The southern press., 1852-01-05
DEFERRED DE3ATE.
In SENATE, January 2, 1852.

4 "
| Mr.. WALKER pre- sented the memorial of the
Industrial Congress of the city of New York
asking the recall of the United State, minister
to France, and the suspension of all diplomatic
| intercourse with that government Mr.. w said
desire that this memorial may be read. | dc
not know whether it will go into the public
journals of the day not but il is the desire of
the memOrlalists that it should do 30.
Tho memorial was read by the Clerk as fol-
| lows
To The Senate and House of Representatives 0,
/ the United Sfates in Congress assembled:
| The Industrial Congress Of the city Of New
York, in view Of the late tyrannical and unpar-
donabe conduct OF Louis Napoleon Bonaparte,
President of the French republic, respectfully pray
your honorable bodies Immediately to recall Hon
VIM. g. Rives, your minister to France, and the
| suspension on the part Of our government Of all
diplomatic and commercial relations with that
power.
The Industrial Congress is not nsensible of the
importance and responsibility that would naturally
attach to the assuming or the position herein
recommended. 1t well knows the fact, however,
that the United States government was the first
to acknowledge the republic of France. This
recognition manifested on the ground that the
people Of that unfortunate nation had become
wearied of the form Of government under which
they so long had lived, and had risen in their
majesty and established democratic government
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte--he whom the
French people had honored with their confidence,
and elevated to the presidency Of the republic
has proved treacherous to the trust reposed in
him. He has violated and trampled under foot
the constitution he had soemnly sworn to sup
port, and has In various ways proved recreant to
his duty, and thrice recreant to humanity.
Under these circumstances, the Industrial Cen,
gress esteem it not only proper, but necessary
and right, that our government should enter its
sternest protest against the hagitious tyranny Of
the usurper Napoleon.
In behalf Of the Industrial Congress:
III. A. GUILD, Secretary.
The reading of the memorial having been fin
ished, Mr.. WALKER moved to refer it to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. MANGUM. Mr. President, I move that
it lie upon the table. 1t contains principles d.
rectly the reserve of the entire policy of our
government.
Mr. MASON. Will The honorable Senator
withdraw that motion! | will renew it if he
desires it.
Mr.. MANGUM. l withdraw the notion
Mr.. MASON. Mr.. President, | understand
that to be a memorial sent to us from a society
called the Industrial Congress of New York-a
society which certainly know nothing about,
except from newspaper reports-asking that
this government, en- account of a revolution
changing the form of government in France,
shall suspend all diplomatic intercourse with
that government. 1t does seem to me like dis
courtesy to recommend to us such measurs.
Mr.. President, this is precisely of the same
type of which we have recently had various i'm
pressions from the same quarter. Sir, had in
tended to oppose any reference. | did not
know what disposition the honorable gentleman
who presented the memorial might deem pro-
per; but had intended, with no disrespect to
him, but from conviction that it was not
proper subject to come before this body, to op
pose its reference If it goes to the Committee
on Foreign Relations, they can only express
one view of the matter-that it is subject they
have nothing to do with; and believe it is the
duty of the Senate to refuse referen g, and
thus show that we have no dispo .ition to enter
tain any proposition of that kind. now renew
TIE m, ton to lay it upon the table
Mr.. DAWSON. Will the honorable gentle.
man withdraw that motion?
Mr. MASON. withdraw it, sir
Mr. DAWSON. Mr.. President, this ques-
ton is now fairly presented to the Senate and
if it be BILE upon the part of any member
of this body to make this issue before the Amer
lean people, there is no time better than the pre-
sent. If we are to change the foreign policy OF
yONernUltnL III tnlS leL us 90 IL anu II
we determine not TO do so, let it be announced
at once And what committee is more appro-
pirate to consider this matter than the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations! Now, sir am ex,
ceedingy anxious that this issue should be
| formed and if it be desirable, let the question
be discussed and 90 before the American peo-
pie, and let them decde-let it be determined
whether they shall take part in foreign wars of
all other countries, or whether we shall abide
! by the principles which have been established
| from the foundation of the government. trust
| that report will be made and that the question
will be discussed; and, for that reason, desire
that the memorial should not be laid upon the
table.
| Mr.. WALKER. Mr.. President | regret ex-
ceedingly that the introduction Of this memorial
at this time should cause discussion. | certainly
introduced it without the least expectation or
desire that such should be the case perhaps,
sir, know more of the association from whence
this memorial comes than most of the senators
upon this floor. 1t is constituted of a class of
men to whom respect should be sho yn-tbat is,
if any respect should be shown in the republic
of the United States to what constitutes the
laboring and mechanical portion of the country
This association, sir, termed the Industrial Con-
gress of New York, is composed OF that class
1 or men, not all OF lnen, however, AT present
dependent upon their daily labor for support
for some of them have made their fortunes and
retired from active life; but believe, Mr.. Pres
ident, that they are, most of them, as good re-
publicans as any who sit or stand upon this floor,
and should regret most exceedingly to see any
disrespect shown to their memorial. moved
its reference to the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, and did so with similar feeling to that
which has been expressed by the Senator from
Georgia, Mr. DAWSON, that the subject of our
conduct and policy towards foreign governments
is one that is now agitating this country to a
considerable extent. We already have this SUBJ
iect before Congress, and we cannot keep it out
We must considerit; it is one of those questions
that will come before US; and this is great
question of time, to be settled by us when il
shall be met. think, sir, as the honorable
Senator from Georgia has expressed it, that the
present is as good time as any we shall ever
see to settle this natter and no committee is
better qualified to throw light upon this subject
than the Committee on Foreign Relations.
am grateful to him for his concurrence with my
f motion to refer this memorial, and hope it will