The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-30

erto nan Deen no part OF the system OF the
United States The very reverse Of it had been
acted upon. Their foreign policy had been es-
sentlally botpmed on the great maxim of pre-
serving peac, and harmony with all nations.
without offending any, or forming entanging al \
lances with any. Upon the institutions as upon
the dssensioIs of the European powers, the
government ard the people of the United States
! might form, and even express their speculative
opinions but i had been no part of their past
conduct TO interfere with the one, or, being un.
inolested themselves to become parties to the
others. In this broad principle laid one of my
difficulties under his proposal"
| TO this Mr.. Canning would reply:
That, however just such policy might have
been formerly, or might continue to be us a o. n
eral policy, he apprehended that powerful and
controlling circumstances might maxi it inappli-
cable in particular OCCASIONS" &c.
And upon the rejoinder Mr. Rush said
"For myself, speaking only as an individual,
could well conceive thai the interpostion of an
authoritive voice by the United States, in favor
fthese communities, admitting that the powers
of Europe usurped claim TO control their des
TIMES, would imply no real departure from The
principles which had hitherto REQUESTED their
foreign intercourse, or pledge them henceforth
to the political connexions of the old world If,
too, that voice happened to be in unison with
the voice OF Great Britain, it might prove but
the more suspicious to the common object which
both nations had in view, without committing
either to any systematic or Interior concert.
But added that as the question Of the United
States expressing this voice, and promulga,ing
it under official authority to the powers Of Eu
rope, was one of entire novelty as well Of
great magnitude in their history it was for nv
government aid not for me, to decide upon lis
propriety."
LET Great Britain Immediately and unequiy.
ocally acknowledge the independence of the new
States
| will not scruple, on seeing thatimportant event
come about, to lend my official name to the
course proposed, and count upon nv govern
ment stamping with its subsequent approval
whatsl have done."-(P. 1876, 437)
Mr.. Rush then goes on aud says
by the early transmission of the proposals
made to me by Mr.. Canning, in his notes of the
latter end OF August the copies Of them, as well
as OF my reports OF our conferences on the
whole subject, arrived at Washington in time
to engage the deliberations of President Mon
roc and his cabinet, before the meeting of Con.
gress in December, and it was very satisfactory
to me to learn that the part had acted was
approved."-P. $50, 457)
The policy of npassveness, therefore, has
no warrant in the past, and the warnings Of
Washington and of his compeers, so far, reach
not the ground covered by this debate. Let me
define distinctly the position which mean to
occupy am not for entangling ourselves by
permanent alliances in the ordinary vicssitudes
of foreign politics, or in the ordinary combina.
tons and collisions Of foreign friendships or
enmities | am for trusting to temporary ALI
hnces IN extraordinary emergencies but | cam
not be Tor surrenderiDg the high rank which we
are eutitled to occupy al the council. board Of
nations. can neither abdcote the rights which
that position implies, nor disavow the obliga-
tons which it imposes; and nasmuch as the
amendment proposed by the distinguished Sena.
tor from Michigan Mr. CAssl carries me not
beyond the ground covered by the avowals lust
stated, to that amendment shall give nv un-
qualified support and vote.
But suppose | were in error with respect 10
the bearing of the Washington policy, as exem.
plifed by his own doings, the question would
still remain, whether it was ever intended that
it should remain an immutable rule, to be pursued
by this government under what changes soever
might occur in the history of its progress
Speaking of our commercial intercourse with
foreign nations, Washington himself, in lis
Farewell Address, recommends the Establish
ment Of certain conventional rules, the best that
present circumstances and mutual opinions mill
permit but temporary, and liable 10 be from Time
10 time abandoned paried, as experience and
circumstances shall dictate
Our policy, upon the same principle. mpst
also charge. Il is not in the power of man 10
impart immutabty to any Of its works. Our
policy must change; II will change. Who il
The statesman, where is the statesman, who will
consider himself so constrained by the traditions
OF the past as to bind the present in shackles.
and keep the future IN thraldom! Sir, we cam
not thus be enslaved to the opinions and jndp.
ment Of those who have preceded us. Are we
the nation we were in 1897 Does Europe
stand TO us in the relation il then stood? Con-
slider: We were bat three millions of people
then; we are now twen,y-three millions. The
area OF our territory exceeded hardly eight hum
dred thousand square miles; il now measures
upwards OF three millions. Our commercial
relations with the whole world embraced an
aggregate OF one hundred and fifteen millions
Of dollars; they reach now 10 upwards of three
hundred and eighteen millions on comparn-
tive survey Of the commercial progress of This
country and Of England we find that, while the
mercantile movement of the United States in
half century has increased in the ratio of three
hundred per cent that Of England has only AZ.
tanned two hundred per cent. Taking for
granted that the two countries will progress in
the same ralo during century, we hnd that
| in 1890 the commerce Of the United States will
be eight hundred and seventy millions, that Of
England twelve hundred millions: and in 1910
the commerce Of the United States will be
twenty-three hundred and seventy.seven mil.
lions, while that Of England will only be twenty.
two hundred and righty-nine milons-,hus
leaving the United States with surplus over
Eagland Of lightweight millions
1 Wa hoya ms
niles H. length; IL extended in 1893 hut 700
miles. We had scarcely commercial marine
now our steam force alone amounts to upwards
Of fourteen hundred steamers, measuring 4i7.-
2s3 tons while the whole steam marine Of all
| Europe in lS4S did not exceed twelve hun
dred and twenty-iour steamers, Of l64,7l3 tons
burden.
| To insist, sir, that while our NUMBER, the ex.
tent Of our teuitlry, our commerce, our ship.
! ping, &c, have 80 much changed our interests,
our wants, our rights, our obligations under