The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-12
SPEECH OF THE HON. LEWIS CASS
American Intervention in Europe.


On Tuesday, Mr.. CLARkE's Non-intervention re-
70 lutions being called up, Mr.. CAss (dem.), Of
Michigan, took the floor, and spoke ~ follows
Mr.. president The substitute / propose for
he resolutions ofthe honorable Senator from Rhode
Island, (Mr. Clarke,) leaves the field of discussion
y broad a. 1t found 1t. And that is broad enough
. embrace all the questions which SO strongly ex-
'ite the interest Of the American people at the
pre- sent moment, arising out of that sgrant act of
arbitrary power by which independence and free
aom were wrested from Hungary; an interes. rem
Tered yet more powerful by the presence and the
sloquence of that remarkable man, who is now
telling through our land. in barning words, the
tory OF his country's wrongs-words that fall on
ready ears and 90 to kndling hearts My objec-
tione to the original proposition are no. to the
great truths it enuncistes-truths drawn from our
own State papers of the best days of the republic,
for TO their eternal justice ! yield cheerful &C
Quieecence-but to the narrow application 1t is de-
signed to make of them. They met, and were in
tended to meet, the circumstances of the country,
connected with our right to the now position We
had assumed, as member Of the family OF ma
tions. and with occurrences which took place
not long afterwards but they went no further. The
obligations which Subsequent events might impose
upon Us, In relation to ambitious pretensions, in
compatible with the public law, and the indepen-
dence of nations, they neither foresaw Tor defined
And thus is it that We must push our inquiry be.
yond these limits, before we reach the great ques
tien Of true duty and policy now in face Of u.s.
There is always class of PERSONS sir, who believe
there can be no firm views where there are no hard
words, and with whom menacing language is the
foundation there is for such opinion, in pers onsl
or in national life But | observe that this stand
d has been applied to my substitute in some of
tae journals, which have found it wanting Mr.
President it does not cemport with the character or
position Of the United States to deal in monaco
with their co.equals Of the world. /. becomes
them 10 express their views plainly, and with
the same respect to others which they claim
tknyn nlxyac nn1 20 vaavnA atn rrnlxv
when they come to act. This substitute
declares unequivocally an opinion upon a great
question of public law, and there it stops, leaving
ms free to determine upon our course when the
time comes. 1t makes known our deep concern
NJ the violation Of great principle-whch ex-
preston, you we'll know, sir, is the usual phrase
ology in national com mupications for conveying
q marked disapprobation Of any measure viii 81 is
peculiarly unacceptable. 1t is strong conven-
tioAal condemnation of the proceeding. In the
brief examination propose to give to the subject
before US, with view to practical results rather
than to prohtless specuations, have no intention
of entering into the vexed question of the origin of
law, nor into The true grounds Of the
obligations by which civilized communities are
required to submit to it. | assume at once the
duty Of all christian people to recognise its binding
force and to aid its operation, SO far as they can
properly do it. Certainly we cannot trace back
this code to a universal legislative origin, as we
can trace back municipal statute to its local
source. 1t grew out of the necessity of regulating
the intercourse between Independent countries, Ia
peace and in war, and traces Of its existence may
be found in the earliest recorded annals Of nations
1t began by assuaging the horrors of war, and by
restraining the cruelties Of barbarous conquerors
and by degrees, from few simple maxims, it has
become an elaborate system, coextensive with
civilization, and appealing not less to the sense of
interest than to that of morality, by substituting
hxed and Just principles for those hayward passions
which, without such an arbiter, would make the
world but enc vast theatre of carnage The elemen-
farv ntQriag 0f Wise and Ian
decisions of enlightened juriss, and the discussions
Of able statesmen, have built up the syetem, and it
n beautiful monument Of the progress and im
proved condition Of society. For it has not been
itself to the advancing opinions and necessities Of
the world. Few and meager were at first its proyi-
sions, like the wants it was designed to meet but as
these increased it increased with them, till it has
become one OF the most useful, If not one Of the
proudest works Of the human intellect And let NO
one reproach it with inutity imbecility because
il lie not always barrier against interest and ambi
ton, but rather let us be thankful that it is often
appealed 10, and SO often etfectual in restraining
the turbulent passions Of our nature And such is
the force Of public opinion in this, the day Of its
strength, ths. even when the provisions of interna
tfona law are evaded o. gected its obligations are
rarely never indeed, denied, but constructions for
Sc h purposes are put upon it-forced and false i:
is true, but tribute TO it's worth even while
its ipJunctions are practically disreg arded. II
well becomes us and the principles of our
iHctltGsious W pEOIeos our ieHltv 10 LUIS kEeas
code of public morality, and no.: merely to pro
fees it, but prove by acts and declar atons and
labor TO enforce its obligations and its observance.
1t lie curious subject to trace the changes il has
undergone, even IN very late years, almost all OF
which are marked by the progress of just opinions,
and by deliberations honorable to the spirit OF the
age IL is a great engine for good, but poweress
Tor evl-a barrier sgains. injustice and oppression,
asserting the empire of reason tha. Of force.
i he time has come when we have as much ri GIT
Md much speak au-hOrltatyelV
On this subject, any other nation the face Of
the globe AL We want, while processing the duty
Of obedience, is, that other nations should ally
obey it. There is none so high as to be above its
obligations; and none so low as 10 be beneath its
protection. We believe in the right and in the
capacity of man for self governmet, not that he is
everywhere prepared for institutions like ours;
We know, while We regret, that he is not |;
but We believe that he is every where fitted
even now, for taking some part in the adninistra.
tion OF political affairs greater or less in proportion
to his experience and condition, and that every
where, with time aud practice, be mar improve
himself and his government, till both become as
free as the state Of society will permit. And,
taiDly, the expression Of the warm hope that this
time Will come, and come speedily, is consistent,
with every respect for other 20 Ters We claim no
night te interfere in their internal While
We are firm believers in polite al faith, we
enter into no crusade TO establish it else where.
Propagandism lie no part of our creei unless it be
that progagandism which works its own way by the
force Of example, thus inviting the oppressed ma
lions Of the earth TO do have done, and to be
as free and happy as we are. But we cannot be in
different to the condition of the human race, hoS.
ever widely scattered. desire for its improvement
IN orally aud materially, is sentiment natural
to man. And an American can hardly shut
himself up III his own selas egotism, thanking God
in the spirit OF the Pharsee, that his country is
better eff than any other, and be indifferent TO til,
oppression, and degradation, and mqery, whi:h
centuries Of bad government have entailed upon so
large portion Of the earth. Unless the many
we're mace for the few, the governed for the COVER
nors, our sympsthies should be excited, as we're
those Of Washington, for every people unfurpg the
banner OF freedom, and "God speed them" be
uttered not only in the effort to prove their po-
litical system, out in the greater effort aintain
i, By i'm improving the con diton Of the great body OF
those for whom governments are instituted AMI
may we no.say, as an English Parlianenta orator
'ad very recently Tor bis country, 'that the spirit
Df our people is for freedom every where :" And
may we not echo bis sentiment, and declare s.thst
they would rest satisfied with seeing the ,Mial
ratio Of European policy lodged in the bsyonet OF
The barbarian = Even to the most superficial 90.
server, the signs oftbe times are as portentous az
they are interesting, The accumulated expressions
81 ages, and the capacity Of endurance stretched
lte utmost tension, meet face To face with