Washington telegraph., 1852-12-22
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
ICONCLUDED FROM FOURTH PAGE.

4 the government against that source of mis-
chievous corruption as far as it can be done
by the enactment of all proper legal penal
ties The laws in this respect are supposed
l to be detective and therefore deem it my
duty to call your attention to the subject, and
to recommend that provision be made by
law for the punishment not only of those who
shall accept bribes, but also of those who
shall promise, give, or offer to give any of
\, those officers or clerks any bribe, or a reward
SStouchng or relating to any matter of their
official actions or duty.
1t has been the uniform policy of this Go
vernment from its foundation to the present
day. to abstain from all interference in the
domestic affairs of the nation. The conse-
quence has been that while the nations of
Europe have been engaged in desolating
wars, our country has pursued its peaceful
course to anexampled prosperity and happi-
ness. The wars in which we have been COM
! PEELED to engage, in defence of the rights
\ and honor Of the country, have been FORUM
ately of short duration. During the terrific
contest OF nation against nation, which sue
ceeded the French revolution, we were en-
abed by the wisdom and firmness of Presi-
dent Washington, to maintain our neutrality
While other nations were drawn into this
wide-sweeping whirlpool. we sat quiet and
unmOved upon our own shores. While the
flower of their numerous armies was wasted
by disease, or perished by hundreds of thou
sands upon the battlefield, the youth of this
favored land were permitted to enjoy the
blessings of peace beneath the paternal roof.
While the States of Europe incurred en-
ormous debts, under the burden of which
their subjects still groan, and which must
absorb no small part of the product of the
honest industry of those countries, for gener-
ations to come, the United States have once
been enabled to exhibit the proud spectacle
of nation free from public debt-and if
permitted to pursue our prosperous way, for
few years longer in peace, we may Go the
same again.
But, it is now said by some, that this pol
icy must be changed Europe is no longer
separated from US by voyage of months,
but steam navigation has brought her within
few days sail of our shores. We see
more of her movements, and take deeper
interest in her controversies Although no
, one proposes that we should join the fratern-
ity of pOtentates who have for ages lavished
the blood and treasure of their subjects in
maintaining the balance of power" yet it
is said that we ought to interfere between
contending sovereigns and their subjects. for
the purpose of overthrowing the monarchies
of Europe. and establishing in their place
republican Institutions.
1t is alleged that We have heretofore pur-
sued different course from a sense of our
weakness, but that now our conscious strength
dictates change of policy, and that it is
consequently our duty to mingle in these
contests and aid those who are struggling for
liberty.
This is most seductive but dangerous
appeal to the generous sympathies of free
men. Enjoying as we do the blessings of
free government, there is no man who has
an American heart that would not rejoice to
see these blessings extended to all other ma
tons. We cannot witness the struggle be-
tween the oppressed and his oppressor any
where without the deepest sympathy for the
former, and the most anxious desire for his
triumph Nevertheless, is it prudent or is
it wise to involve ourselves in these foreign
wars! Is it indeed true that we have here
tofore reerained from doing SO merely from
the degrading motive of conscious weak
ness! For the honor of the patriots who
have gone before us, [ cannot admit it. Men
of the Revolution who drew the sword against
the expressions of the mother country. and
pledged to Heaven ''thcir lives, their for
tunes. and their sacred honor'' to maintain
their freedom, could never have been actu.
ated by 50 unworthy motive They knew
no weakness or fear where right Or duty d.
rected the way, and it is libel upon their
talr fame for us, while we enjoy the blessings
tor which they so nobly fought and bled, to
institute it.
The truth is that the course which thev
pursued was dictated by stern sense of in
ternatlonal justice, by statesmanlike pru-
dence and far seeing wisdom, looking not
merely to the present necessities but to the
permanent safety and interest of the country.
They knew that the world is governed less
by sympathy than by reason and force. that
twas not possible for this nation to become
'propogandlSt' of free principles without
arfaylng against it the combined powers of
Europe; and that the result was more Ekelv
to be the overthrow ofrepublican liberty here
than its establishment there. History has
been written Il vain for those who can doubt
this. France had no sooner established a
republican form of government than she
manifested desire to force its blessings on
all the world. Her own historian informs
US that hearing of some petty acts of tyranny
IN IN nelghboring principally, "the National
Convention declared that she would afford
succor and fraternity to all nations who wish
ed to recover their liberty, and she gave it
IN charge to the executive power to give Or