The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-09
WHOLE NO. 90.

| in making efforts for the establishment of indie
! pendent Governments such an admonition from
that Sovereign to his Hungarian subjects would
not have originated here a diplomatic eorresnond
ence. The President might, perhaps on this
! ground, have declined TO direct any particular
reply to Mr.. Hulsemann's note; bat out of proper
respect for the Austrian Government IL has been
thought better TO answer that note at length and
the more especially, as the occasion is not unfa-
vorable for the expression Of the general senti-
ments Of the Government of the United States
upon the topics which that note discusses
MIR. Webster then proceeds to justify the nstruc-
tions given to MIR. Mann, and to exhibit and de-
fend the principles upon which the United States
govern their policy in relation to foreign nations:
"The undersigned will first observe that the
President is persuaded his Majesty the Emperor
Of Austria does not think that the Government Of
the United States ought to view with unconcern
the extraordinary events which have occurred, not
only in his domiuions, hut in many other parts Of
Europe, since February, 1878 The Government
and People Of the United States like other intel
| ligent Governments and communities, take live
| ly interest in the movements and the events Of
this remarkable age in whatever part of the world
they may be exhibited But the interest taken by
the United States in those events has not proceed
ed from any disposition 20 depart from that neu-
trslity toward foreign Powers, which is among
the deepest principles and the most cherished ira
ditions Of the political history of the Union. Il
has been the necessary effect Of the uneXampled
character Of the events themselves, which could
not fail to arrest the attention of the contempora-
~ world as they will doubtless fill memorable
page in history. But the undersigned goes fur
ther, and freely admits that in proportion these
extraordinary events app AIRED to have their origin
in those great ideas Of responsible and popular
Governments, on which the American Coustitu-
tions themselves are wholly founded, they could
not but command the warm sympathy OF the peo-
pie of this country
Well known circumstances in tb cir history In
deed their whole history have made them tEe
representatives of purely popular principles Of
ssTr---1-t L TIC !!;Sh, tthcy 2ez AK. -
fore the world They could not, If they would,
conceal their character, their condition. or their
destiny. They could not, if they 40 desired, shut
out from the view Of mankind the causes which
have placed them in short national career,
in the station which they now hold among the
civilized States Of the world They could not il
they desired it, suppress either the thoughts or
the hopes which arise in mems minds, in other
countries from contemplating their successful ex-
ample of free government. That very intelligent
and distinguished parsonage the Emperor Joseph
the Second, was among the first to discern this
necessary consequence Of the American Revolu-
tion on the sentiments and opinions Of the people
of Europe In a letter TO his Minister in the
Netherlands in 1887, he observes that It is re-
markable that France, by the assistance which she
afforded to the Americans, gave birth to rehec-
tons on freedom This fact, which the sagacty
Of that monarch perceived at so early day is
now known and admitted by intelligent Powers
all over the world True, indeed, it il, that the
prevalence on the other continent Of sentiments
favorable to republican liberty is the result of the
reaction Of America upon Europe and the source
and centre Of this reaction has doubtless been,
and now is, in these United States. The position
thus belonging TO the United States is fact as in
separable from their history, their constitutional
organization, and their character, AZ the opposite
| position Of the Powers composing the European
alliance is from the history and constitutional or
ganization of the Governments OF those Powers.
! The sovcreigns who form that alliance have not
unfrequently felt 1t their right 10 interfere with
| the political movements of foreign States; and
have, in their manifestoes and declarations, de-
| nouneed the popular ideas Of the age, In terms
comprehensive rs Of necessity to include the
United States, and their forms Of government. 10
| 10 well known that one OF the leading principles
announced by the allied Sovereigns after the res
toraion of the Bourbons, is that all popular or
constitutional rights are holden no otherwise than
as grants aud indulgenoes from crowned heads.
Useful and necessary changes in legislation and
administration says the Laybach Circular OF
will and intelligent conviction of those whom God
has rendered responsible for power; all that
deviates from this line necessarily leads TO disor-
der, connections, and evils far more insuferable
than those which they pretend to remedy And
bis late Austrian Majesty, Francis !, is reported
| TO have declared in an address to the Hungarian
Diet, in 1890, that the whole world had become
foolish, and leaving their ancient laws, was in
search of imaginary Constitutions These dec
larations amount to nothing less than denial Of
the lawfuness Of the origin Of the Government of
the United States, since 10 is certain that that
Government was established in consequence of a
change which did not proceed from thrones or
the permission Of crowned heads But the Gov
eminent of the United States heard these denunci-
atoms Of its fundamental principles without re-
monstrance, or the disturbance of it's equanimity.
This was thirty years ago
"The power Of this Republic ut the present
moment, Is spread over region, one of the rich
est and most fertile on the globe, and Of extent
in comparison with which the possessions Of the
House Of Hapsburg but a patch on the
earth's surface Its population, already twenty
FIVE millions will exceed that Of the Austrian
empire within the period during which 1t may be
hoped that M. Hulsemann may yet remain in the
honorable discharge of his duties to his Govern
ment. Its navigation and commerce are hardly
exceeded by the oldest and most commercial ma
tons Its maritime means and Its maritime power
may be seen by Austria herself in all where
she has ports, az well M II may be also In
all other quarters of the globe Life liberty proper
ty and all personal rights, amply secured TO ali
citizens, and protected by just and stable laws;
and credit, public and private Is az well estab-
lshed AZ In any Government Of Continental Eu-
rope And the country, In all its interests and
concerns partakes most largely In all the i'm
provements and progress which distinguish the
age.
Certainly the United States may be pnrdoned
even by those who profess adherence to the prin-
ciples of absolute governments, II they entertain
an ardent affection for those popular forms Of po-
liiical organization which have no rapidly ad-
vanced their own prosperity and happiness, and
enabled them In 30 short period TO bring their
country and the hemisphere to which 1t belongs,
70 the notice and respectful regard not to say the
admiration, Of the civilized world Nevertheless,
the United States have abstaned, at all times,
from acts of interference with the political changes
OF Europe. They cannot, however, fail to cherish
always lively interest in the fortunes of nntions
struggling for institutions like their own. But
this sympathy, 40 far from being necessarily
hostile feeling toward any Of the parties TO these
great national struggles, is quite consistent with
amcabe relations with them all
"The Hungarian people are three or four times
as numerous as the inhabtantsSf these United
States were when the American Revolution broke
out They possess, in a distinct language and In
other respects, important elements OF separate
nationality, which the Anglo.Saxon race In this
country did not possess; and II the United States
wish success to countries contending for popular
constitutions and national independence, II Is
only because they regard ouch constitutions and
such national independence, not ms ina ginary, but
as real blessings. They claim no right, however,
TO take part In the struggles Of foreign Powers
In order to promote these enda Il II only In de-
fence Of his own Government, and It's principles
and character, that the undersigned has now ex-
pressed himself ON this subject But when the