The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-20

voice. TO another guesllonto another and far different
by the resolutions under consideration.
ana larry embraced within their scope. That inquiry
Is, how are we 10 be aiected-how is this continent to
be adecled-how is the New World 10 ba affected by the
regent changes and present condition OF affairs IN the Old
world How are American IDEAS and interests OF gov
efnment TO be affected by European ideas and institu
iions This consider the great American question OF
lhe mes and one which may well occupy the thoughts
and attention OF the Senate and OF the country could
only desire that the inquiry had aber exposition than
may hope TO be. And would that had opportu
nifty OF going into the subject under circumstances less
embarrassing and more propous and favorable 10 hear
ing, regIetl deploIethat have neither the ability
nor the favorable occasion for doing justice 10 subject
which appears to me to be one OF the highest importance
to the future condition and fortunes of this country
have said that the great American question Of the day
is, how to be Affected by the present and pros
peciive condition OF European IDEAS interests and aairs
What then, is the condition and attitude Of Europe at
present in relation TO the great principles and Questions
connected with the organic forms OF government Sir,
propose briefly TO sketch the recent changes and what
Xep may IfmemheE, ,ar. that general tranquility and
confidence IN the established oreI OK thugs had regned
in Europe for q long pDrod, when the suddep and un
expected oyerhrow Of Lods Philppe-ollowed in rapid
succession by popular and lnsurectonay movements in
llaly and ihe German States in Austria and Hungary,
reused the world IRON Its supneness The Simultaneous
movement OF the liberals in many States and their par
a Successes inspired the lovers OF freedom everywhere
with hopes OF the most beneiicent results and led TO
the greatest excitement; but the public mind, with the
receding tide OF republican successes, regained IFS
composure without its confidence The unsettled con-
don and The power OF the contendng factions in
one great country still held the public mind in
pense and all awaited the solution of French politics,
feeling that upon that would depend in small degree,
the future quiet OF the Continent That solution came
like clap OF thunder TO interpreting ears, IN the coup
deta of the ID of December. fhe excitement was now
intense, and expectation tptoe until the ques.
lon could be solved which had no clue in the knowl
edge conjecture OF this country--whether the
French people appealed to, they were, with every
external show OF freedom Of choices would condemn
or approve the daring usurpation OF Louis Napo-
leon. While in this suspense, 10 tidngs that
nearly seven millions OF the eight millions OF
The adult male population Of France had approved and
sanctioned the decree which abolished the republic and
conded to the arbitrary will OF the power OF re
constructing their government fhiry-six millions OF
reemen thus voluntarily surrendered their liberty, and
gave their powerful sanction to the creed that popular
sovereignty safe element in the organic form oil
government If the Of the I'd December start
ling. these last dings absolutely astounding and
mems minds were sci 10 work 10 account for the strange
and unexpected result scarcely yet doubling that The
next arrival of steamer from abroad would bring &C.
counts OF spontaneous and successful uprising of the
parisans OF freedom IN France which had hurled the
daring usurpeT from power Bot, and asonsh
ing as were the events have Just ecouned the fact
the most amazing to al the time OF all that have trans
plred since the expulsion OF Louis Philippe from has
hrone-remains yet TO be slated Contemporaneousy with
the first report OF the seyent of the I'd of December
which reached this country, came vagueand at the lime
little creded-assuranees that the movement OF LOUIS
Napoleon would not only be successful, but that the
peace of France, and OF Europe would be rather con-
soldated than disturbed by its SUGGEST And now after
four monlhs-aier more than hundred days have
passed--Tesh assurances reach from many reliable
TO the effect, that il would species
of madness any longer TO resist absolute conviction
that pointassarances The more inctelible from the
iIst when we consider that they accompanied by
advlces that the King OF Prussia following the lead
OF Fance and Austria, was proceeding fast as he
burst TO remodel the constitution OF his government upon
basis which excluded every vestge OF republcansm.
What then, sir, the recognised and well under.
stood position OF the nations oil Eurupethe CRADLE and
still the great nursery OF medern cvlizalion-n regard 10
popular tights and Tree government Let facts speak
the answer III what hear be true oil Prussia, then
the four great powers OF the Continent modelling
their governments upon the basis oi absolulism-upon
the theory that popular sovereignty or popular control 10
any in the affairs OF governments directly or 10
representative assemblies, is incompatible with peace and
ORDER and utterly subvesve OF the securities and bless
ngs of civil society Sir a new order OF things has
arisen which decess the abolition OF The very symbols
of liberty Every monument OF the transcent exist.
enee OF any former republc-every inscription, every
memento OF former freedom, is 10 be razed 10 It's foun-
dalons-eaced and obteraed that no trace shall
manno tradition be allowed go down TO poseriiy OF
the time when republican forms had found ioothold in
Europe.
Thus sir the great and imposing fact in the
face that the continent Of Europe has reverted TO the
old IDEAS OF monarchy and absolusm, and liberty lies
PROSTATE, discarded and dishonoTed.
And what, repeat as still more surprising Is, that the
opinion prevails founded upon the most reliable sources
OF nfoTmation-the entire mercantile class-the stock
change and the Paris Bourse. the money kings, who
have their Argus eyes Fixed upon every part OF the Con.
nent and their agents IN every cabinet-not only
that republicansm is down, but that there will be no
further commolion war, and that this state OF things
is permanent in Europe
Can this be true, Mr., President Can il be true that
the spirit OF liberty is extinct in Europe or, II existing al
ALL so feebe so exhausted, so dead, TO give signs
OF future awakening, no promise OF an early resurrec-
ton and this too, the middle oil the nineteenth
tury-and among The most civilized people OF the earth
this too, in the u and meridian blaze OF science moral
and physcana age, which has been emphahcally and
universally proclaimed and recognised as the age OF pro-
gress TO distinguish it from all antecedent ages and gen.
eraons of the worldl Why sir al such a time as this
in such an age ths-among people so civilized, 10
affirm that order and condition oil things has arisen
which rejects aud epudiates the idea oil popular rights OF
sovereignty as basis OF government is incompatible with
the ends oil society," and that this state OF things perma-
nen,l To ahrm that republicanism is efae-iast be-
coming an obsolete ideatbat its merits have been weigh
cd in the balance and found wanngtbatbe hand writing
has appeared upon the waannouncing conbscation aud
banshmeni the psrtisans OF freedom Why.l wonder
that some gentlemen do not start from their sests upon
the announcement OF so stupendous fact upon any
credible authony-and yet the authority is the highest
known in the range OF human testimony
And this is the advancing spirit oil the age This, the
on OF agony. and OF blood in the cause OF Liberty in
Europe
But can il be true that the OF repubcanism is
Iost-s irrerlevable in Europe | have given you the
testimony OF the stock exchange and the mercantile
classes | will now give you, II possible, sui more
reliable auhoritytbe official and public declaration
of the late ministry of Great Britain rearmed by the
present refer 10 the declarations to be foundn the late
debate in the British Parliament, which upon the
dlsmi OF Lord Palmerston from the ministry Ihe
whole debate is pregnant and significant OF European
ideas and prospects upon the question OF Tree nsn-