The daily union., 1852-04-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. ,. M. MASON,
OF VIRGINIA,
In Me Ssnate, AprN Q. 1852

In Me SENATE, dgTu ., 1907
The Senate having uader consideration the resolutions
stl bv Mr. CLARKE, with amendments offered by Mr.
Sss,sp and Mr. CAss, reafiming the doctrine Of nom
Mr MASON said.
H. n, pRrsIpEsT: The resolutions which have been
.asd by The honorable senator from Michigan, Mr.
@'I and also BY the honorable senator from New
Tvarr IMr SEWARD directed to occasion that
~ ~ ssssd by They intended to express the sense
n.y. hs Congress OF the United States the armed inter-
on " w II The Emperor OF Russia between Austria and
mnyary one OF iis dependencies But. though the occa
juassed these honorable senator's regarding,
sNnb sod not the strong feeling which was manifested in
ms parts OF the country on the occasion OF that iner
ence have deemed proper 10 bring the subject before
Congress- in order, irs that the Congress OF the United
Safes may express far lies with them. the sen
%sus Of The country the subject Of that intervention
and. secondly, with view 10 foreshadow what those
susoTs. and others who think with them take % be
~ true position of this government. and OF this coun
r in reference 10 all similar occasions when they may
Now, sir, we cannot shut our eyes 10 the fact that
Slieye pretty much to the West and NoFh-a strong
aon has been excited BY the presence Of one OF the
eiugees from this resubugated country OF Hungary,
of our Aar as was supposed, with view TO find re-
nubcan home; or, il not, then simply 10 make his ac
nowedgments for that safe conducts but as il has turned
out he came with view io esaOsh M nmseil as Propa
ion 10 what he apprehended to be the duty that this
country owed TO others, and more especially to his own
The feeling natural to the occasion was very much IN
orator And so has been that your table, Mr.. Presi
dent now has memorials and petitions from various
parts Of the country asking the government 70 review in
order 10 remodel the policy that has been the guide OF
this country for the last half century in s intercourse
with and in its relations to foreign countries.
Sir the resolution which has been offered BY the sena
or from Michigan, advering 10 this armed interference
Of Russia between Austria and Hungary, expresses on
hs part Of the United States the declaration tha they
have not seen nor could they again see without deep
ncero, the violation OF this principle OF national indie
pendencs'the principle being, as Teced in the resou
ion that which undoubted law OF nations, that
nation has not the right TO interfere with the domestic
concerns OF another.
The resolution Of the senator from New York goes
Little further In that resolution il is declared that
"The United States, in defence OF their interests
d the common of mankind do solemnly pro-
wsnon and tyannical nacton Of The laws Of nations
n the Unlied States do further declare that they will not
reaer indifferent similar OF national injustice,
ppession, and psnrpation whenever wherever they
may occur"
The sanctions under which these resolutions were Of
sred 10 the world are pretty much the in both in
aances The senator from Michigan says that "the
United States without DEEP aEy fu-
are violation" &c. and the senator from New York
ays that We eannot see i WITH ssc
much the but they both 90 to this extent, that II
nhe duty OF the United States 10 express purpose on
As part should there be any future Intervention by
iuegn nation in the domestic concerns of another.
Mr. President, The reasons which senator's have as
vns in sustaining these resolutions have gone further
sSAs resolotions themselves They have shadowed wed
a0ialy 10 the remarks OF the senator from New York,
mr. SEwARD.l and those OF the senator from Louis
ana. INT SovLE]-,hey have Swallowed forth on the
al hand when il became this country TO review its
policy in this respect although expressed in Language
sufficiently pointed TO enable us to understand TO what
extent that review should be carried.
But the honorable senator from Louisiana went some
what further He undertook to show thai that which
had been assumed as being the policy Of Washington
subject OF late much discussed public meetings in
he country well in the newspapers-was sort OF
historical nlsconcepton-that there had been such
policy at all; or if there had been. that IL policy
adopted only for occasion, and which ended with the
occasion which gave il birth. This suggestion would
render il proper that should 70 back TO the
Early history Of the country and trace, from their first
beginning the rules and maxims which il is alleged on
our part were Instituted by the fathers OF the republic 10
rulde in our intercourse with foreign nations.
Thus looking back shall find three great occasions
enwhch the policy OF This government. in its relations to
foreign powers, was brought prominently before the
country.
First in the wars following The French revolution, to.
wards the close Of the last century.
Second. on the threatened Intervention OF the "Hoy
Alliance" between Spain and her American colonies,
Third, on the invitation 10 this government BY the
South American republics to NEE, them in Congress al
Panama
The first arose Immediately after the organization oil
the government Washington naugurated as Presi-
dnt In 1889, and his celebrated proclamation OF neura-
lack as the great landmark in every review OF for
asn policy Il will be useful. therefore, briefly TO recall
ne position Of the county at the time, and the occasion
hat brought il forth
From the commencement Of the American revolution
lance had looked TO the ultimate separation OF England
and her American colonies with an eye OF favor and
iconsequence nothing left undone on their part to
ngage France in the contest
Dr. franklin had been sent 10 Paris to conciliae the
tood will OF that country, and 10 procure aid He was
indy and gracously received though not formally
knowledged az the representative OF his country But
oon the avor OF the French court strongly evinced
S permitting military stores and other supplies 10 be
shipped America. and even vessels OF war TO be
ID and equipped in her ports agains, England. The
gratitude Of our country thus strongly awakened-fo
even by such connvanee France incurred the hazards
Ola war-was soon more keenly excited by the treaty
ITS, by which she made herself party bellgeren
and guaranteed our independence. II was TO be ex-
peeeo, therefore, that the American people would
strongly sympahize with those OF France, when they
were soon after found in like struggle for freedom
despou.
ihe year l793jus, ten years after the independence
o ne United States bad been finally established by the
ueay OF peace-oond our old enemy, England. confed-
sed arms with Austria Prussia. Sardinia, and the
ohlea Netherlands, against republican France. The
0eon ". eminenty calculated TO unsettle the judg-
'm o. 'he country the despots Of Europe in league
" suougaie republican France-that France who but
nv ayeas-sbon years-beore had been our ally in a
contest with one OF those very powers then aimed
fortunately for the event. the destnes OF the country
sele men under the guidance OF who states
sn as well as patriots. They Ito borrow the ap-
rVWae word OF the senator from Louisiana, Mr. SouLr)
A. hpPlssipe'-unmoved by the stirring excitement of
@ u 70 lher own country. They well knew that, how
equally our country had reaped the benefit, France,
a., Ncomng our ally, was actuaied, as nations always
"scoaed, by considerations FIRST OF her own interest
ind Eno nj tr,v