North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-20
REMARKS OF MR.. DOUGLAS,
OF ILLINOIS,

KossUTH. :,
Mr. DOUGLAS said: Mr. President, I shall not
detain the Senate long. regret that this resoiu-
ton has been brought forward-not because - uo
not cordially unite, with all my sympathies all my
wishes. in the reception of Louis Kossuth, Dut 1or
the reason that it could not pass this BODY unanl
mously. Unless welcome-such as IS proposed
to be giyen-should pass with entire unanlmiCy'
the discussion which takes place upon the queSuon
derives it of all its intended effect Woulo not
have brought forward resolution OF TINS Klhd' ior
this reason that have yet to learn that the man
now lives, or ever did live, who can make ProPo-
st;on in this body that would not give rise to DIS
cnssion- Well. sir, it has been objected to the
MASSAGE of this resolution that it would give Of
fence to the different powers of Europe nave
heard this objection raised upon so many points OF
legislation, and upon many subjects that nave
come up for action here, that have become near
tily tired of it. do not look to see whether such
a question will give offence or not to the crowned
heads of the EARTH provided it does not violate the
laws of nations, give just cause OF onence. Inc
question is not whether it will give offence or not
for 7 we'll know that the despotic governments Of
Europe will not be pleased with any movement
here which gives encouragement to the movement
in Europe favorable to liberal institutions. But
the question is not whether they,will be pleased or
dspleased but whether this gives Just cause OF Of
tense according to the laws of nations. Sir, L
know no principle of the laws of nations that de-
prives a government of the right OF manltestlng
their cordial sympathy with all movements tending
to the establishment of free principles throughout
the world. hold that it is our duty to manifest
that we feel that sympathy by every act which is
proper to the occasion and to the subject. We
owe it to our own history, to the vindcation OF the
history of our country, that we should manifest
that it does feel for every people who are strug-
Cling for the establishment of free institutions.
But, sir, while we owe thus much, l would not de-
sire to take single step that would violate the
well-established principles of the laws OF nations,
or give any just cause of offense to any power up
on earth. Nor do hold that the cordial welcome
to Gov. kossuth can be properly thus construed.
As has been well said by the distinguished senator
from Michigan Mr.. Cass] to-day, it has been the
practice of enlightened nations not only to give
welcome, but support even to exiles, who had
fled from oppression in their own country to take
refuge within the limits of another. The senator
has referred us to many examples. But appre-
bend that he might have given us another, which
came for years within his own immediate knowl-
edge. If l recollect history Alright, Louis Philippe,
for years after he was King of France, IN each an
nual message and speech from his throne, expressed
his warmest hope and his cordial wish for the res
toration of the nationality OF Poland He did not
stop there. His Minister of Finance made the
proper recommendation each year of one million
of francs to be appropriated for the support of the
Polish exes then in the capital of France, waiting
for the opportunity to return and secure the indie
pendence of their native land. And if King in /
the heart of Europe could year after year. express
such desire for the restoration of the nationality
of Poland-a kingdom that had been destroyed
by a combination of the despots of Europe-and i
if that King could tax his people and appropriate
their money to support these exies, shalt be said
that the republic of America cannot express even /
a cordial welcome to an exile who has struggled /
resentative the personal representative, of the lib
eral principle throughout the world?
Sir we have the right, according to the laws of
nations, to express wish, sympathy, and heart
felt desire for the success of every movement that
tends to elevate and iberalze the institutions of
every people upon the face of the globe; and l !
hold that we not only have the right to do so, but
it is our duty also. Yes, sir; and we should go
further Our representatives abroad should instant
ly recognise the independence of every country the
moment that republic is de facto established, and
then open commercial relations with such country.
That proposition is entirely consistent with the laws
of nations and would not be cause of offence with
any one who would not give encouragement to the
friends of liberal institutions wherever the struggle
was pending. We have the right to do these
things and many others that are consistent with the
and privileges that should subsst between
friendly nations. And hold that the American /
republic should do all that is consistent with the /
laws of nations to show its sympathy with the /
struggling millions for freedom in every part of the
world That is my opinion upon this subject.
would he glad to recognise and welcome Gov.
Kossuth here in such explicit terms as would rec
ognse the principle that each State has right to
dispose of herself, and to regulate her own domes-
tic affairs and institutions as she pleases without
the interference of any foreign power whatever. |
am prepared to assert by resolution of this body
that every State upon the face of the globe has an
right to establish and regulate its own
domestic institutions in its own way, without the
interference of any Other nation upon the face of the
globe; and hold that the interference with that
right would be a violation of the laws of nations
and an interference with the rights of nations
Hence assert that, in my opinion, the interference
OF Russia in destroying the constitutional rights of
Hungary a violation of the laws of nations
We have the right to instruct our diplomatic agents
abroad to protest against any such fragrant out
rage upon the right of nation. We have right
to go further, and make it a just cause of war if
we choose to do so, though we are under no obi
CATION to make every violation of the laws of ma
tons that may take place. a cause of war. Still,
we have the right to do it not to do it. as we see
tit. Upon that we are to decide, with Just sense
of what is due to ourselves our glory, and our
country.
Because we demonstrate the right of each ma
ton to regulate her institutions in her own wav
and thereby acknowledge the great fundamental I
principle asserted by Kossuth, and because we 90
further, and say that the violation of that principle
gives US the right to interpose it does not BY any
means follow that we must or will interpose. RI
would not pledge this nation to interpose in the