The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-18
2()2


been, to the people of the United States by |
your great Washington, bcqueathed to be "A |
constitutional principle to you.
No: that is not the case.
FIralu Washington never even recommend
cd non-interierence, OF Indifference 10 the fate |
of other nations, 10 YOU. He has only recon-
mendcd neutrality. and there is a mighty diff
ference between these two ideas
Neutrality is an idea which has reference TO
a state of war between two beligerent powers
and il is this case which Washington cOntem-
Mated when he, in his Farewell Address ad-
1ised the people of the United States not to en-
ter into entangling alliances. Let quarrelllng
powers-let quarrellmg nations war you con-
slider your own concerns, and let foreign pow
ers quarrel about ambitious topics, OF scanty,
rtcular interests. Neutrality is a matter OF
convenience, not Of principle.
But even as neutrality has reference 70 a
state of war between bellgerent powers, the
principle Of non-nterierence has, ON the con-
trary. reference to the sovereign right Of ma
tons to dispose of their own domestic concerns.
Therefore these two ideas of neutrality and
non-interference are two entirely different
ideas having reference 70 two entirely different
matters
The sovereign right of whatever nation to
dispose Of itself to alter its institutions 10
change the form of its own Government is a
common public law of natinnS common to ali,
and, therefore put under the common guar
anty Of all
This sovereign right Of every nation to dis
pose Of itself, You, the people of the United !
States, must recognise, because it is u common |
law Of mankind in which, being Il common law |
Of mankind, every nation is equally interested. |
You must recognise it, secondly, because the |
very existence Of your great Republic, as also !
the independence Of every nation, rests upon
this basis-rests upon this ground. If that |
sovereign right of nations were no common pub |
lie law Of mankind then your own indepen-
dent existence would be no matter of right
but only matter of fact which might be sub
ject to whatever time 10 whatever chances of
power and of violence
And where is the citizen Of the United States
who would not feel reyolted against the idea.
that the existence Of this great Republic is not
a righteous nor a lawful one but only a mere
accident a mere matter of fact
fit were so, you were not entitled to invoke
. ,'>Lle1 c. -o,,- 1897 esr.-t.y~ p. q
'~~eyse the protection of God caunot, without !
se'rJeoe be invoked but m De9an D, Jus,rco d
ana l}ghys tOi - y%r =
sympathy Of mankind for yourself because you Il
would profess an abrogaton Of the laws of hu- o
!
pendcnce-your own existence. Sc
Now gentlemen, if these DO principles of Of
Common law, Of that law which God has given
to all and to every nation of humanity-if the ii
faculty to dispose Of itself is the common law g
ful right of every nation, then the interference y
with this common law of all humanity the l
violent act Of hindering by armed forces Il W
nation from exercising that sovereign right p
must be considered violation of that COM L
mon public law upon which your very exist
ence rests and which, being a common law of "
all humanity is, by God himself placed under 5
the safeguard of all humanity; because it is OF
God himself who commands US to love our b
neighbors as we love ourselves and to do to- Il
ward others as we desire others to do toward +
ourselves. Il
Upon this point you cannot remain indiffer-
ent. You may well remain neutral to every e.
war between two belligerent nations, but you n
cannot remain Indifferent to the violation of the II
common law Of humanity That Indifference e
Washington has never taught you. defy any c
man to show me out of the eleven volumes of
Washingtons writings n single word to that n
effect He recommended neutrality in the case $
Of foreign wars; but he never recommended in b
difference to the violation of the common laws O
of humanity, by interference of foreign powers v
with the sovereign right of nations to dispose of
themselves $
And he could not have recommended this t
indifference without ceasng to be wise as he I
was, because there is without justice, no wis i
dom on earth. He could not have recommend. I
ed 1t without becoming inconsistent because it 1
was this common law of mankind which your !
foreiathers invoked before God and mankind,
when they proclaimed your independence.
CHEERS 1t vs. he himself, your great Wash
lngton who not only accepted, but asked, again
and again, foreign aid-foreign help for the
support OF that common law of mankind, in re-
spect to your independence. Immense APP
plause.
knowledge and instruction are so universally
spread amongst the enlightened people of the
United States the history of your country is
such a household science ut the most lonely
hearths of your remOtest settlements, that It
may be sufficient for me to refer, in that respect
to the instructions and correspondence between
Washington and the Minister ut Paris-the
equally immortal Franklin cheers the mod
est man, with the proud epitaph which tells the
world that no wrested the lightning from |
Heaven, and the sceptrc from the tyrants hands. ,
[Cheers
This have proved, believe, that Washing
ton never bequeathed to you the principle of !
nOn-interfcrencc against the violation of the !
sovereign rights of nations to dispose of them \
selves aud TO regulate their own institutions; c
but he taught you only neutrality in respect to c
the wars OF foreign nations Good Y
will 60 further. And state that even In
that doctrine of neutrality he taught and n
bequeathed to you, not as a constitutional prn- O
clple-a lasting regulation for all future time
but only as matter Of temporary policy. p
refer IN that respect to the very words Of his 81
L. III
that II rs your pOicyO steer clear of permanent Il,
alliances ruth any portion ofthe foreign ,porldr
These are his very words Policy is the word v,
ana you know policy is not the science of prin tn
clples, but OF exigencies and that principles c,
are OF course, by free and powerful nation. ey
never 70 be sacrificed to exigencies Cheers III
Inc exlgencles are passing away. like the 81
bubbles OF II ram but the nation is immortal GO
u must consider the future also, and not only of
the egotlstical comfort of the passing hour. Il d,
must be aware that to an immortal nation q,
nothing can be Of higher Importance than inn. We
mortal principles =,
will 90 yet further and state that even this n
policy OF neutrality Washington taught Won. =
not as permanent rule but as a temporarv h
convenience v,
prove 1T again, 10y referring to the very On
words OF his Farewell Address, when he, in tc
reference to his policy of neutrality, explicitly lie
says that " leh him. (Washington,l predomi- n
"am mohre has been TO endeGvor to gam time TO n
yoH oountryt0 settle aud mature ats institutions
and TO progress W'thom interruption, 10 that de-
gree 9tdrengh and consistency Which is necessary
10 gaze me command Of ITS otCn fortunes y
Applause.
These are highly memorable words, gentle !
men. Here take my ground; and casting '
glance of admiration over your glorious land, /
confidently ask YOU gentlemen. are your insti 8