Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-04-05

| Is necessary W SAdHlBes uoi from the
support it derives from reasan or euihori.
Ity, but from the confidence with which i,
is urged, and because, if not corrected, il
may para!yze the national aciion in all
time TO come. Before, however, may
be permitted 10 say that the discussions
which have token place here and elsewhere
though the country, manifest very un,
I reasonable jealousy Of the good faith and
sound discretion Of the American people.
suppose man could hardly be found in
this broad land, however sensitive he may
be on The subject Of our foreign policy,
who Tears the wrath or the power of the
Russian or Of the Austrian Emperor, sho'd
ne nssert q great fact, now passed into
history, that the right and Independence Of
nations have been aagrantly violated in the
case Of Hungary, and should we declare
the prihciple of public law which ought to
have protected that unfortunate county,
Well, then, if we fear no scch danger
abroad, where is the danger we do fearl
ls it at home, sir? we cannot shut our eyes
10 that truth. The signs oil around Us in.
dicats, with uEerring certainty, that the ap.
PrehensIon felt and asowed il directed, not
to others, but to ourselves. One would
really suppose there was imminent danger,
| il this claim TO assert an equal right TO ad-
just questions of the Law Of nations is once
established, that this great Republic would
deal war as a child deals with plaything,
and that it would rush into it with blind
haste, restrained by no considerations Of
duly or expediency. Let this apprehension
be dismissed. This is one Of the last dam
gers we have to fear. The honor and well
fare of the country are safe in the custody
of the PEOPLE, and we need not hesitate to
assert our just rights least the PEopLE
should betray their own trust. Almost
seventy years have passed away since the
ackno wledgmea Il of our Independence, and
in that time We have had but two wars de-.
serving Of such. Who're is there another
nation, great or small, which can say The
same for its own moderationl So much
for the effect Of salulary public opinion
spon, the policy Of the country. = s. ~
Gut TO return to The erroneous doctrine
| which has been so widely and so confident
| ly spread, and which seeks 10 deter US from
| expressing any opinion upon the law OF
natioHs by which il is maintained that in
| all cases where a nation makes such q
declaration il is bound TO support its views
| by war, these are not acquiesced in. or
it will lose its own self>respec,. and subject
| itself to the contumely of the world =
There is mol the least foundation in reason,
or authority, or precedent for such nm as
sumption. tits as gra,uiious as II is un-
tenable. And yet this position is repeated.
| here and elsewhere, from one end of the
country 10 the other as though it were
| written upon every treatise on the law
Of nations; and many a man who does
not doubt our right 10 express an opinion
upon questions of public law, as these arise
in the world for consideration, doubts the
Eexpediency Of exercising it, least we should
be driven ,e war to support 1t.
Mr.. President, have already said that
tho particular form in which nation
| makes known its views, from the most
common diplomatic note 10 The most sol.
cmn protest, neither ndds TO nor takes from
Its responsibility or obligation. II appears
to be assumed that there is some peculiar
pugnacious quality attaehed 10 protest
which necessarily leads to armed action.
This is not so. public declaration in
that form no aHore imposes on the nation
making 1.-THE duty of vindicating it oy arms
than the every day representations which
The usual Diplomatic intercourse renders
necessary. To be sure, the proceeding is
more solemn, as The subjects are generally
more grave, and il goes forth to The world
under circumstances Of deliberaiion which
'givet 10 such declarations more than usual
Importance. But that they are necessarily
followed by war, whenever they fail in
the result, is contradicted by all the dipio,
matte experience ofmodern times a very
few references wall place this subject be-
yond dispute. 3 ss
Before advert to them, however, lei
me remark that find part Of my task,
that of establishing that a declaration upon
questions Of public law is alegitimate mode.
Of national action, anticipated AMI taken
out OF my hands by the resolutions of ihe
Senator from Rhode Island, (Mr. Clarke,
which practically adlni, this right by the
very enunciatiou ofmany principles Of tho
law Of notions. And allow me the remark,
that If a protest, which is truly an act. and
u
as ii points 10 a particular power and a.
particular measure, carries with it no nee.
essary obligation for armed action, certain.
ly a decla ration Of general principles COM
mon to all cannot impose higher duty
upon the party makingit When, howeH-
or, nation, as sometimes happens, distinct
ly announces in its protest that acquies>
cence in its demand or war is the only oil
ter native, in such o case il anticipates lis
course; in The event of refusal, and must go
on to its bellgeren. work These hostile
menaces are. however, rare. believe
that England adopted this decisive step
when there was reasorto apprehend that
some of,he European continental Powers
contemplated aiding Spain 10 the subluga-
lion OF the A mericen States, once her coi-
onies. ~ .s
And now for the precedents.
In 1888 France protested against the ln'
vasion Of Holland by The Prussians. Even
the old mon rchies then advocated the cause
/ ;.,deaend ence But the Prus-