this community
of interests, commercial, POLITICAL and moral,
between Europe and America-of this fire.
quency and rapidity of intercourse between
them, is, that it becomes as difficult to point
out the geographical degree where American
policy shall terminate, and European policy
begins, as it is to trace out the line where
American commerce begins and European
commerce terminates-where may be said to
begin or terminate the ideas which are in the
ascendant in Europe and America J" The
second measure which beg leave to mention
has reference to commercial interests. There
has, in latter times, doctrine stolen into the
code of International law, which is
| contrary to the commercial interests of nations
as to their independence The pettiest despot
| of the world has the faculty to exclude your
| commerce from whatever port it pleases to do
so. He has only to arrange a blockade, and
your commerce is shut out or, if down-trOdden
Venice, bleeding Lombardy, or my down.
oppressed but resolute Hungary rises to shake
| of the Austrian tyrants yoke, as surely they
will, that tyrant believes to have the right
from the very moment to exclude your COM
merce with the risen nations.
Now, this is an absurdity-a tyrannical in
vention of tyrants, violating your interest-your
own sovereign independence. The United
States have not always regarded things from
this point of view. find in note of Mr.. Ev-
erett, Minister of the United States in Spain,
dated madrid January 20, 1926" these
words " In the war between Spain and the
Spanish American Colonies, the United States
have freely granted to both parties the hospi-
tally of their ports and territory, and have al
lowed the agents of both to procure within
their jurisdiction, in the way of lawful trade,
any supplies which suited their convenience"
Now, gentlemen, this is the principle which
humanity expects for your own and for man.
kinds benefit, to sec maintained by you, and
not yonder fatal course, which admits to ty-
rants to draw from your country whatever
supply Of oppression against their nations, but
forbids to nations to buy the means of defence
That was not the principle of your Washing
ton when he speaks of harmony, of friendly
| intercourse, and of peace, he always takes care
| to speak of nations, and not of Governments
still less of tyrants who subdue by foreign
| arms. The sacred word of nation, with all its
natural rights, should at least from your polit-
| cal dictionary not be blotted out and yet am
sorry to see that the word nation is replaced
| by the word government Gentlemen, / hum
| bly, wish that public opinion of the people of
| the United States, conscious of its own rights,
should highly and resolutely declare that the
people of the United States will carry on trade
and continue its commercial intercourse with
whatever nation be that nation in revolution
against it's Oppressors or not and that the peO-
| pie of the United States express, with conf
dence, from its Government to provide for the
protection of your trade. | am confident that
your National Government, seeing public opin-
ion 30 pronounced will judge il convenient to
augment your naval force in the Mediterrane-
an, and to look for some such statement for it
~ would not force the navy Of republican
America 10 such abrogations towards tyrante,
which cannot be consistent with republican
principles or republican dignity only because
the King $3.50, be he even the cursed King Of
Naples, grants YOU the favor of an anchoring
for the naval forces of your Republic. be-
lieve your glorious country should everywhere
freely unfurl the star-spangled banner of liber-