Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11

PuDc statutes OF the United States by arranging them
In order supplying deficiencies, correcting iAoongrues
simplifying their language, and reporting them to Con-
gress for its final action and for the establishment of
commission to adudcate and settle private claims against
the United States. am not aware, however, that any
Of these subjects have been finally acted upon by Con-
gress Without repeating the for Legislation
these which have been assigned in former
sages, respectfully recommend them again to your ia
vorabe consideration.
think it due the several Executive Departments of
this Government to bear testimony the efficiency and
integrity with which they conducted With oil the
careful superntendence which possible for the Heads
OF those Departments to exercise, still the due admins
tration and guardianship Of the public money very
uoh depend On the vgilance intslrende and 6deiity
1o ogR "a ,slasass -. si1aly on
have generally performed their dutIS fs3y S WI
They appointed guard the approaches the public
Treasury and they occupy positions that expose them
TO all the temptations and seductions which tho cupdty
of pecuators and fraudulent claimants prompt them
employ 1t will be but wise preoaution to protect
the Government against that of mischief and
rupon as far it be done by the enactment of oil
proper legal penalties The laws in this respect sup
posed to be defective and therefore deem it duty
call your attention to the subject and recommend that
provision be made by law for the punishment not only OF
those who shall accept bbes but also Of those who shall
either promise give offer give any of those officers
or clerks brbe reward touching relating to any
matter Of their official action duty.
1t has been the uniform policy Of this Government,
all interference in the domestic affairs of other nations
The consequence has been that while the nations of Eu
rope have been engaged in desoatng wars country
has pursued its peaceful unexamped prosperity
and happiness The wars in which have been compel
led to engage in defence of the rights and honor Of the
country have been fortunately of short duration. During
the terrific contest of nation against nation which sue
ceeded the French revolution enabled, by the
wisdom and frmness of President Washington main
tain neutrality. While other nations drawn into
this wide-sweeping whirlpool we quiet and unmoved
upon shores While the flower of their numerous
armies wasted by disease, pershed by hundreds
of thousands upon the battlefield the youth Of this ia
vored land permitted to enjoy the blessings of peace
beneath the paternal roof While the States Of Europe
incurred enormous debts, under the burden Of which
their subjects still groan and which must absorb no
small part of the product of the honest industry Of those
countries for generations to come the United States have
been enabled to exhibit the proud spectacle of
ton free from public debt and, if permitted to pursue
prosperous way for few years longer in peace,
may do the again.
But it is said by some that this policy must be
changed Europe is no longer separated from us by
voyage Of months but steam navigation has brought her
within few days sail Of shores. We see of
her movements and take deeper interest in her contro
yersies. Although one proposes that we should join
the fraternity potentates who have for ages avshed
the blood and of their subjects in maintaining
" the balance of power yet ii is said that ought to
interfere between conending soveregns and their sub
for the purpose of overhrovng the monarches Of
Europe and establishing in their place republican inst
tutons 1t is alleged that have heretofore pursued
different course from Of weakness but that
conscious strength dictates change Of policy,
and that is consequently duty to mngle in these
contests and aid those who struggling for liberty
This is most seductive but dangerous appeal to the
generous sympathies Of freemen Enjoying do the
blessings of free Government there is no man who has
an American heart that would not rejoice these
blessings extended TO all other nations We cannot wit
the struggle between the oppressed and his oppres
any where without the deepest sympathy for the for
and the most anxious desire for his triumph. Ne
vertheess is it prudent is wise involve ourselves
in these foreign wars Is it indeed true that have
heretofore refraned from doing merely from the de-
grading motive of conscious weakness For the honor
of the patriots who have before cannot admit
it. Men Of the Revolution who drew the sword against
the expressions Of the mother country and pledged
Heaven their lives their fortunes and their sacred ho
nor to maintain their freedom, could have been
actuated by so unworthy motive They knew weak
fear where right duty pointed the way, and il
is libel upon their fair fame for u.s. while enjoy the
blessings for which they noby fought and bed to in
snuate it. The truth is that the which they
sued was dictated by Of international JUS
tce, by statesmanlke prudence and far-seeing wis
dom looking merely to the present necessities but to
the safety and interest Of the country They
by and orce that it not possible for this
on TO become "propagandist of free principles with
arraying against il the combined Powers Of Europe
and that the result likely be the overthrow OF
republican liberty here than its establishment there His
tory has been written in vain for those who doubt
this France had established republican form
Of Government than she manifested desire force its
blessings all the world Her own historian informs
that hearing Of petty acts Of tyranny in neigh
boring principaty, The National Convention declared
that she would afford and fraternity all nations
who wished to their liberty; and she gave il in
charge the executive power give orders the gem
erals Of the French armies aid oil citizens who might
have been should be oppressed in the Of iber
'ty" Here the false step which led to her subse-
quent misfortunes. She found herself involved in
with all the rest of Europe In less than ten years
her Government changed from Republic to an EN-
pire and finally after shedding rivers Of blood foreign
Powers restored her exed dynasty, and exhausted Eu
rope sought peace and repose the unquesoned ascen
dency Of monarchca principles. Let us learn wisdom
from her example Let remember that revolutions do
not always establish freedom Our own free institutions
were not the offspring Of Revolution. They existed
before They were planted the free charters Of self
government under which the English colonies grew up
and our Revolution only freed from the dominion Of
foreign Power whose Government at variance with
those institutions But European nations have had
such training for sefgoyernment, and every effort
abish IL by bloody revolutions has been and must with
ont that preparation continue to be failure. Liberty
by law degeneraes into anarchy which
becomes the horrid of all despotisms. Our policy
wisely to govern ourselves and thereby such
example Of national justice prosperity and glory,
as shall teach all nations the blessings Of self govern
ment and the unparalleled enterprise and success OF
free people
We in prorresa and onrs ia