Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06
SPEECH OF Mr.. MILLER,
OF NEW JERSEY,
Upon The Non Intervention Resolutions submitted
6y Mr. Clarke
OF NEW JERsE
In SENATE, FrDRuAnY %, 1852.

By Mr. Clarke.
In SENATE, FEBRUARY 20, 1852.
The Senate proceeded the consideration of the
lutions submitted by Mr. CLARKE in relation the
eign policy of the United Statesthe pending question
being the amendment submitted by Mr. SEWARD
Mr.. MILLER said: Mr.. President it is seldom that
trouble either myself the Senate with discussion
upon what called abstract resolutions In national
affairs prefer acts to words and when there is nothing
present which duty commands us to perform, it is wis
dom to be silent Yet there times and occasions in
the history of every nation when it is necessary speak
in advance of coming events and thereby anticipate
threatened evils by manly ayowa of counteractng prn
cipes.
The present in my opinion is one of those occasions
The Government is called upon to change its foreign
policy and to position in its social and po-
litical intercourse with the nations of Europe. This
movement is sustained by various Influences domestic
and foreign Most fervent and eloquent appeals have
been made to national honor and pride to love
Of liberty, and to sympathy with suffering humanity
All classes and professions have given it their influence
The press the pulpit and the bar are enlisted in the
cause-all demanding change in our ancient inerna-
tonal policy. And pocians-especally that most in
terestng class Of them called candidates by
this sudden excitement become at first confused, then
alarmed and finally throw themselves upon the popular
wave, to be carried whithersoever the wind may drive
them.
In the midst of this outside storm internal agta
tons quite forgotten and Wings and Democrats Abo
moment in managing domestic concerns, unite
like brothers in regulating the affairs Of the world Under
the pressure of these exciting movements Congress
not remain quiet must do something worthy of the
occasion. But while most agree that Government
should change its present position to meet this emer
gency, there who tell what that position
should be.
The Senator from Michigan (Nr CAss) says we cannot
stand still yet he neglects to tell whittier shall
go. The friends of progress expected something more
bold and decided from that Senators but they win excuse
him. when they consider the ntrcacy OF the subject and
his present peculiar position
The Senator from Illinois is more decided in his deter
minaton to change national policy. read what he
says:
az think it is time that America had foreign policy
Applause and cries of Good Goodp foreign policy pre-
Dictated upon true Interpretation Of the laws of natons
foreign policy in accordance with the spirit of the reat
applause j but not such foreign policy we have
attempted be enforced in this country within the last three
years. Ches of GoodH sGood.1 We have been told, and
you told every day that neutrality is the true American
poy and that plea has been the for the acts which
have been performed by the existing Administration in
nexion with the Cuban question Great applause They
employ the American navy and to the volunteers
and seize the provisions ammunition and supplies Of every
kind which may be in aid of the patriot cause and the
give free passage protection all men,
niton and supplies which be sent in aid of the royals
and they CALL THAT NEUTRALITY
Again, the Senator says:
"The distinguished Senator from Michigan Mr. CAss has
told you that the next President is to be Democratic Pres
dent believe that it is the will of Providence, and the viii
of the people also Great applalise]
the people, should sustain the disinterested opinions
the Senators from Michigan and Illinois, that the next
President is to be Democrat" there be doubt
but that the time will have for America to have
orgn policy It'll much to be regretted that the honora
BILE Senator from Illinois, of whom the world has taken
note standing " the most immediate to throne
has thus in advance declared his determination change
the wel-esabshed policy of the Government. Others
encounter the difficulty to the kind Of nterven
ton. Some for declaration of sympathy for the
oppressedsome for the announcement of the oppres-
for moral and others for material aid but all
for Intervention OF some sort We cannot they say,
stand still and be neutral when all Europe is in motion;
and therefore must say word strike blow in the
of liberty
noble and liberal sympathy which the people of this
try manifest towards the oppressed of other lands This
feeling may sometimes be carried 10 a~d
casonally fall upon unworthy objects but it is noble
virtue and teses that liberty and humanity are not
only merely mboded in the forms of our Government,
but that they have also deep and place in the
hearts the American people No State policy however
wse can ought prevent heart beating heart voice
answering voice. when the weak and the call
for aid and have nothing to say against this
popular feeling in favor Of humanity My remarks are
intended to apply solely to the conduct of the Govern
intercourse with foreign nations under appeals
of this character The feelings of individuals may lead
way, while the duty of the Government points to the
opposite direction.
Ii is not to be disguised that there exists disposition
among portion of people to intermedle in the poll
teal affairs of Europe This feeling receives strength
lust from two first from the CONNEXIONS IN
Europe secondly from desire the part of politicians
at home to use this feeling for party purposes.
Under these combined influences there danger that this
Government may become involved in the affairs OF Europe
Every thing purely American is fast becoming stale and
vapid There is disposition to quit our own to stand
upon foreign ground.
There is class of politicians mot In this chamber who
seem to live and in foreign politics. Each revolu-
ton in Europe exces them to such fever heat that they
rest until Government shall express by word
action its sympathy its indignation for or against
the parties concerned With them every thing foreign
has peculiar interest Foreign goods and foreign labor
preferred the domestic and foreign votes, if not
preferred certainly coured than those of our
native citizens Impeled by their sympathies they rush
the shore with eyegass to detect the incoming
ships loaded with the of European agitation and
confused by political mirage all that they see over the
distant waters is to their vision enlarged and distorted
Absorbed in foreign news they forget the claims of their
countryhey have neither eye ear for domestic
matters They deaf to the call of American labor for
protection. They have eye for neglected rivers
and harbors. They cannot broken-down FORCES
and our ruined manufactures While the masses in Eu-
rope the object of their most ardent sympahies the
masses at home abandoned with cold indifference and
left unaded fight the battles of labor and national in
dependence against the combined capital of Europe. In
all that concerns American advancement and American
FORM they doubtful tmid, and non-committal butn
European affairs they fixed bold and positive; and
although frightened into silence by the noise and conu
sion Of domestic convention they speak in the tones
of the trumpet amid the thunders Of European
uons Hitherto the influence Of policy has been to
Americanze Europe il is TO EiTopeaRize America
For the hundred the people Europe have been
coming to for liberty and free government
carry these blessings to Them and build up free ins
tutions upon the rotten foundations of despotism
IT. Al. a. A.. 80 49,