The southern press., 1852-01-14
speech ef Senator Dsugfas, at the Cengrcs.
sleusa Danuuef y Kessuth.

|
sisna Bas4aet u Ksssufh.
~The rights Of States are only valuable whe
subject to the free control Of those to whom the
sppertain, and utterly worthless if to be deter
mined by the sword of foreign interference"
Mr.. DOUGLAS being loudly called for, ros
and expressed his acknowledging for tn
honor conferred uron him by the call TO respont
to the sentiment just given.
lie would remark that there were some posi-
tions which might be assumed, bearing upon tn,
sentiment proposed to which he presumed tina
all would agree. That nation had right t.
establish her own form Of government, and te
regulate her own internal atfairs according tt
her own pleasure, was too clear to admit of q
dispute or require an argument in its support
Applause. II they denied to nation that
right, and subjected her to any other law than
the law of nations in the regulation of her for
eign affairs, or her own law, expressed accord.
ing to the forms of her own constitution, in hei
domestic concerns, she, from that instant, ceased
to be an independent State. If nations of the
world could be brought not only to recognise
this principle, but to act in sacred obedience to
it, then they would find that each nation upon
the face of the globe would adopt such nstitu-
lions as it thought best adapted to its condition,
its interest and its position.
For one, he held that it was the duty of every
lover of freedom, and of every republic, to de-
monstrate to the world upon which side they
were, whenever contest arose between repub
licansm and absolutism, applause and that
demonstrations should be mado so clearly and
so distinctly that none could doubt or misunder-
stand the principles upon which they based their
declaration.
fbo. A -
only could do, but ought to do, not only by way
Of encouragement to every liberal movement in
every part Of the world, but in reference to our
make it fixed principle of action to recognise
it should be established Applause We
should open commercial intercourse with such
governments, and also diplomatic correspond
such right might give offence to the crowned
heads of Europe.
The question with us was not whether it
would give offence to any, but whether it was
Just cause of offence to the laws of nations
and the principles Of right and justice. Did it
lay in the mouths of European despots to say
that republics had no right to sympathize with
republican movements, when the history of Eu-
repete with a succession of interferences in the
affairs of other nations? The nations Of Eu-
rope had interfered against liberty; they had in
terfered from time immemorial, in violation of
national law. 1t was one thing to interfere in
violation Of the national code, and far differ.
ent thing to interfere in favor of the laws Of
nations. He would assert that if he was correct
in the proposition that G. yery nation possessed
1, ~. kE,b ,t, ~ oT
ment, then an invasion of that ri hit was viola
ton Of the laws Of nations; and when any ma.
ton committed crime against these laws, each
terfere in their vindicaton. Whether we would
deem it wise to interfere or not, would depend
upon the peoaliar condition of the case pending.
In this connexion, he would say that he would
never form an alliance with England for the
purpose of restraining the march of the autocrat,
so long as that country did injustice to Ireland
[ Appause.] So long as England imprisoned
the Irish patriots and banished them for life for
doing the very act for which all America honored
the great Hungarian leader he would not form
an alliance with her. Loud applause. Eng
land must first do justice to Ireland and her own
people, and then assimilate her own institutions
to those of this country, before she should have
his dlu III P'oPPlJS uP Het SJStcuI VI BOVeTl-
ment against the march of the autocrat England
saw the fight approaching between democracy
on one side and absolutsm on the other. She
years Europe would either be Republican or
Cossack, was about to be verified, and she now
trembled because she saw that the success Of
either party would be fatal to her system of
government. If the autocrat should prevail,
,t;f IL,
republicanism should prevail, the throne would
lshed church would become extinct, and re-
publican government be raised upon its ruins
Therefore, the success of either party in this
great struggle would be fatal to England, and
that proud monarchy would therefore be glad
to obtain the aid Of republican America
Then he would say that whether he would or
would not interfere in the struggle in Europe,
would depend upon the peculiar circumstances
of the case, and the principles involved, and the
consequences following them. He would not
say that he would not interfere; for a case
might arise in which our interests, our honor,
and our self.respect would compel us to inter-
fere. He would prefer decision of the ques
tion when the case should arise but while hold
ing this in reserve, he would demonstrate to the
Woiiu L''at We w oyupaIliSo aIutuliy anu aC-
lively with every liberal movement throughout
the globe.
He would remark that he regarded the inter
vention of Russia in the affairs of Hungary as n
palpable violation of the laws of nations, that
would authorize the United States to interfere.
[ Applause. If Russia, or Austria, or any other
power, should interfere again, then he would
determine whether or not we should act, his
action depending upon the circumstances as
they should then be presented. In the mean
time, however, he would proclaim the principle
of the laws of nations; he would instruct our
ministers abroad to protest the moment there
was the first symptom of the violation of these
laws. He would show to Europe that we had
as much right to sympathize in system Of gov
ernmeut similar to our own, as they had in sim
liar circumstances. In his opinion, Hungary
was better adapted for liberal movement than
any other nation in Europe
In concution, Mr.. ID. begged leave to offer
the following sentiment;
"HyNaARYl When she shall make her next
struggle for liberty, may the friends of freedom
throughout the world proclaim to tine ears of all
European despots, hands off, a clear field and
fair fight, and God will protect the right"
Remarks of Mr.. Cass.