The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-12


countrymen. But who demands an alliance with
any power in Europe, or who has the least desire
that we should form any other treai ICES than those
which regulate our commerce and our usual inter-
course, And the authority of Mr. Jefferson has
been in, ukei with as little in condo nnation
of this measure. " Peace" said tina. Patriarch of
the democratic faith, "Peaee, commerce, aud
honest friendship with all nations ,eatanging
rosm tor argument between the man who gives
to this language of Mr.. Jefferson its true
and natural import, and him who applies it to the
assertion Of great national right They have no
common gr0uId to stand upon. When the declara
tion of an important principle, common to all ma
tions and made in come ction with none, is shswn
to be an entapgliDg alliance With one OF them, then
may this sentiment be appealed to, and the people
warned against its violation. Mr.. President, the
wonderful advance of skill and Ecience has brought
Europe nearer to us now than WAS Savannah to
Philadelphia at the adoption of the constitution,
and similar causes are probably destined yet more
moral and material interchange consequent upon the
progress of the age, has not been less remark
able than the increase in the facilities OF in
tercourse We cannot be insenslble to the en-
ward march of events in the old hemisphere,
nor Indifferent to their operation upon the great
mass of the people. Undoubtedly Europe, to
some extent, has peculiar interests and q Pc
culiar policy, with which We have no concern
Dynastc laws, the balance of power, the influence
claimed by five great States-these and other max
inns of policy give rise to questions with which We
have no desire to intermeddle But, besides these,
there are great principles Of the laws of national
INSTRUMENTATION often coming up for discussion
and decision in Europe, and which affect the int.
rest and the safety OF all the Independent states of
the world. The former we may regard merely with
the natural interest which felt in passing events
but the latter we should watch with sleepIess vg-
lance, taking that no innovation be established
in the public law, without our consent to which we
should be called upon to submit hereafter, on the
ground of its having been sanctioned by time and
NCyin n
would have been established, had We not resisted
the claim at its very inception. Mr.. President,
near the commencement of the French revolution,
one Of which attacked the Independence Of
nations, by inviting the people everywhere
to throw off existing monarchical governments,
and promising Intervention by an ar ned force
while the other went back to ages of barbarism,
by proclaiming that no quarter should be granted
to any garrison which should not surrender within
twenty four hours. Should any nstion, rejecting
Its own duties, and setting at defiance the rights
and opinions Of the world attempt to establish such
principles at this day, by FORMULATING them in
solemn legislative acts, as rules of conduct in all
future time, is there any man in this broad land
who would invite our submission to them, even BY
silent acquescence, instead Of rebuking them 10 an
authoritative manner, as indefensible Innovations
upon the laws Of nations! Whether the admlnstra-
ton Of Washington took ground against these quasi
manifestoes, either BY diplomatic representations
or otherwise, do not know His was period of
difficulty, and that was the time OF our weakness
Now has come, and still more is coming, the time
of our strength, and with it new position, and. II
not new duties, more powerful motives for decisive
action No man oan fail to see that the princ ipes
of the first French DEGREES and the Russian ukases,
for such, in fact, they are, would give to foreign
powers the right to intermeddle in the internal a.
fairs Of this country whenever any OF them believed
or affected to believe, that circumstances existed
here, condemned by that system of supervision
thus sought to be established Runners have re-
Gently reached US which may we'll warn US to be
ready to take our part IN the assertion o. great
own institutions. 1t is said, and with good
deal of confidence, that the great European
continental powers have demonstrated with Eng
political exiles, and in tone which indicates
that what is refused to diplomatic representa-.
tons may be demanded with hostile menaces.
1t is difficult to believe that the foly of power
mand on Turkey shows that if it do not, it is not
because they are restrained by sense OF right, or
by regard to the Independence of other powers.
The liberty Of escape is to be wrested from the I'M
and Of death only allowed to him. Europe is to
become one vast prison house, and the aspirations
of freedom incapable crimes, which the hunters
of men to pursue eternally and to punish mex
lent and barbarous demand in that sturdy spirit of
resistance, which her people have so often dis
played And recent advices inform us that the
British government is already up and doing pre-
tions, looking to the defence Of London, and by
other military, and by naval precautions. But
who does not know that, if the pretension succeeds
there, our time of trial would come next The
broad ocean is not broad enough to separate the
victims of despotism from the jealous wrath of the
oppressor, who might well fear that the gaes of
the Atlantic would bear to his dominions that loud
note OF sympathy, which marks the interest the
American people take, and which Washington
took in the struggles Of freedom. Well, sir, if this
work goes on and the decree goes forth to the world
either by declaration or by action, are we to wait
till the storm bursts upon US before we even raise
No, sir; he who should recommend such timid
policy would End his countrymen far ahead Of him
in their generous appreciation OF their rights and
their duties Distinct manifestations OF such an In
tention to attack the independence of England for
such cause, would rouse spirit OF indignation in
this country, which would not be diverted from its
purpose by the cold allegation that We intervene in
the affairs of other nations when we pronounce eur
incompatible with the most sacred attributes
of Independence, and that to do so is to form
" entangling alliances" and artificial ties
As there must be two parties at least to all
nounce our danger when there is any serious pro-
position to unite ourselves with any other power
Mr. President, it has often been said, that we have
mission to fulfil: and SO indeed has every nation;
and the Just mission of each is to conduct its own
affairs, honestly aud fairly, for its wn benefit but
after that its position and institutions may give to
it peculiar influence in the prevailing moral and
political controversies of toe world, which 1t IS
bound to exert for the welfare of all. While We
discam any crusading spirit against the political
institutions Of other countries, we may well regard
with deep interest tho struggling efforts OF the OPP
pressed through the world and deplore their de-
feat ard rejoice in their success. And can any one
doubt that tho evidences of sympathy which are
borne to Europe fiom this great republic, will cheer
the hearts, even when they do not aid the pur-
poses Of tie down trodden masses, to raise the n
selves, If not to power, at least to protection
Whatever duties may be ultimately imposed on US
by that dark future which overshadews Europe,
and which we cannot foresee, and ought not to un-
dertake to define, circu instances point out our pre-
sent policy, while at the same time, they call upon
us to exert our moral influence in support OF the
existing principles of public law placed In danger
not merely by the ambition, but still more by the
fear of powerful monarchs, the fear lest the con-
tagion Of liberty should spread over their domin-
ions, carrying destruction to the established sys.
TENS of oppression, But ! repeat emphaslcaliy
what said upon former occasion, when this SUBJ
ieot was before us, and what upon no occasion