Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-14

or fearing in the language of statesman trapssSS
nom TINS chamber to the direction of foreign affairs
the equal OF Canning IN genius and mortal yigor-forget
ting or fearing that in an age Of progress
And we may well look round, and ask each other as
one 81 the nobest men that occupied seat in this
or any other legislative body bright i'm intellect pure A.
purpose and splendid in hspowers of eloouence Int now
struck down by Providence to the regret Of his
winch has anticipated the judgment of history by one
tribute OF respect for his services and his
we may ask each other he asked the legislators of
former day. are the representatives alone to be isolated
the common atmosphere Of the world? 2" If we com
mt inns error we shall be isolated from the feelings and
confidence OF our feowctizens and find when too late
that we are unworthy opponents of their sentiments
Many objections less plausible have been nre
70 aeter us IRON any action in this matter but not
one Oh them with more confidence or pertinacity nor
with less regard to the circumstances Of
than that which warns that by such proceeding we
should violate ankle the traditions of policy and the
advice OF our wisest statesmen and especially the in
functions OF Washington and Jefferson Never were inst
recommendations more appropriately applied than in
this attempt to apply the views of those great men to the
circumstances in which placed
Nonintervention it is said the policy they main
tanned and the legacy they bequeathed to us but is II
possible that single American be found who believes
that either of those patriots would condemn the declare
ton OF his counrys opinion upon great question of pub
lie law because they condemned its interference with the
affairs OF other nations? Why this our affair sir an
aair as interesting to us as to any other community on
the face OF the gobe which involves the safety OF
independent States and the intent and obligation Of
the code that regulates therintercourse What did WASH
ington say on this subecte These his words
II Is our true policy to steer clear Of permanent alliances
with any portion of the foreign world"
Hence therefore, it must be unwise for implcate
ourselves by artificial ties IN the ordinary yicssudes her
Euopean politics the ordinary circumstances ar collisions
Of her friendships and enmities."
These sentiments speak for themselves and are COM
mended no less by the authority that uers them by
their own justice to the American people,. Ingenuity it.
self cannot torture them into the service of the opposition
to the present proposition and which seeks alliances
and asks for artificial ties. limits itself to sim
But he IN
by Washington required any special key for its
structon would be found in the history of his Admins
ration and in the peculiar difficulties encountered 1t
is well known that the early events Of the French evou
ton excited powerful feeling in the United States, and
this feeling displayed itself in strong attachment to France
and in hostile demonstrations against England The aid
we received from the former Power in Revolutionary
struggle and the efforts of the French people break the
iron yoke which had pressed upon them for centuries
joined to the bitter recollection of the conduct of England
during our struggle with her, to her retention Of the west
posts and to her notorious violation Of maritime
rights sufficiently account for this feeling and its mani
estations greatly embarrassed the Administration Of Gen.
Washington, and rendered it very difficult for him.
with the weight of his character, which powerful
coadutor in the work. to preserve that line of neutral
policy he had wisely adopted And the original treaty of
alliance with France had imposed upon this country
rous BURDEN by guarantyng the possession Of her West
India islands thus involving he contended, in her
controversy with England And these the evils that
Washington had encountered and against the
of which he warned his countrymen But who demands
alliance with any Power in Europe who has the least
desire that should form any other treaties than those
which regulate and usual intercourse
And the authority of Mr. Jefferson has been invoked
with little reason, in condemnation of this
Peace said that patriarch of the Democratic faith
"peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all
tons; entangng alliances with none Why, sir, there
is for argument between the who gives to
this language of Mr. Jefferson its true and natural inn
port and him who applies it to the assertion Of great
onal right They have common ground to stand upon
When the declaration of important principle
to all nations, and made in connexon with none shown
to be an 'entangng alliance with Of them, then
may this sentiment be appealed to- and the people warned
against its violation.
Mr.. President, the wonderful advance Of skill and sci
ence has brought Europe to than Sa-
vannah to Philadelphia at the adoption of the consttu
tom and similar probably destined yet to
diminish the distance And the Increase Of the moral and
material Interchange consequent upon the progress of the
age has not been less remarkable than the increase in the
facilities of intercourse We cannot be insensble the
onward march of events in the old hemisphere in
different to their operation upon the great of the
people Undoubtedly Europe to some extent, has pecu
liar interests and peculiar policy, with which have
no concern. Dynastc laws, the balance Of power the
influence claimed by FIVE great States these and other
maxims of policy give rise to questions with which
have no desire to ntermeddle But besides these there
are great principles of the laws Of national ntercommun
cation always coming up for discussion and decision in
Europe and which affect the safety and the interest of all
the independent States Of the world The former may
regard merely with the natural interest which is felt in
passing events but the latter should watch with Sleep
less vigilance, taking that innovation be establish
Gu IN puDnc law without our consent 10 which we
should be called upon to submit hereafter the ground
OF its having been sanctioned by time and acquescence
the right to search vessels would have been estab
hshed had not resisted the claim at its very in
ception.
Mr.. President the commencement Of the French
revolution two DEGREES passed by the conventon
of which attacked the independence of nations, by nvt
ing the people every where to throw off existing monarch
cal Governments and promising Intervention by armed
force while the back the ages Of barbarsm
by procamng that quarters should be granted any
garrison which should not surrender within twentyour
hours Should any nation, rejecting its duties and
setting Mt defiance the rights and opinions of the world
attempt establish such principles this day, by pro-
mitigating them in solemn legislative acts rules of
duct in all future time, is there any in this broad
silent acquiescence instead of rebukng them an au-
thortative ndefensble innovations Of the Law
of nations Whether the administration Of Washington
took ground against these quasi manfestoes either by
diplomatic representations otherwise, do not know
His period of difficulty and that the time Of
our weakness Now has come, and still is coming,
the time of strength, and with it position and,
If not duties, powerful motives for decisive
ton No fail to that the principles of the
first of these French decrees well that of the Rus
sian ukasesfor such in effect they arewould give to
foreign Powers the right to intermedde in the internal
affairs Of this country whenever any Of them believed
affected believe that circumstances existed here
demned by that syetcm Of supervision thus sought be
established ha
Runners have recently reached which may well warn
be ready take part in the assertion of great
rights intimately connected with the spirit of
institutions 1t is said, and with good deal of conf
dence that the great European Continental Powers have
with England against the refuge she has a