New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-11
xxxrld CONGREss-----.Firsi Session.
SENATE. WASHINGTON Feb. 10, 1852.
rhe s,s.te met at 1874 o'clock.

Ef
Mr. sHITLps presented the petition OF a man who
lost his coat at the late fire Ia the CAPITOL asking 70
be remunerated for bis loss. Referred 10 the Com
mi,tee on Contingent Expenditures
MI FIsu presented the petition OF the Banks In
Albany, and Of the Members OF the Legislature OF
New.York, in favor OF NINTH New-York City
Mr.. PfARcE, from the finance Commit ee, report
ID a bill directing the payment into the Treasury OF
al money collected IN California by military con-
ubution other wise prior TO her admission into
the Union. with amendments.
bill. and Of several amendments ne intended TO
offer
The bill making Land Warrants assigna5le, az
smer ceo By the House, referred to the Com
mittee Oh Public Lands
MI CLARXE's non-interveDtion resolutions were
iakenup
Mr CAss took the floor and spoke as follows:
mr. CASsS SPEECH
Mir. PRESIDENT: The substitute propose for the
resolution OF the honorable Senator from Rhode
Island, tMr. Clarke) leaves the field Of discussion
broad as At found II. And that is broad enough to
embrace all the questions which so strongly excite
the Interest OF the American people at the present
moment, arising out OF that fragrant act of arbitrary
power ~ which independence and freedom were
Mested from Hungary an interest rendered yet
more powerful by the presence and the eloquence OF
that remarkable man, who IL non telIng through
our land, IN burning words, the story OF ms country
WoDgs-words that fall on ready ears aud 60 TO
kindiiDg hearts. My objections TO the original
proposition not to the great truths IT enuncates
truths drawn from state papers of the best
days of the Republic for to their eternal justice
yield cheerful aoquiescence-butE 10 the narrow ap-
ohcation 1t Is designed to make of them. They
met, and were intended TO meet the circumstances
OF the country, connected "iih our right to the new
position we had assumed as member of the family
Of nations, and with occurrences which took place
not long aiierward, but they vent no further. The
Obligations which subsequent events might impose
upon us, in relation to ambitious pretensions, in
compatible with the public law, and the indepen-
deIce OF nations, they neither ioresaw nor defined
And thus is II that must push our inquiry beyond
fhasA Ifup,tQ hqf Oya QVH AZ a
our true duty and policy now III face OF u.s. There
IL always class OF persons, Sir, who believe there
can be frp views where there are no hard words,
and with whom menacing language Is the measure
OF fYmness. Ineed not say here how little founia-
ton there is for such an opinion, in personal ia
national life But observe tnat this Standard has
been applied TO my substitute IN some 0f the jour
mails. which have found II wanting Mr.. President,
1t does not compOrt with the character or position Of
the United States 10 ceal in menace with thoI CO.
equals of the world Ii becomes them to express their
views plainly, and with the same respect 10 Others
which they claim for themselves, and 20 MAINTAIN
them firmly when they come to act. This substitute
question OF public iaw and there 1t stops, leaving
us free 20 determine upon our course when the time
comes. 1t makes known our deep concern at the
violation OF great princpe-which expression, you
well know, Sir, is the usual phraseoogy IN national
communications for conveying a marked dlsapproba-
tion Of any measure which is peculiarly unaccepta-
bic IL is strong conventional condemn alton OF the
proceeding In the bflef examination propose TO
give to tne subject before Us, with view TO practl
cal results, rather than TO prohtless specuations
have intention of entering Into the vexed question
Of tn origin of International law, nor INTO the true
grouI ds Of the obligations by which civilized com
nuni,ies are required to submit toll assume at
once the duty of al Christian people 10 recognize It's
bmcng fyce and to aid Its operation, so far as they
can properly DO it, Certainly, We cannot trace back
this code 90 universal legislative origin as we can
trace tack municipal statute to IT'S local source IL
grew out OF the necessity OF regulating the inter-
