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

/ to some extent, has pecuiiar interests and a
peculiar policy, with which we have no
concern. llynastic laws, the balance OF
power, the influence claimed BY fiye grsa.
States, these and other, maxiins Of policy
give rise TO questions with which he hav e
4 no desire 10 intermeddle. But besides these,
there are great principles of,he laws of
| national intercommunication always com.
I ing up for discussion and decision in Eu-
rope, and which affect the safety an the in.
lerest Of oil the independent States of the
world. The former we may regard mere.
4 ly with the natural interest which is felt in
/ passing events; but the latter we should
watch with s,eepless vigilance, taking care
that no innovation be established in the. pub.
| lie law without our consent, TO which we
should be called upon 10 submit hereafter,
on the ground of its having been sanctioned
| by lime and acquiescence, as the right to
search ours vessels would have been estab.
lished had we mol resisted the claim q, its
very inception.s s. - sgv 80
Mr. President, near the commencement
Eof the Frenchsreyoln Two DEGREES were
passed by the conyenlion;s one of which
attacked lhe Independence Of nations, by
inviting the people everywhere TO throw of
existing monatchical Governments, and
promising intervention by an armed force;
while the other, went back 10 the nges oil
barbnrism, by proclaiming thai no quarters
should be granted 10 any garrison which
should not surrender within twenty -four
hours. Should any nation, rejecting its
own duties, and setting at defiance the rights
and opinions Of the world, attempt 10 eslab-
| lish such principles. al this day, BY promul.
| gazing them in solemn legislative nets, as
rules Of conduct in oil future time, is there
any man in this brond land who would in,
1 vi,e our submission TO them. even by silent
acquiescence, ins,end Of .rebuking them,
in on authoritative manner, as indefensible
| Innovations of the law ofnations? Whether
the administration of Washington took
ground against these quasi monifes,oes,
either by diplomatic representations or
otherwise, do not know. His was pes
riod 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 o new position, and if not new
duties, more powerful motives for decisive
nciion.: No man. can fail to see that the
principles Of the FIRST Of these French de-
crees, as well as that Of the Russian suknses
/ i--for such in affect they ure-- would give
10 foreign Powers the right to intermeddIe
in the external uffulrs OF this, country,
whenever any OF them believed, or affected
10 belieye,s that circumstances existed here
condemned by that system of supervision
thus sought be estat lished. .cs.,sssa ss
Runors have recently reached us whicl,
may we'll warn US 10 be ready 10 take our
tparl in the assertion Of great rights. sinii.
mately connected with the spirit. of our
new institutions It's said,S and with q
good deal Of confidence, that the great En-
ropean Continental Powers have reman.
stra,ed with England agains. The refuge
she has afforded 10 political exlles,, and in
a tone which indicates that what is refused
to diplomatic representations may bs de.
lainded with h hoslile means It is difficult
to believe that the folly Of power and des.
potism can 60 so Far, and yet q similar de-
mand ON Turkey shows that # it do not il
is not because they ore restrained by q
sense Of right, or by regard 10 the inde.
pendence of other Powers. The liberty
TO escape is TO be wrested from The unfor,
tuhale patriot, and the prospect of dun
geon and OF death only allowed to him.
Europe is, to become one yast prison.
house, and the aspirations of freedom inex-
piable crimes, which the hunters of men
are to pursue eternally and 10 punish mex
.orably. -.
believe England will meet such an in.
solent and barbarous demand In that sturdy
spirit of resistance which her people so Of
len displayed. And recent advices inform
US that the British Government is already
up and doing, preparing TO meet grove
conjuncture by Notifications looking to tine
defence Of London, and by other military,
and by naval precautions. But who does
not knew that if this pretsnsion succeed
there, our time oftrlal would come nextf
The broad oceanis is not brond enough to
separate the victims of despotlsm from the
jealous wrath Of oppressors, who might
we'll fear that the gales Of the Atlantic
would bear to his deminions that loud note
of sympathy which marks the interest the
American people take, and which WASH
ington took, in the struggles of freedom.
Well sir, if this work goes on, and the de-
crees gone forth to the world, eitherby de-
claration or by action, are we to wait Hn-
til the storm bursts upon US before we even
raise voice in support Of national or nat
ural righ,si No, sir. He who should re-
commend such timid policy would find
his countrymen far ahead Of him in their
generous application of those rights and
their duties. Distinct manifestations of
such an intention TO attack the independence
Of England for such a cause would rouse
spirilof 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
our judgment upon a mcnslrous preten-
sion, utterly incompatible with the most
sacred attributes Of independence, and that
to do SO is to form ssentanglng alliances"
and ..artifciaI ties" As there must be
two parties at leas. TO all alliances and ar
tifcial ties, it will be time to announce
our danger when there is any serious prop
osilion TO unite ourselves with any other