The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
srEEcH or mH. soULE.


q, aispsniion delivered in the Senate on Monday the
Mr. CLARKEs resolutions. aud the amendments to the
amp moved BY Senators SEWARD OF New York and
Clss Of Michigan, heing under consideration
M S0UIE, OF Louisiana. who had previously OBJ
,aned possession OF the hoor. rose and said
I am appalled,, Mr.. President, by the vast and i'm
oosing assemblage which | see congregated in this
hall | fear much, SIR, that the announcement, SO
aa,terngly made by newspapers, oil the part which
II xas presumed would take in this contest has raised
expectaons which will not be IN my power crafty
and lhe anxiety the dslfus and torment, which such an
annrshenson well calculated to engender are not
lille augmented by the awful magnitude and the Difficult
hes Of the subject before me- However, sir. cannot
wish 10 avoid the task. II Were TOO ale for TO
dsown its claims or TO repudate its exigencies shall
therefore proceed with IL, trembngly, no doubt, yet
with some faint hope that may still be able bear its
burden in a manner not altogether unbecOming the Dig
ni,y OF an American senator.
Whatever be the fate Of the resolutions upon your table.
Mr. President, the debate which has grown out Of them
viii have its influence and bear its fruits rejoice that
has Afforded fl opportunity for proclaming to the
world abiding faith in the ecude and ultimate tri-
umph OF those great principles which the hopes
and the desnies Of mankind for. sir. are heard al
q great distance when speak from the high places
which we occupy here. What OF hope and encourage
menl, what OF interest and sympathy, we express
for down-irodden and oppressed nations is re-echoed
throughout the rmoies regions Of the world; and while
we give ul,eanCe to the thought it swiftly the
magic wire until il moves TO congenal and harmonious
vibrations every fibre OF the human heart.
Sir, conceive not that there any essential dscepan
cy the sentiments entertained by those senators who
first moved in this debate Indeed what OF disagreement
have been able 10 discern among them, would seem TO
arise rather from misconsirucOn OF the object aimed al
by each respectively than from any real antipathy in
their opinions to what principles should asser, and
yndcate here Though the original resolutions may have
been intended and have doubt but that they were as
OF political breakw thrown up compress and
still those suges OF the popular sentiment TO which
took occasion some time ago TO aude-though they may
seem advocate impassiveness absolute
ase only policy under which can grow and prosper
yet discerning eye will not fail to detect that feversh
and restless anxiety. the offspring OF keen and
ing foresight, which berays itself through the dubious
mystic, timid, bad almost said bashful admission con
lined in the last of hem OF possible contingency on
he occasion OF which va just regard TO safety
uM require us 10 advance 10 he cosfid rxtLer than
arai tie approach of The foes of constitutional freeaom
ddd 81 hubiun liberty"
Thus, sir the policy solemnly commended, and 50
he senator from Rhode Island rNr CLARKEl opened
this debate, held under Chez By the press reservation
and protest that IT may g oils asi day, and be su
pafs ,he wora odnan, a ~ y ~ 9ae rs 20 70
tr constitutional freedom and for human liberty,
But much TO my wonder, and still more to my deep
sOncern that contingency, strkingy pointed at in the
resolutions, was enllrey overlooked 10 the speech where
Ills not even alluded TO- Sir. had determined that il
should no, remain unheeded and now plead its implied
soncessonsia vindcaion of the views which propose
nlay before the Senate.
am decidedly against This country being pent up
within the circle drawn around i By the advo.
By bs authority and imposing under which il
shelters itself. that policy has claims to my sympa
lhesit is set forth in an,agonsm to the policy BY
which the OF the progressive school atiemp,
initiate as it is said system Of interference with The
aars OF other nations the FIRST finds security in in
erthess the second, in action One, under that IN
produce, points to the past, and credits them all
10 The policy which bat pfsfaced their history; the
other invokes The very stale OF things which those
have brought about and ooeyng the dictates
nj new rteS In So'prpp
warning non nsdtm ayhbas. retineniur qui61 conpa
TaHiar." am for the last; and while indicating its
sIPedeney shall aemplio show that the opposed poll
ey cannot claim the support which il freely borrows
iron The doctrines and teaching OF the immortal sage and
hero whose name awakens such deep emotions OF graft
lade and respect Sir the policy OF Washington elucida
ted BY has own acs was By means that unmpassioned
Ihlegmatc, cautious, and inactive policy which op
ponen,s would induce TO believe but, on the contrary
waiehu, sharp and active policy. ready TO inierpose
wherever and whenever great interest great pun
tpe was al stake and disdaning that submissive Wis
dom which could abide the most revolving assumptions
90 The part of foreign powers, from the thai they
dd not affect too osiensib!y the Immediate OF
The republic
Through mos, strange confusion the presumed prn-
epes invoked in the proclamation Of neutrality OF 1873
are made the ground work-indeed, the very foun-
daion-cf those proclaimed in The Farewell Address OF
me reveTed patriot hero; yet who knows not that
iae neutrality adopted in 1898 but essentially
Transient measrre, looking solely the then situation
Of The country, and the demands which that siiuation
with iis surrounding perils. made upon il THAT il was
considered in other light by Genefal Washington him
sell most unequlyocay exhibited from The fact that
aluding 10 this very subject in his Farewell Address,
ne speaks OF thus: he period IS not far oil when
may axe such an attitude as viii cause The
HafHg We MAY AT ANY TINE RESOLVE UPON
YrcTED, &e And this is not the only evidence of the
meaning Which he intended that the proclamation should
convey u came TO be debated in cabinet council how
ai IN issuing that proclamation, General Washington
might have iranscended the powers vested in the Pres
ssh oy The constitution and have the authority of
nf Jefferson 10 ibe effect that he dpoogirtd 70, the
httsrm NEUTRALITY THE President" remarks Mr..
yen.son, declared he had idea that he could
pnd Congress against declaring war, that anything
Gaaned IN his PROCLAMATION could look beyond the day
me'r MEETING The President said che had
should meet y
Mr, the circumstances under which the neutrality of
s5 was resolved upon OF sufficient interest should
kne' 70 deserve passing notice, and TO command at.
Senate " '' W '' f " ~
I've we were just emerging from that sea OF agitation
na oeen shrfed up by the recent remodelling OF
ae national government, with treasury exhausted by
@ e Ineessshi demands that every day being made
10 satisfy The obligations incurred curing pro-
Stg ana expensive We were unseiel restless;
kaouui whelher the new experiment would realize the
Igvs ol lhose who had advised and attempted IT, war
broken out between France and EncIand-Tshoud
Y, between France and coalized Europe France alone
shng ior her Liberties and the Liberties OF mankind
SANS % me world IN arms The qseston arose what
~ ~ Anenca should acl IN that awful conflict Would
eeaeem those pledges which ardent and enthusiastic
nas lhought that she under and taking the part Of
lance, sinke By her side for the liberties OF the world
Sne eoud not Join Engand crusade against those lb
ues Would She ,hen participate in the struggle. or
vaa she rather quiet spectator of the gigantic
ene, and tps God the desiinies OF her ally Neces-
-s'ern, infexIble necessy-oould alcne impel her TO