The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-05-04

between those bellgerents."
IVY hat cause exists now to prompt
the United States to establish now and
stronger relations with them, and SO
to abandon that rule of conduct which
has hitherto been here SO steadily and
happily pursued? 2" a
"Aud the United States, who have
grown up in happiness to their present
prosperity by strict observance ol'
their old well known course of policy,
and by riianiiesting entire good will
and rnbst profound respect for all otlier
nations nations, must prepare to eni.
bark their future destinics upon a,l uni
known and turbulent ocean, directed
by little experience and destined for
no certain ha?cn::"
The members of tile Committee on
Foreign Relations, at that time, were
Mcssrs. Macon, Tazewcll, Guillard,
Mills, and Hugh Lawson White, Of
Tennessee. 1t is said, and | believe
with authority, that tho report was
drawn up by Mr.. Tazewcll; and ap-
prchend that there cannot be found an
argument of greater strength, and
more perfectly unanswcrablc, to show,
first, what the policy of the American
government, up TO that period in it's
foreign relations, had been; and then.
to illustrate tic wisdom of that policy,
and that it would be the very opposite
OF wisdom, to depart from it. have
cited IT, rs have the occasion itself.
irr the purpose Of showing that,
amongst our wiscst and best statesmen
i'll 1928, ut least, there existed :, re-,
c"Snizcd policy, which thew traced
back to the administration of Washing
ton, which they presented to the
American people as the safe and wise
policy OF the country, and from which
they advised the American people
never to depart. What was it} TO
avoid political connections with any
other country whatever, unless an oc-
casion should arise in which the inter-
ests and sattty of this country demand
cd a departure from it; and in no other
case whatever.
will cito you now, very briefly,
passages from the speeches of other
statesmen OF that day, in the Senate
Of the United States. in debate on this
Panama mission. The first I will
read is that of the gallant IIayne OF
South Carolina, whose character is well
known to the country, both as patri-
OF and a statesman lie said:
But, | beg pardon. sir: am wan.
derlng from the question, and have
trespassed too long on the patience Of
the Senate. The whole question may
be resolved into this: P: Are we pre-
pared now to depart from the fnda-
mental policy Of tits country, never
to interfere in the concerns OF o'htr
nations? Are we ready to embark
our fate with that of the Spanish
American republics? To become par
ties to all American cont.deracy,
against the Europeans confcdcracy /?
Sir, it will not, it cannot be denied,
that the proposed measure is entirely
out OF the course of ordinary diplo-
matte relations; it has no precedent
but in that great alliance, prot;,ncly
called holy and equally offensive to
God and to man.
cite these passages not only to
show what the opinions of these states
men w>re but to show by the history
OF the country that there was policy
guiding our external relations, cstab-
lished from the days Of Washington,
and not departed from, recognised by
these gentlemen, and by them again
recommended as the true policy of the
country. The next passage | shall
read is rom tho speech of the late
Judge Woodbury., who said
" Where, also, is the crisis, where
the emergency, to justify such an ex-
traordinary measure? Why quit our
own, to stand on foreign ground?'
Why join our fortunes in any case,
much less i'll any useless war with
powers of another origin, another
tongue, another taith| Have We be-
come incompetent so sclcdcfcnsc?
Are we in need of foreign counsel,
and foreign delibcration, TO manage
our own concerns? Or are We so
moon struck, or SO little employed at
home, as, in the eloquent language of
our President, on another occasion
when sentiments expressed found a
response in ever patriot heart-as to
wander abroad in search of foreign
monsters to destroy? Speaking OF
America, and her foreign policy, he
| observed, she has abstaincd from in
reference i'll the concerns Of others,
| even when the conflict has been for
principles to which she clings as to the
last vital drop which visits the heart.
Whenever the standard of freedom
and independence has been, or shall be
untirlcd, there will her heart, her bcnc-
dictions, and her prayc crs be. But she
goes not abroad to search for monsters
to destroy. She is the wclI-wisiler to
thu freedom and independence Of all.
She is the champion and vindicator on
ly of her own"
Hugh Lawson White Of Tennessee,
held this language: