The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-21
. o.I.Dr.uon Of wa.h,nEton,. B,r,aa.y.

ras Celebration Of washington'. Birthday.
The Washington journals OF yesterday contained an
announcement inviting members Of Congress 10 unite in
celebrating the approaching Anniversary Of Washngtons
Birthday upon the principles set forth in the following
passages OF his Farewell Address
The great rule ofcondnct for regard foreign
tons Is, la extending commercial relations have
with them As iitte connexlon possible" "why quit
asked he) stand foreign ground Why, by
Intervening our destiny with that Of any part OF Europe
enange our peace and prosperity in the Tolls OF European
ambition, riyalship, interest. humor, caprice !"
The unity OF government which constitutes you one
people, Is dear TO you Much pains will be taken,
many articles employed. weaken in your minds the
conviction oflhs truth. Il is Of initiate moment
that you should properly estimate the value Of
your national Union your collective and Individual hap
piness that you should cherish cordial. habitua and
immoyeable attachment to H. accustoming yourselves
think and speak OF Of the palladium OF your political
safety and prosperity. watching for its preservation with
jealous anxiety, dscounlenancng whatever may suggest
even suspicion that in event Il can be abandoned
and indignantly irownng upon the first dawnng OF every
attempt TO ALLEVIATE any portion OF country from the
rest eneebe the sacred ties which bind together
the various parts
Though the announcement was sent 10 Us by highly
respectable wing member of Congress, with the ntmaon
that arrangements had already been made for its appear
ance in the other leading papers OF the city. yet il bears
upon its face marks oil partisan origin purpose.
Such character in the celebration would not only be
wholly unfit in ITSELF but also at with all its egt
mate and laudable Objects The Father of the Country
does not in strclness belong historically either Of its
great parties His like the constitution. belongs
10 the whole country His glorious memory Isl sacred
neutral ground upon which patriotic men Of all parties
may raternze AS the conflicting tribes of Greece
wont TO proclaim an armisice in order 10 keep their
,t,n
well sleep while patriotism TO lay its offerings of
reverence and honor upon the tomb Of Washington.
1t will be perceived that the selects faro
out OF the three cardinal principles which inspired Wash
ngtons career the special basis which the ceeba
ton is to be held These two selected principles his
policy OF peace and his policy OF nnion But why is his
third prncplethe policy of national rsedom--omitted
from the enumeration II was equally capital with
either Of the others in his thoughts and in his life In
his comprehensive and afsghied survey OF the duty and
destiny OF his country, he for moment forgot
what due from us, peaceful and united republic
to the great cause Of national self government through
out the world He held that to be under the safe
guard OF every rghtful principle of public law In his
noble speech OF reception to the French Minister and in
several passages Of his Farewell Address, this tendency
of his sentiments is clearly manifest and he uttered them
in weighty words.
In the celebration OF Washington's Birthday at this
me this aspect of his character and history should not
be kept out OF sight is full OF instruction fit for the
present moment, because it shows how the policy of
peace and the policy Of union entirely compatible
with the only policy Of Intervention which, under pres
ent or probable circumstances, the intelligence and pa.
otism Of the country be brought seriously to con.
template. The Intervention Of our national opinion,
calmly and soemnly uttered in favor OF the rights of
nationality everywhere when those rights threatened
by the Intervention OF lawless forcethe Intervention
which shall throw, by the Interpretation Of govern
ment the whole weight of the venerable code OF public
law into the opposite scale, TO weigh down the inter
venng sword of the oppressorthis is the only and the
policy of intervention for which our people are
prepared. This is the policy of Washington. This is
the policy in which the recent proceedings Of the Con-
gress of the United States, in judgment rghtfully
but, at all events necessarily must result This is the
policy 10 which every element of national existence
commits us and this is the only policy Of Intervention
in European affairs to which government be
wisely committed. until that awful attitude OF events
arises in which the instinct Of seipreservaiion shall be
Weakened and warned to seize the sword OF Defence