Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-04-12

worthy of our country and its institutions
Ii is fur better to keep on the line of politi
cal knowledge, as Mr.. Canning terms The
adoption Of the feelings and policy Of ma
ton TO it's true position, than TO stand still
upon the line of precedenls;, and let the
world gel. far ahead of US; forgetting ol
fearing, in the language OF statesman
transferred from this chamber TO the direc,
.ion Of our foreign affairs, the equal o.
Canning in genius and mortal yigor-for'
getting or fearing ".hat We are in ON agse
Of progress" jst.sze. : 4si:.sz. s..a.s !.
F And we may well look round, and asA
each other, as5one Of The noblest men thal
ever occupied seat in this or uny othel
Legislative body, bright in intellect, pure in
purpose, and splendid in his powers of elo,
quence, but now struck down by Provi.
dence, TO the regret Of his country, which
1 has anticipated The judgement Of history,
by ono universal tribute of respect for his
services and his worthwe may ask each
other, as he asked the legislators OF for
mer day, '.are the representatives alone to
be isolated from the common atmosphere ot
/ the worIda" II we commit this error, we
shall be isolated from the feelings and con.
fidence Of our fellow-citizens, and find when
too late thai we are unworthy exponents oil
their sentiments. Many objections, more
or less plausible, have been presented 10
deter US from any action in this matter;
but not one of them with confidence or per.
tinacity, nor with less regard to The true
circumstances of, our position, Than thai
which warns US that by such a proceeding
we should violate alike the traditions Of our
policy, and the advice Of our wisest states.
men, and especially the injunct!ons OF
Washington and Jefferson. Never were
just Recommendations more inappropriately
| applied than in this attempt 10 apply the
| views Of those great men 70 the circumstaH-
ces 10 which we are placed.
Z oniniervention, il is said, was tine pol
icy @,hey maintained and the legacy they
bequeashed to US; bu. it is impossible thai
a single American can be found that either
Of these patriots would condemn the declar.
alton OF bis country 3 opinion upon great
question ,of public law because they cons
demned The Interference with the affairs
of other nations? Why, this is our affair,
sir; an nffair as interesting to US as 70 any
community on the face of the globe; one
which involves The safety Of Independent
States, and the true intent and obligations
Of The code that regulates their intercourse:
That did Washington say on this suolects
These are his words: 49, "a. a..E (,
s'It is our true policy TO steer clear Of per-
manent alliances with any portion OF the
foreign world. = .... s 5g.zs.s -.
+ ..Hence, therefore, it must be unwise Tor
us TO implicn.e ourselves by artificial ties
in the ordinary ylcissitudes OF her Europe
AMI politics., or ordinary circumstances or
collisions OF her friendships and enemies. .
These sentiments speak fur. themselves,
and are commended no less by the authori
ty that ui,ers them than by their own JUS
tice to The American people. Ingenuity
itself cnnno, torture them into the service
of the opposition 10 the present proposition,
and which seeks no "alliances" and asks
for no .artificial ties" Il limits itself to q
simple declaration OF opinion. But if the
language employ ed by Washin gton requir-
ed any special key for lstrue construction,
il would be found in the history of his Ad>
minis,ration,- and in the popular difficulties
it encountered. II is well known TINT the
early events Of the French revolution ex
cited q powerful feeling in the United
States, and this feeling displayed itself in
strong attachment to France and in hostile
demonstrations against England. The aid
we received from the former Power in our
Revolutionary R struggle, and the efforts Of
the French people TO break the iron yoke
which had pressed upon them for centuries,
Joined 10 The bitter recollection OF the con>
duct Of England daring our struggle with
her, TO her reteps,on Of the western posts,
and TO notorious violation of our maritime
rights sufficiently account for this feeling;
and its manifestations greatly embarrassed
the Administration of Gen. Washington,
and rendered i, very difficult for him, even
with the weight of his character, which
was powerful coadjutator in the work, to
preserve the line Of neutral policy he had
wisely adopted And the original treaty
of alliance with France had imposed upon
this country serious burden, by guaran>
teeing the possession Of her West India
Islands; thus involving US, as he contended,
in her controversy with England. And
these were the evils that Washington had
encountered, and against the recurrence Of
which he warned his countrymen. But
who demands an alliance with any Power
in Europe, or who has the least desire that
we should form any other treaties than
those which regulate our commerce and
our usual intercourse?
And the authority Of Mr.. Jefferson has
been invoked, with as little reason. in con-
demna.ion of this measure. "Peace,'
said that patriarch Of the Democratic faith
-"peace, commerce, and honest friend
ship with all na,ions; entangling alliances
with none.n Why, sir, there is no room
for argument between the man who gives
to this language of Mr.. Jefferson its true
and natural import and him who applies il
TO the assertion ofa great national right
They have no common ground 70 stand up.
on. When the declaration OF an important
principle, common to oil nations, and made
in connection with none, is shown 70 be an
'seniangling alliance" with one Of them;
then may this sentiment be appealed 10, and
l. IL xiotatinr