Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-24
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN BELL,
OF TENNESSEE


SPEECH OF HON. JOHN BELL,
OF TENNESSEE,
ON TIL g SUBJECT or Neutrality-suspicious.
k.s In SENATE, Arm l3, 1852.
Mr.. Bill said .e4r Iesident cannot but feel some
what Is itust transpired anS regret exceedingly to
find ryseE in q poxio which n 70 require tnat
shou speak this subject at ~ when I know fhst
ther are several which the public interest de-
aJkds should considered early day. Neverthe
Less this day having been assigned for the consideration
Of the resolutions just announced from the Chair with
the Indulgence of the Senate beg leave under a tnese
embafrassments, to proceed.
Soe question has been made with regard to my views
upo the resolutions offered by the honorable Senator from
Rho6e Island, (AIr CLARKE. am not SO vain, sir, as
to suppose Of any public Importance that should state
what my views are but still choose to avail myself of
the courtesy usually extended to Senators under such
circumstances and moreover to exercise the common
privilege of Senator's express their views freely any
question which they may deem of sufficient Importance
and which appear to be pertinent to the duties and
powers OF Congress.
am aware, sir that this subject has lost much of its
freshness-st of its attractonby the discussion
which it has already received and particularly by
the abatement of the excitement which existed in the
country previously to the introduction Of the resolutions
by the honorable Senator from Rhode Island Still, am
of opinion that the subject has lost of its intrinsic
Importance by the lapse of time by the
it has already receiyed nor, in my Judgment has 1t yet
been discussed in all its interesting connexions and
bearings and is for the purpose chiefly Of expressing
aSpectS gcneral question:,
which other gentlemen do not appear to have thought OF
sufficient interest present. that have risen to-day
wish it to be understood in the outset that do not
propose occupy the time allotted to this occasion
by noticing particularly the arguments Of gentlemen who
have preceded me. aware that it might perhaps be
expected Of take notice of the structures Of
the honorable Senator from louisiana present,
(Mr. SoULE, upon the of the Administration in
relation to the Cuban INVASION the ocous intermeddng
of the British Government in that affair and the circum
stances under which the Spanish Consul returned to New
ruhs fhaff fhap n,a1
ceedngs of the Administration in relation those
actions susceptible of very satisfactory explanation
yet shall leave to others-who may be familiar
with all the circumstances Of these transactions than am
and to whom may be both convenient and agreea
bethe task of elucidatng those circumstances and of
deducing from them the vindcaton of the Executive
DESIRE further to have understood that do not at
tach very much Importance to the question earnestly
debatedafter all that has ranspired in relation to this
subectwhether the resolutions offered by the honorable
Senator from Rhode Island shall be adopted, if adopted
at all, without amendment whether may not in,
corporate with them expression of the opinions
tertained ~ the sosntry ef t6e knAnTen6cn
knowledge that member Of this bey may justly claim
larger share Of good sounder and more pract
cal and sttssmanks views upon any question he chooses
to nvestgatc the Senator from Rhode Isand and
while admit that his resolutions embrace every senti
which think important for this country to declare
in connexon with the Hungarian question: nevertheless
say that do not lay the stress that others
done upon the question whether the resolutions shall
pass in the shape in which they stand whether
they shall be amended to declare in fitting and pro-
per the sentiment of the country the practical
question of Intervention in the presented between
Russia and Hungary? In my view of the subject if Con-
gess entertaining the opinion that any important prin
cipe of international law has been violated by the inter-
venton Of Russia in the affairs Of Hungary, should deem
il expeden express the with which the people
of this country had witnessed that interventon and
protest and demonstrate against any future and similar
violation of the law of nations in temperate yet firm Ian
guage do consider that such proceeding ought
would disturb the amcabe relations existing between the
two countries hold that such proceeding the part
Of the United States would be just of offence to
any foreign Power any violation Of national courtesy
Indeed SIR there may be danger that in our eau
ton to avoid extreme, may fall into the opposite
one; for while agree that neither sound policy, nor
just regard for character and dignity due
respect for any foreign nations with whom have ami
cable relations and seek to maintain mutually profitable
commercial intercourse do not warrant justify the en-
poymen of the language Of invectve Of menace bra
vado in protesting demonstrating against any actual
or supposed aggression upon the rights Of any other ma
on people, yet there is wide difference between such
forbearance in language-between firm yet temperate
expression Of opinions and sentiments and the tame
and submissive acquescence which might be implied
from absolute silence, when conceive that there has
been violation of any great conservative principle Of
that system of international law the of modern civil
Iaton which has, by common consent been adopted to
the equal and independent rights Of the weaker
and smaller States well Of the stronger and more
powerful among the family Of nations
have thrown out these suggestions rather TO assert
the right of any nation to take exception by protest
remonsrance to the acts conduct Of any other
er conceived be nraction of the law Of nations
without being necessarily committed to any other
forcbe intervention 10 compel its observance than with
any view the exercise of the right the present
sion For myself qpite content with the resolu-
tons they presented by the Senator from Rhode
Island II il were important proper, expedent
add TO the resolutions originally presented, by decar
ing sympathy with the fortunes of Hungary,
protest against any future Intervention by Russia in the
affairs Of that gallant people, prepared to say
that either the amendmen offered by the Senator from
Michigan mr. CAss) b}Nhe Senator from New York,
(Mr. SEwARD,) Is in form which could receive my
sent The language of the amendment offered by the
Senator from New York consider is decidedly objec-
tionable
But do not propose discuss this point further.
do not propose examine the question wheher there has
been any violation Of any great conservative principle Of
the law OF nations by whether the 3ntererence
OF that Pover upon the invitation Of Austria with the
AFFAIRS OF hungary, dependant kingdom of the Austrian
empire was such violationnor do propose TO 60 into
the discussion OF what may be the true Interpretation Of
the law OF nauons, as TO the question how far
hon may 90 justified or allowed to interfere in the inter
nal annrs OF another when its safety interest
may seem TO require such intervention is enough to
say that whatever may be the Of law
the practice OF nations as shown by all history
sir 1t ever will bethnt whenever any great Power con-
riders that either its safety interest or the
of its ambitious schemes suggest the policy of interven
interiors It may be said with Of the law Of na
tons as it has been said Of municipal law in certain
conditions Of society and that Il IA too often
found TO be dead letter when great criminals are 20 be
brought Justice Sir il is principle Of international
L. tIctc In uwora