The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-13

foreign Stafssp The President has said ,hat TO
form alliances il not among the motives Of our
| attendance at the Congress. But what description
OF alliance docs hc mean? They OF various kinds
and of different extent We are, at that Cong
to stpulate in some form (and care not in whnt)
that we will resist any attempt at colonization by
| the powers OF Europe, in this hemisphere, Tor
within our own borders, if you psease,) and that.
| in the event OF any interference their part in
the struggle between Spain aud the Spanish Amer
| ican States, we will make common cause with The
latter i'll resisting it. To this end have been
vited, and upon these points have promised that
| our ministers shall have tH pooers. We must do
this, or the whole affair becomes empty pageantry;
which, though it may be the offspring OF personal
ambition, will assurcdly terminate in national dis
grace Call it an alliance or whatever name you
please, il is political connection, at with the
established policy OF our Government. And il this
light matter? Sir, when it 10 proposed subvert
| a fundamental principle in our foreign policy, in
the support OF which we stand alone among all the
| nations of the Garth W hch, commencing with our
| Government. is cndeared to the people, and upon
| whose deep foundation has been erected the mag
nihcent superstructure OF unequalIed national pres
perIty-it surely becomes those entrusted with the
| management OF affairs to pause, and weigh, with
scrupulou5 exactness, the importance of the step
81 yield to no man in my anxious wishes for the
| success OF the Spanish American States. will go
as lar as think any American citizen ought to go
to TO them the blessings of free government
| commend the socitude which has been mani
| festad by our Government upon this subject, and
| have, of course, no desire to discourage it.
"But am against all alliances, against all arm
| ed coniederacies, or coniederacies OF any SORT l
care. not how specious, or how disguised, come in
what shape they may oppose them, The States
in question have the pow and the means, if united
and true to their principles TO resist any force that
Europe can send aga ainst them. Ii is only by being
| recreant to the principles upon which their rcvo-
luton Is founded, by suffering foreign influence to
distract and divide them, that their independence
can be endangered. But, happen what may, our
course should be left TO choice, whenever occa-
| sion for acting sha occur. II, in the course OF
events dc5ions shall be ate IA bon
IN this hemisphere BY any foreign power, which
lar affect our interest, honor as TO make it
| necessary that We should arm in their defence, it
| will be done; there Id room TO doubtit
| 'The decision Of that question may safely be left
to those who come after That love Of country,
and OF freedom, which now anirnates public
councils, is not confined to U.s. likely TO become
extinct. We require neither alliance nor agree
| Inent to compel us to perform whatever duty
| enJoins. Our national character is our beat, and
should be our only pledge. Meanwhile, let us be-
| stow upon our ncighbors, the young republics of
| the South, the moral aid Of good example. To
| make that example more sauary, let it exhibit
| our moderation in success, our frmness in adver-
slty, our devotion 10 our country and its institu
| tons and, above all, that SINE qua non the ex-
| istencc OF our Republican Govcrnment--our fdei-
| lily to q Urttier Consfitution."
William c. Riyes, high minded and patriotic
son OF Virginia, said:
| ''But. cir, another argument urged in favor OF
this political connexion with Spanish America is,
| that we owe it to the cass of liberty. Sir in my
| opinion, can best advance the cause of liberty
by the influence OF our example, and by presenting
to the world the spectacle OF prosperous and hap
py people, blessed in tho enjoyment OF their free in
sttutions. Let US then for the sake of mankind,
well as ourselves, attend TO concerns, per-
icct and build up political Institutions, i'm.
prove the gifts of Providence with which we have
been crowned by every means of amelioration
which time and experience may supply, that they
may remain TO our posterity, and stand in the eyes
OF the world at once n monument and model 0f hu
man freedom. Let us, above all things, avoid the
L danUcfs W N m
| wars, which have in all ages been the grave of
| publican liberty. We do. indeed, owe solemn
responsibility TO all Anxnd. in this aud future
ages, for the fate OF the experiment OF free govern
ment, which has been committed TO our hands.
The success of this experiment does, IN my opin-
ion, mainly depend upon our keeping clear OF en-
tangling connexions with other people, Who may
be less blessed with aptitude and capacity Tor
freedom than ourselves, and whoss interests and
passions might involve us in enterprises lorogn 20
our sober and peaceful pursuits. Sir, II ou.ar
tions destined 10 lose iheir hbertss let asqut
| ourselves Of the high trust which Providence has
| devolved upon u.s. and endeayor TO preserve oar
oun; that beacon light, at least, may be left To
cheer the darkness OF the political world. and 10
| guide those nations who may have lot their hber
ties through the Of revolution. upon which they
must embark TO recover them"
| Jamcs Buchanan-the fayorite of the Key
stone State. To you need not say that his high
and lofty intellect is second 10 man In its power
TO appreciate the true interests Of his country; and
his position giyos 10 the expression of his conyc-
| tions a commanding influence and respect:
"The President In his mcssage 10 the House. has
met this question iairly. shall quote bis lao
guage; he says: Among the inquiries which
thought entitled 60 confederation, before the deter
minatiOn was taken 10 accept the invitation, was
| that whether the measure might not have a ten
dency TO change the policy. hitherto invariably
| pursued by the United states, OF avoiding all
| tangling alliances, and all unnecessary foreign
come pions' Docs the President deprccate this
| event, which bis aeacity had iorcscon, Does hc
declare that this shall never be policy, and hat
| he will take the 10 III On
| the contrary, knowing that the American people
| considered an adherence TO tho Farewell Address
Of the who was fret in war, fret In peace. and
hrs IN the hearts OF he cOuntrymcn, 10 be the pal
ladium Of their safety, be has. by long and ingo-
nious argument, attempted 10 destroy its force.
e has endoayorcd to prove that its principles did
not apply to the Southern republics, and that Cen
/ ernl Washington himself, under existing circum-
stances, would have entered into closc alliance
/ with them. And hasit come TO this' Was IL not
/ enough 10 have abandoned the principles Of that
immortal man, without attempting, by ingenuity,
TO turn them in direct opposition 10 their plain and
| palpable InoAningy do not wish 20 cast any res
Elections upon the character Of the present Prosi-
| dent believe him TO be great statesman, and
perhaps ms well versed i'm the theory OF diplomacy
as any man nop living. must, however, be per
mitted TO say that nc has attempted 70 explain
| away the principles Of the Farewell Address. No
man Who reads his message can entertain doubt
on the subject
1--WE have ourselves grown great by Standing
alone, and pursuing an independent policy THIS
/ path has conducted us TO national happiness aud
/ national glory. Let us never abandon Il. II h
time for more TO go back 10 first principles,
| and declare to the world that the policy Of Wash
/ ington has not grown old. Union az home, aud
independence Of all foreign nations, ought 81 be
our political maSiins. Let Ne do good TO all na-
/ uons, but form entangiiug alliances with none.
These the principles Of the amendments.
Should they prevail, the administration will 60 90
| Panama with the confidence Of the country and
with strong vote. This is certainly a matter OF
consequence, should cndeavor 10 present n
united front all intercourse tU DfClgu a
tions."
Sir. thero is also another illustious individual.
(Sam HoustoD,) a member Of this body, whose
high position and gentle aspirations commend his
teachings 10 our better Judgment. lie has told
U.s. and still tells US, that policy should be
confined TO the full development Of our own glo-
rioua Institutions.
The House bad been told Mr.. ". ssid) that this
was a subject OF vast importance. In this light he
had regarded IL far as he had been able it,
lie thong IL subject OF no common importance,
/ because II about 10 take direction perfectly
novel. IL ia proposed (said he) 20 meet different
| m or hon rel n in dcl