The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-24


direct invasion, admit that we have nothing to
fear from battles upon the ocean, between ma
tional vessels, just as little. The danger is Of
another kind There is not sea which an
American vessel is not this moment traversing.
There is not cline unknown to our commerce.
Whenever war is declared the lust Of gain
and the love of adventure will cover the ocean
with privateers, and the rich fruits gathered by
the arts of peace will be sacrificed to the demon
of folly. The spindles of the New England
manufacturer will stand still ; the door of the
New York merchant will be closed the plough
share of the Northwestern farmer will rust in
the furrow; and the noise Of the cotton gin will
no longer be heard Not pound Of bacon nor
barrel Of -four, not sack of corn nor II bag of
cotton, not hogshead of tobacco nor fierce
Of rice, can leave our ports without danger OF
capture. The hardy mariner, who pursues his
perilous calling in the northern seas, may find
himself captive, and the fruits of long years OF
toll swept away before he is aware that he has
an enemy to avoid. The Ilfe-blood will stag
nate in every vein OF our commerce; and every
interest will wither under its blighting in
ilueDce. Is this picture too highly colored
Grant that it is SO. Grant that but onetenth
part of what is here depicted will come TO pass,
and the eye of the patriot will still .urn with
shudder from the dark prospect on which it
rests But is il in truth overdrawn! There
senator's here who remember the war of 1912,
its trials and its suflerings and all Of us have
learned from history or tradition that these sui
ferings were sufficient to east veil even over
the deformties OF treason, and to cause the for
nation of purity whose object was to make
separate peace With the common enemy, and
leave the rest of the republic to take care of it.
al v, r ha I,u I'D hat utfl Iu
tended commerce these evils will be proportion.
ately increased, and moreover that they would
be aggravated by the reflection that they were
brought upon against reason and without ne
cessty! 1t may be said sir, that an argument
of this sort extends to all wars as well as to the
particular case under consideration. Undoubt.
eddy to some extent it does so. No war can be
carried on without detrment to the prosperity
or the morality of the people but there may be
cases which justify, there may be wrongs which
demand the sacrifice and whenever such case
arises, shall not be the last to draw the sword
am afraid, Mr. President that after the able
and iudicious remarks OF the Senator from
Rhode Island, Mr.. CLARKE, | shall but tax the
patience of the Senate by referring to the Opin
ions Of former Presidents; but if it should be
somewhat tedious to this body, it will not be unin-
structive to the country. There has been no disa-
greement Of opinion among them, no matter to
what section Of the Union they belonged, no
matter to what party they owed their elevation
to power; all of them have urged noninterfer-
ence with the affairs Of other nations, as the
dictate alike of interest and of duty. All of them,
with singular unanimity, have maintained and
enforced the precepts of the Father of his coun-
try. am aware that it is becoming somewhat
questionable to argue from the usuages and
experience of the past. 1t has been again and
again announced that rules which were well
enough for the government of an infant republic
are vaueess now; that change of circum-
stances necessarily induces change of pol icy,
and that what was wisdom yesterday, may be
folly tomorrow. Much of this may be true.
do not mean that we should blindly follow any
policy without reference to circumstances. do
not mean to say that, because the Spartans
lived ON black broth, and used nothing but iron
money, therefore we ought to follow their ex.
ample; but what do mean to say is, that there
are certain great truths which no time can
change, no circumstances affect, and chief among
these reckon the duty of every nation to pro
vide for the substantial happiness of its omn
citizens. No matter whether in infancy, maturity,
or decline, this is policy no nation can neglect
with safety--no people can disregard without
suffering.
1t was on this principle that Washington
acted propose to read, sir, n few short para
graphs from his Farewell Address
"The great rule Of conduct for us, in regard
to foreign nations, is, in extending orr COM
mercal relations, to have with them as little po-
litica connexion rs possible. So far as we
have already formed engagements, let them be
fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us
stop
Europe has set of primary interests,
which to us have none, or very remote rela-
ton. Hence she must be engaged in frequent
controversies, the causes Of hch are essentially
foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it
mist be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by
artificial ties, in the ordinary vcissitudes of her
politics, or the ordinary combinations and col
lisons Of her friendship or enmities.
"Our detached and distant situation invites
and enables us to pursue different course. If
We remain one people, under an efficient govern
ment, the period is not far off when we may
defy material injury from external annoyance;
when we may take such an attitude as will cause
the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon,
to be scrupulously respected; when beligercnt
nations, under the impossibility of making ac-
questions upon us, will not lightly hazard the
giving us provocation; when we may choose
peace of war; as our interest, guided by justice
shall counsel
why forgo the advantages Of so peculiar a
situation! Why quit our own TO stand upon
foreign ground Why, by Intervening our
destiny with that Of any part of Europe, entan-
gle our peace and prosperity in the tolls of Eu-
ropean ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or
caprice! 2"
Now, Mr. President, the authority of the hon.
orabIe Senator from Michigan to the contrary,
Notwithstanding, must say that it is not in doc
ument thus carefully prepared, solemnly an.
nouncing opinions SO maturely formed, that we
are to look for advice intended to guide lis for
season only. Every word of that address was
intended to have its weight so long as the repub-
lie should endure Guided by wisdom but
little short of inspiration, he foresaw the posi-
bility Of n case such as that which has now
arisen, and aifectionately warned us to beware
of dangers which might prove fatal to the repub-
lie. trust, sir, that there is yet among the peo-
pie too much respect for the memory of George
Washington, too much gratitude for his services,
to permit his counsels to be dsregarded. | trust
we are not yet prepared to exchange the calm