Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-16
speech OF Hon. 8. A. Douglas, ~ the Com
gressionel> Banquet to Kossuth, Janu-
i lrv 1871. FL


airy q, 1851. ~
The President announced the next toast:
The rights Of the States only valuable when subject
TO the free control Of those TO whom they apperan and
utterly worthless II TO be determined py the sword OF foreign
interference"
MIR. DouGLAs said Mr.. President, am not
insensible to the honor conferred upon me by
your call to respond to the sentiment which has
been Just given; yet am not unmindful Of the
advanced period of the evening" and therefore
cannot occupy your time to the extent that the
toast which has been drunk would seem to re-
quire / will remark, however, that there are
some positions which may be assumed bearing
upon the sentiment which you have proposed,
upon which, presume, we may all agree That
a nation has right to establish her own form of
government and to regulate her internal affirs
according to her own pleasure, is too clear to adj
nit of dispute, or to require argument In its sup
port Applause If you deny a nation that
right-if you subject her to any other restraint
than that of the law of nations in the regulation of
her foreign affairs, her own will, expressed ac-
cording to the forms of her own constitution in her
domestic she from thatinstant ceases to be
an independent State If the nations of the world
could be brought not only recognise this princi-
pie, ito act in sacred obedience it, each nation
would adopt such institutions as she thought best
adapted to her condition. interest, and necessi-
ties Probably there would be great diversity in
the principles and nature of the governments that
might prevail in different countries; but you
would find in the process of time, and that very
soon, they would begin to approximate to one
common standard, and at length would arrive at
model form of government, resulting from the
fact that some one would demonstrate that it was
better adapted to the development Of the true in
terests Of the people than all others. Applause.
Cries of g Good" "Good"] Each form of gov
eminent would then be subjected to the arbitra-
ment of an enlightened public sentiment and be
judged by its practical results. The institutions
of that country which was most successful in
advancing the great interests of humanity-in
promoting civilization and intelligence-in devel-
oping and elevating the intellectual, moral, and
physical condition Of the people-wOuld acquire
an influence beyond the limits of their own coun-
try, which would cause that system to be adopt
ed as the model government of the world. Sir,
my self-love-I should say my pride Of country
inspires me with the conviction that the United
States will always be willing to have our insttu-
tons judged by that standard Applause. If
another form Of government can be shown to ex-
list, or to ever have existed, upon the face of the
globe that has done more to elevate the condition
of the people-to render them intelligent, peace
able, and happy-that has done more for the
cause of civilization, religion, and morality, in
the same space of time, than this let that coun-
UTy NC pOlutcu Oul, lily WOIu lOI ~, VIC Will
be willing to receive its government as the model
[Applause. Mr.. President, believe these re-
suits would follow directly and legitimately
from the acknowledgment of that law of nations,
that every nation upon the face of the globe
has q right to choose its own form of gov
eminent and to establish it's domestic institutions,
without the Intervention of any foreign power.
Applause Then, let me submit to you, if these
results would follow from that declaration, and if
that declaration is predicated upon the law of
nations, of justice, and of humanity, why should
not every friend of freedom be willing to proclaim
the principle to the civilized world as the honest
gushing sentiment of his heart [Applause. |
For one, hold it is the duty of all republicans
to demonstrate to the world upon which side we
are whenever contest arises between republi-
canism and absolutism-[ cries of " Bravo /" and
applause and that demonstration should be
made so clearly, SO distinctly, that no despot
its meaning. There are other
things which America not only can do but ought
to do, not merely by way Of encouragement Of all
liberal movement in every part of the globe, but
with reference to our own rights, our own inter
ests, our own dignity and duty We should make
it our fixed principle of action to recognise the in
dependence of every republic the moment it is es-
tablished. Applause. We should establish COM
mercial intercourse and also diplomatic relations
with such governments Itmay be that the exercise
of this right will give offence to the crowned heads
of Europe. Suppose it does. The question with
me is, not whether the despots of Europe would
choose to take offence at our action, but whether
such action would be just cause of offence vio-
ation of the laws of nations, and of the principles
of right and justice! Applause. BY what
authority do these conspirators against the rights
of the people and the independence ofnations say
to republican America that we have no right to
sympathize with popular movements for the estab-
lshment of democratic institutions everywhere?
The Europe for the last two hundred years
consists of succession of interventions by the
larger powers with the internal affairs of the
smaller powers in utter disregard of their rights
as sovereign States, and of the principles of in
ternational law. These interventions have been
prompted sometimes by the ambitious views of
particular dynasties frequently for the silly pur-
pose of maintaining the absurd scheme of an Eu-
ropean equilibrium, and always to crush any
effort for the establishment of free institutions.
1t is thing to intervene in violation of inter
national law for the purpose of depriving nation
of its liberty and independence, and it is entirely
a different thing to interpose in yindication of
that law for the purpose of maintaining the great
principle that every nation has right to choose
and establish its own institutions Applause.
A VOICE. lie speaks for the West. Applause.
Another VOICE. Yes, and for the whole coun-
try. Applause.
Mr.. DouGLAs, Continuing II is no violation of
the laws of nations to interpose in vndication of
the sovereignty of State. If am right in the
first proposition, that every State has the right to
prescribe its own form of government, any inno-
walton of that right is sch offence against all
nations as authorizes every nation of the globe to
nterpose for its vndcation which shall see proper
to do SO. Applause Whether would deem it
wise thus to interfere or not would depend upon
the peculiar circumstances of the case. IL it was
a contest merely whether this or that dynasty
should rule the country, would say to them,
Fight it out yourselves; you can have no sympa-
thy, no aid from America. If it was a conflict