Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-01-01

the common laws of humanity, by interference
OF foreign powers with the sovereign right of
nations TO dispose of themselves.
And he could not have recommended this
Indifference without ceasing 10 be wise as he
was, because there is, without justice, no wis
dom on earth. He could not have recommend
ed 1t without becoming inconsistent because 1t
was the common law of mankind which your
forefaihers invoked before God and mankind
when they proclaimed your independence. 1t
| was he himself, your great Washington, who
not only accepted, but asked again and again,
foreign ad-foreign help for the support of
that common law of mankind, in respect to
your own independence.
| knowledge and instruction are so universal
ly spread among the enlightened people of the
United Stales-the history of your country is
such household science at the most lonely
| hearths of your remotest settlements, that it
may be sufficient for me to refer, in that re-
spect TO the instructions and correspondence
between Washington and the Minister at Par
! is-the equally immortal FRANKLIN--the mod
est man, with the proud eptaph which tells
the world that he wrested the lightning from
Heaven, and the sceptre from the tyrant' S
hands. ""-'.- .' at-
Thus have proved, I believe, that Wash
|
of Northumberland against the violation of the
sovereign right of nations to dispose of them
selves, and TO regulate their own institutions !;
but he taught you only neutrality in respect to
the wars of foreign nations. -N
will go further. And state that even
that doctrine of neutrality he taught and be-
queathed to you not constitutional princi-
plea lasting regulation for all future time,
but only as matter of temporary policy. |
refer in this respect TO the very words of his
farewell address. There he states explicitly,
that at is your policy to steer clear of perma-
nent alliances with any portion of the foreign
world" These are his very words. Policy
is the word, and you know policy is not the
science of principle, but of eXigencies; and
that principles of course, by free and
| powerful nation, never TO be sacrificed to ext
gences. The exlgencies are passing away,
like the bubbles of a rain but the nation is
Immortal; it must consider the future also, and
not only the egotistica comfort of the passing
! hour 1t INST be aware that to an immortal
nation nothing can be Of higher importance
than immortal principles.
Will go yet further, and state that even this
policy OF neutrality Washington taught you,
not as permanent rule, but as temporary con-
'CHlCHtc- plo'G IL again ny llie NeIk WOIuo
of his Farewell Address, when he, in relation
to his policy of neutrality. explicitly says, that
with him ashington) predominant mo-
tive has been TO endeavor 10 gain time TO your
country 10 settle and mature It's institutions,
| and To progress, without interruption, to that
degree of strength and consistency which is
necessary 10 give it the command of its own
fortunes" These are highly memorable
words, gentlemen. Here | take my ground,
and casting glance of admiration over your
glorious land, confidently ask vou gentle
men, are your institutions settled and maured,
or are they not! Are you, or are you not,
come 10 that degree of strength and consistency
| to be the masters of your own fortunesa
| Oh, my God how | thank thee for having
| given me the glorious view of this country s
greatness, which answers this question for me !
We quote somewhat fully, for it is difficult
to find a 'brcaking off, place, the train of ar
gument is SO close. Kossuth then goes on
quoting the recorded sentiments of our former
Presidents and many of our Statesmen, in sup
port of his ideas. He then lakes up some of
the objections and doubts that may be raised
as to the efficacy of his plans-ar to whether,
if nation does not respect this common law,
it is our business to meddle with them-and
whether should go to to assert this
principle, &C., &C., which he answers satsfac-
torily, and the gist of which may be gathered
from further quotations as follows =
at is not my wish to entangle the United
| States in war, or to engage your great people
to send out armies and fleets to restore Hun
gary to its sovereign independence. Not at
all, gentlemen l most solemnly declare that
never entertained such expectations, such
hopes and here l come to the practical point.
If you acknowledge the right of every nation
to alter its institutions and governmental YOU
acknowledge the interference of foreign pow
ers in that sovereign right to be violation Of
the law of nations, as you really do-if you
arc forbidden to remain indifferent to the vio-
lation of international law as your President
openly processes you are, then there is no 9TH
er course possible than not to interfere in that
sovereign right of nations, but also not to adj
nit whatever other powers to interfere.
But you will, perhaps, object me, that is
so much as to go to war. l answer no-that
is so much as to prevent war What is want
ed to that effect: 1t is wanted, that being
aware of the precarious condition of Europe
your National Government should as soon as
possible send instructions to your Minister at
London. to declare to the English government
that the United States, acknowledging the
sovereign right of every nation to dispose of
its domestic concerns, have resolved not to in
te1fere, but also not to let interfere whatever
foreign power with this sovereign right, in or
der to reprcss the spirit of freedom in any
country. Consequently, to invite the Cabinet
of St. James to unite with the United States
in this policy, and to declare that the United
States resolved to act conformity with Eng
land in that decision in the case Of that APP.
preaching crisis on the European continent
which is impossible not to foresee.
There may be some over anxious men, who
perhaps would say, but If such declaration
of your government will not be respected, and
Russia still does interfere then you would be
obliged to go to war, and you don't desire a
war" That eff the vault of heaven breaks
down. what will we y My answer is, But
it will not break down." even so l answer
but your declaration will be respected-Russia
| will not intertere-you will have no occasion
for war--you will have prevented war BE
sure Russia would twice, thrice consider to
provoke against ITSELF besides the reused fury
of nations-besides the legicns of Republican
France also the English Leopard and the star
surrounded Eagle OF America. Please to con-
slider the fact that YOU, united to England,
have made already such declaration, not to aG
nit any interference of the European Absolu-
tistcal powers, into the affairs of the formerly
Spanish Colonies of America, and has this dec
laration brought you to war: Quite The con-
trary, it has prevented war-so would it be
in our case also
We close our extracts by giving the concise
summing up OF his plans and wishes, as con-
tanned in the closing paragraphs of his great
speech, as follows: