The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-23

tons upon US, will not lightly hazard the giving
| 10 provocatiou; when we may choose peace or
war, our interest, guided by justice, shall
counsel
"Why forego the advantages of peculiar
| situation Why quit to stand upon Tor
egn ground? Why, by Intervening our destiny
with that Of anJ part of Europe, entingle our
peace and prosperity in the tolls OF European am
bition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice"
Now, Mr., President, the authority OF the hon
ofabc Senator from Michigan to the contrary
Notwithstanding, must say that it is not IN doc
| ument thus arcfully prepared, solemniy anuounc-
ing opinions 80 maturely formed, that we are to
look for advice intended to guide us for a season
only. Every word OF that address was intended
to have its weight SO long the Republic should
endure. Guided by wisdom but little short of
| inspiration. he oresnw the possibility Of case
rGch as that which has>Row ariscn, and affection
prove fatal to the Republic, trust. sir, that ,bere
is yet among the people too much respect Tor the
| memory OF George w Arlington, too much gratitude
fer his services, to permit his counses TO be disre-
| Earded. trust We are not yet prepared TO ex-
chang the calm aud patriotic advice Of the saga
cions state5en far the noisy abbliDgs ot-PolliIca
aaplrants, still less Tor the interested suggestions
OF foreigner, seeking the attainment of hia own
selfish ends, no matter at what cost no matter at
what sacrifice OF the ntereRt Of others.
The most popular and the most powerful Of the
successors OF General Wastlipg gton held similar
opinions. read from the fourth annual message
OF Andrew JackRon:
''ln the view have given of our connexion with
foreign powers, illusions have been made to their
domestic disturbance or foreign wars, TO their
revolutions disse nsions. Ii may be proper to
observe, tina; this is done solely IN cases where
those events affect political relations with them,
or TO show their operation on our commerce. Fur
ther than this it neither policy right
to interfere Oar beat wishes all occasions, our
good Offices when required, Will be afforded, to
promote the domestic tranquility and foreign
peace OF all nations with whom we have any inter
course. Any interyGn Gntion in their sftar5 further
than this by the erression IF an official opinion,
Is contrary 10 principles oi International policy,
and will always be avoided
might go on until had filled volume with
similar extracts bat it is not needed The obvious
good sense OF attending TO our own business, re-
Guires no authority to sustain It, We are now rch,
happy, and powerful. IL we continue in the course
We have thus far pursued, Imagination can set no
bounds TO our progress. / profess, sir, to have
much sympathy for the oppressed as other men.
As individual, think it quite possible that 4
would peril lie and limb in such cause as readi-
y the noisiest advocates OF Intervention; bat In
ths Chamber endeavor 10 separate the man from
the legislator locking Ouly TO the good oi the coun
Try, seeking TO perpetuac its Institutions and pre-
serve unimpaircd the high privileges We enjoys
can permit neither sympathies nor enmIiics 10
govern my conduct, nor sway me from the path
way pointed out by reason and reflection. Feel
iug PRIDE passion, prejudice, all out OF place
here. The Interests Of this great nation, and its
continued existence as n free Republic, must not
be subjected to capricious legislation dictated bJ
sym 9athcs which may be misplaced-which are
always unrellccting. The hca,t is a bad counsel
lor at best, An individual may be pardoned for
yielding TO its promptinEs when the risk - all his
own; but no code OF morals, precept Of religion
can excuse excnuate the guilt of him who idly
pers nations welfare, a peoples happiness
1t was an inflrxble rule T the Roman Senate
never 10 make peace with victorious enemy, lest
amid the suffering IS and humiatons of defeat they
might be tempted To sacriiicc the interests of the
republic. No wonder that people governed by
such rules became the masters Of the world. Over
them the passions had no sw.y-+reason ruled SUI
premc. Cold ns the marble columns about them,
wild fancics led them into pIOhtcss adventures,
no vain, dreams uf universal philanthropy taught
them TO forget the higher duties they owed 10
Rome.
The present project Of intervention doos not cone
recommended me bT the company IN which II
proposes to place We asked TO act IN con-
IunctiOn with England, who may well find II for
her own interest and her own safety, bot who VIII
oiror us nothing in cSchangc Tor our share IN ths
common danger and the common expense The
psl.cy OF England "a known tn the world, and all
history is false II she ever formed alliance with
out selfish eBd ia view. Whatever nation SUB
serves her purposes Is her ally iOr the time being,
bit not moment longer. league with England.
oct of which any good could Asc to America, u
Utopan dream OF which Slool boy should be
ashamed.
In her case. nlsn, even feeling prompts us TO re-
icct the proiIcred fellowship. There arc many
wounds inflicted in the past whose ''pOor dumb
mouths" plead cnquenty against such an alliance.
The fierce IarItun and the merci,ss Rtwdon arc
not yet forgotten. Tne house burui1gs Of Cock
burn and The savage Inassacfys of Proctor sull
b.acken the page Of history. Time has not nbated
thr deep ind gnauon excited by the brutal war cry
which rang over tic plains OF New Orleans; and
none Of us remember, without feeling Of resent
incut, tho Vtrdll inrOad TO which his capital wns
sGtjcctcd. That large class Il our population
who Of iiish birth or iGsh extraction have
darker memories 60 cherish and deeper wrongs to
avourc. Many uf them have had their infant
s.umoers Jrok, 10y the rattle OF muekctry and V'
Grc, ycu Of dn iniur.1teJ sJidIcry; and uan9 oi
,Hcrn have forgotten that thrrc time when
the frightened peasant, who lied O. the mountain
ur TIE uorsss Tor sa!aiy, was lighted on his N1y
hy the httn's bufstiuE hom TIC roof of HE cot.
tagc; Vhcu iGc dungeon waE hticd with TIE no
tlc5i IN The land, and 'ac sceiiDd grosncd with
te wei .ht Of its vi,'im. when terror walked site
10y -idc with tho pail int0rHcr, and dcsolauJn
made Its home Iu IT,,aud.
These are the souvcnifs connected wiih tho name
Of England; and viii not 20 li.sl glllant people
to suppose tor moment thst they have any
great anxiety tJ clasp IN Friendship htnds red with
The beet blood Of their native land Let fnc not be
ui5undcrstooJ. seek no quarrel with England,
bot 10 not forget Whist she has done, and want
10 !ilucc with her So long a. she attends to her
own husincss aud docs not presume tumcddlc with
ours. am willing that our present relations should
continue. But lct her beware how she arOUscs the
auimositics now fumhofing IN the American ho-
SON. TIE bones and sinuws Of the young giant OF
toe Vcst are fast hardening into mature manhood,
aad the y, 1t time We meet ia hostile conflict the
ptCEd bD- 81 hat the roli o' .hc Engli8h drum MAJ
hc heard from the rising the setting SUM- viii be
nothing but a tale OF thc past. Then. TO- may t1,
p
have come when the cpitapn Of Eumet may atiast
be written.
Mr.. President, We have all read recently, and
mono Of us trust without deep ioeliHg thr orin
ion. OF tha venerable statcsnan whose bpnty ia.
Grility now keeps him frOui among us. Woo is
there with higher wisdom than ns Who il
there with wd,r cxpcfcuce2 who ia there with
30 iew motives 20 deceive himsrii others aa b.
thc true interests Of his country; il7 voice comes
to ia clothed with oil the sanetity the .,r.vc can
givc with the added kDOwlcdge Oi exciting uduc
y hich the grave must take away. Standing upon
TIE verge Of.tWo worlds, and looking back Upon
81 at which hc is about 10 leave, his heart avoiding
With patriotism little ltss than holy, bis vision
clear and unclouded by the passions and preJu.
dices which dim sight, he tells Us that ours ts
mis- sion Of peace, not a mission of blood that, 20
avoid oil interference in the afiirs Of other nations,
t1 preserve own Independence. 70 live for Amc-
rca, to labor for America and. If need be, 20 die
IN America, s n sacrcd duty, the performance Of
which will best serve the cause OF human liberty in
every land beneath the sun. Sir, shall follow his
advice Hmy own judgment differed from HE,
should disrust IL, and feel inclined rather To hc
cd bv q him whom all