The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
srnnon or HON. ,. w. mILLEl

Thursday, February 20, 1852.
The Senate proceeded TO the consideration OF the
lutions submitted by MIR CLkRkE IN relation 10 the for
eign policy OF the United Siaes-ihe pending question
being the amendment submitted by Mr.. SEWARD.
Mr MILLER, Mr.. President. il is seldom that
trouble either myself or the Senate with discussion
upon what called abstract resolutions In national
affairs prefer acts TO words and when there is moth
ing present which duty commands us TO perform, II is
wisdom 10 be silent Yet there times and occasions
in the history OF every nation when II is necessary 10
speak in advance OF coming events and thereby anici
pate threatened evils by manly ayowal oil counterfeit
ing principles.
Tie present, in my opinion, is OF those occasions
The government is called upon TO change its foreign pol
icy, and 10 new position in its social and po-
ltical intercourse with The nations of Europe. This
movement is sustained by various influences, domestic
and foreign. Most ierven and eloquent appeals have
been made TO national honor and PRIDE TO our love
OF liberty and to our sympathy with suffering humanity
All classes and professions have given il their influence
The The and the bar are ns
tional policy And potcians-especiay that most m
tsresng class Of them called by
this sudden excitement, become at first confused then
alarmed, and finally throw themselves upon the popular
wave, to be carried whthersoever the wind may drive
them.
tons quite forgotten, and wings and democrats abo
ltionsts and secession iss who could agree for
moment in managing ur domestic concerns, now unite
like brothers in regulating the affairs OF the world
Under the pressure OF these exciting movements Con-
gress cannot remain quie we must do something worthy
ment should change its present position to meet this
emergency, there are none who tell us what that new
position should be.
not stand still yet he negecs to tell us whittier we
shall CO. The friends OF progress expected something
more bold and decided from that senator but they will
him, when they consider the ncacy of the SUBJ
ject, and his present peculiar position.
The senator from Illinois is decided in his de-
termination TO change our national policy read what
he says:
q think it is time tina. America had a foreign policy
[applause and cries OF Good Good rla foreign policy
psdcaed upon true Interpretation the laws Of nations
lgeat not such foreign policy as we have
I r o | % ha Hs
been told and you are told every day. that neutrality
the which have been performed by the exist
ing administration in eonnexon with the Cuban question
army the volunteers seize the provisions
munton and supplies of every kind which be sent
passage and protection all men, ton and sup
plies which may be sent in aid of the royals' and they
Again, the senator says.
"The distinguished senator from Michigan fMr CAssl
has told you that the President is be democratic
the viii Of the people aso G s m app 81 ana
II the "w OF Providence" seconded by sthe will of
the people,, should sustain the dsnerested opinions of
the senators from Michigan and Illinois, hat the
President is to be democrat there be no doab but
that the time will have for America have "for-
egn policy" II is much to be regretted that the honora
BILE senator from Illinois, of whom the world has taken
note as standing the most immediate throne" has
thus in advance declared his determination 10 change the
wellestablished policy of the government Others
counter the same difficulty 10 the kind of nteryen-
ton Some are for declaration of sympathy for the
oppressed-some for the announcement Of the oppres
soTs-some for moral and others for material aid but all
are Tor intervention OF some sort We cannot they say,
stand still and be neutral when all Eurone is in motions
and therefore must say word strike blow in the
cause OF liberty.
Now. Mr. President. have nothing to say against that
noble and liberal sympathy which The people OF this
Try manifest towards the oppressed OF other lands This
feeling may sometimes be carried extreme and
sionaly fall upon unworthy Objects but is noble virtue
and esties that liberty and humanity not only merely
Embodied in the forms OF our government, but that they
have also deep and warm place in the hearts of the
American people. No State policy, however wise, can
ought to prevent heart beating heart voice answer.
ing unto voice, when the weak and the oppressed call for
aid and succor have noihogto say against this popu
lar feeling IN favor OF humanity My remarks in
tended TO apply solely TO the conduct of the government
M IN it's with foreign nations under appeals Of
way while the duty Of the government points to the OPP
posite direction.
1t is not to be disguised that there exists disposition
among portion OF people ntermeddle in the po-
htca affairs OF Europe. This feeling receives strength
lust now from two sources FIRST from the connections in
Europe; secondly from desire the part of politicians
al home TO use this feeling for party purposes
Under these combined Influences there is danger that
this government may become involved in the affairs OF
stale and vapid There is disposition TO quit our own
to stand upon foreign ground.
There is class Of politicians (not in this chamber)
who seem 10 live and move in foreign politics Each
revolution in Europe excites them 10 such fever heat
that they cannot rest until government shall express
by word or action, its sympathy or it's indignation for
against the parties concerned. With them everything
foreign has peculiar interest Foreign goods and for.
egn labor preferred 10 the domestic, and foreign
votes, IL not preferred, certainly coured than
those OF our native citizens lmpelled by their sympa
thes, they rush 10 the shore with eyegass TO
detect the incoming ships loaded with the of Eu
ropean agitation, and confused by political mirage all
that they over the distant waters TO their vision,
enlarged and distorted Absorbed in foreign news they
forget the claims OF their counythey have neither
eye ear for domestic matters They are deaf to the
call OF American labor for protection They have no eve
for our neglected rivers and harbors They cannot see
broken-down forges and our ruined manufactures
While the in Europe the object OF their most
ardent sympalbies the at home are abandoned
with cold indifference and left unaded, TO fight the bat.
ties OF labor and national Independence against the com
bined capital OF Europe. In all that American
advancement and American reform, they doubtful,
umd, and non-commiita; but in European affairs they
are hxed bold, and positive and although frightened
into silence by the noise and confusion of domestic
trumpet amid the thunders OF European revolutions
Hitherto, the influence OF policy has been TO deri-
cdnfzs Europe; now il rs TO Europc1nfze America. For
the last hundred years the people of Europe have
coming to us for liberty and free governments we are
now to carry these blessings 10 them and build up free
institutions upon the rotten foundations OF despotsm
To meet this ani-American state OF things the reso
lubons OF the senator from Rhode Island mfr CLARKE
are submitted 10 the judgment Of the country They pro-
pose no new policy but simply declare what is the set
tied policy OF this government relative our intercourse
with foreign nations The honorable mover OF these
resolutions has shown by the most nconestabe aulhor
tiee dali