course between independent countries IN peace
and in war, ard traces Of It's existence may De
found i'll the earliest recorded annals OF natlons-
!. began BY assuaging the horrors OF war, ana py
restraining the ciueiues OF bsroarous conqner9rs
and by degrees, from few simple maxims, 1t has
become sr elaborate system co6xtenStye with
civilization and appealing not less to the sense Of
interest than TO that oil morality, by substituting
fixed and Just principles for those waywarc passions
which, without such an arbiter, would make the
world but one vast theateT OF carnage Tae elemen-
taYy commentaries Of wise and learned men, the de-
cisons OF enlightened jnriss, and the discussions OF
able statesmen, have butt up the system, and 1t
IL a beautiful monument OF the progress and I'M
proved condition of society. For II has not oeen
fxed and immulable code, out has accommodated
itself 10 the advancing opinions anC necessities OF
the world. Few and meager were at hrst It's provis-
ions, Ike the wants it was designed TO meet out as
these increased, 1t increased with them, Till mas
become one of the most useful II not one OF the
proudes, works OF the human intellect. And let no
one repYOach II with inutlllty or lmoeciv because
II not always barrier against interest ana amol-
ton but rather let us be thankful that IL SO oxen
turbulent passions Of our nature. And such Is Tue
force Of public opinion in this, the Gay OF us
strength, that when the provisions oil intefna-
honal Law evaded or neglected, ITS obligations
are rarely never indeed denied, but constructions
iof sehsh purposes are put upon lt--'orceu ana se
MS true, but tribute 20 rs worm even ~hne US
nlunciions are practically disregafded IL wen DC
comes us snd the principles OF oar Institutions 10
profess our fealty 10 this great cole OF pubic mo-
rsh.y anG Dot merely 10 profess H. but prove II by
our acts and declarations, and labor TO enforce Us
oohga'ions and its Observance IL is curious SUP
lect 10 trace the changes l, has undergone even IN
very late years, almost all ~ which are marked
tJ the progress OF just opnions, and ny meliora'
eons honorable To the spint OF the age IL
great engine for good, bat 20 Serless tor evil
barfler against injustice and oppression, assert
my the empire Of reason over mat OF force
ne tine has come when We have as muca rlgns
ec as much power 10 speak auihoritatlvey on this
!eeec as any other nation the face OF the gooe'
All we want While protesting the duty oil oDeclence,
= That other nations should equally obey ~ Ihere
uhone so high as 10 be above It's obligations, anu
zone 90 low as TO DO beneath its protection we De.
k,e IN the night and in the capacity OF man 10.
Hu1ovefnmeIt- not that he Is every "hefe p'epaIea
Nnsntrtons like ours We know wnile We nssies
ns he n not but We believe that he is eyerSwnete
Msec, ever now, for taking some part In the eunI-
nia'ion Of political affairs, greater or less, ~
eohlon 20 bis experience and conoil'oh, anu 80
W1ynhsre, with time and pfacIice, ne nav s f,es
elEssf and his government, I'll bosh become as Iee
a'ne state Of society will permt Auu, tei.s Il,
ot expression OF the warm hope tna' In,s LUZ ;,h
srepy ,sso.ct for o,ner powers We claim no
ubt to interfere in their internal concerns w me
se are firm believers in our own poiiHca1 ASA 10
ettty into 90 crusade 10 establish II elsewhere
hopaeaneism is no part of our creed unless IL pc
a pSopsrandism which works rs IS, own way y .n ss
see OF example, thus invitng .ee oppie 80 ne
brs OF the earth TO do IS we have oehe' anu W 90
= ice and happy as we are. But we cannot be M
tHerent 10 tbs condition OF the human race, now
ter widely scattered A desire for It's Improvement,
nofslly and materially, Is senl@en, na' sh,
man And an American can hardly smut
hnself I'D in his own selfish es0tIsm, thanking GOO,
: the spirit OF the Pharisee, that his country Is
Nuer on than any other, and be indiiersns 10 Tue
gpress;on. and degraeatiop, and misery, which
ssatsnes Of bad government have sniailed upon 50
Gye a portion OF the earth. Unless the many
sae mace for the few, the governed fof TOE govern
ca our sympathies should be excited, as were
Sose Of Washington, for every people unfarlins me
sssler OF Freedom, and God speed tnem De