The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-15

WINS lHc DcFlOu VI QtutOu>sA poooiNt
And the process OF life went on. The next
natural period was TO demonstrate your vitality.
That was demonstrated by the war against
Mexico ---
If the history of New Orleans was the period
demonstrating the security Of your national ex-
istence, the victorious war against Mexico was
the period demonstrating not only that nobody
can dare to attack your existence, but that also
your natural interests must be respected, and
nobody can dare to oppose them.
The period Of active vitality is accomplished.
Now, one period there yet remains to achieve
that to take your seat, not amongst the nations
of the earth-because that you have since the
day of New Orleans--but amongst the powers
ON earth. What is the meaning Of that word
power ON earth ~ The meaning of it is, to
have not only the power TO guard your own
particular interests, but also to have vote in
the regulation of the common interests of HUI
mainly, of which you are an independent men,
BERN a word to become a tribunal control
ling the maintenance Of the law Of nations, pre-
ncssely as your Supreme Court controls the
maintenance of your own Constitution and
laws. And, indeed all logic of ssatesmanship,
all philosophy Of history, would be vain, il
were mistaken that your great nation is arrived
at this unavoidable period of the natural pro-
cess of your natural life.
The sympathy which | meet with in your
glorious land, the very toast you are pleased 70
honor me with, the principles you expressed,
are highly significant demonstration Of the
truth of this statement of mine. Indeed gen.
tlemen, what is the explanatory key of this
rapid progress of the manifestation of public
opinion in respect to those principles of inter
national law which | plead, swkwardly per-
haps, but certainly with sincerity Is it my
bad English stammering which am indeed
ashamed for, and must feel happy il am not
iaacbad at for itl Is IL this p,iseys be frame
masked wlIf the sad stamp Of misfortune and
toll Z L. It even the iustca aud the misfortune
OF my native iand-.fliie more deserving the
sympathy of generous hearts, as it is in inti-
mate relation with the future destinies Of Eu-
ropel Oh, no, gentlemen all this can have
contributed as an opportunity TO the manifesto
ton of an existing fact but it neither has
created the fact nor is the explanatory key Of
it's existence The key of it is that circum-
stance, that when nation arrives, in the pro
cess Of national life, 10 the period Of power
on earth, then the question Of foreign relations,
regulated by international law, becomes the
prominent topic of public attention and pub
io consideration. 1t is tn, necessity of the
situation-a necessary popularity Of that Pc
riod in the national process Of life when a ma
ton is about to become a power on earth.
And in this respect gentlemen, the instinct
of the people is in the life Of nation precisely
that which conscience is in the life Of o man.
Before we in our private life arrive to clear
conviction of what course We have to adopt in
whatever occurrence, the eonscience-that in
ayYliaahlo ar,irtf m aur hrao ot--fala na in a
pulsation Of our heart what is right OF what
wrong. And this FIRST pulsation Of conscience
is always right Then comes the reflective opc-
ration of the mind il now and then lulls con-
science to sleep now and then modifes par
ticulars; and now and then raises it to the de-
gree of conviction But conscience was in ad-
vance of the mind and it is always right be-
cause it never stirs without reason, never with
out necessity. So is tho instinct Of the people
this conscience of nations Not the highest in
tellectual power of any individuality can feel
offended at the idea that the instinct of the
people is always the first to feel the right and
| wrong. Ii is the pulsation Of the heart Of the
nation it is the advertisement Of conscieaca,
which never heayes withoue reason, withoutne-
cessity And this reason and this necessity rest
within the glorious position of your country to
have grown, not as monarchies do, with the tor
of the pyramid fixed as the foundation of it
but upon the broad basis of democratic liberty
and republican principles, to the mighty pyra.
mid of power on earth, powerful enough 10
support like a second Atlas the great vault Of
the eternal laws of nature and of natures God
No indeed, gentlemen, it is not my humble
presence here which elected that majestic in
terest for national law and international
rights. No; my very being here is but con-
sequence Of the pre-existence Of this interest.
| 1t has raised glorious interpreters. During the
struggles Of Greece, when, indeed, ! was yet
too young to be in public life, it flashed up,
kindled at the magnetic spark of Poland's he
roic struggles and it blazed high and broad
when we were fighting the sacred battle of in
dependence for the European continent. Had
this interest and sympathy not existed long
ago, were not now here. My very freedom
is the result of il.
And may be permitted to mention that
there were several concerns quite unoonnected
with the cause of Hungary, which have much
contributed to direct public opinion to feel in
terested in the question Of foreign policy, nat
urally connected with the question--what is
international law!
Your relations with Mexico and Central
America the threatened Intervention of Euro
pean powers in possible issue of recent case
which brought 30 much mourning into many
families in the United States the question
about the Sandwich Islands, which European
diplomacy appeared to contemplate as an APP
propriate barrier TO BIO raised between your Pa
cifc States and the Indian and Chinese trade;
the sad fate of an American citizen now con-
demned to the galleys in Africa and several
other considerations Of pressing concerns, must
necessarily have contributed to excite the in
terest Of public opinion for the settlement of the
question-wbat is, and what shall be, law
amongst nations! Law, net dictated by the
whims Of ambitious despots but founded upon
everlasting principles, such as republics can ac-
nowledge-iving and existing themselves
upon principles.
Your history was 30 much book Of life to
me us not to be aware Of this operation in the
public mind Of the United States knew be-
fore my coming hither that the question Of
what shall be law amongst nations nightly
Interested public opisieA hare. knew that
the opinion was not only advanced by indivd-
aals but agitated as political doctrine appro-
pirate TO the broad principles upon which your
Republic stands | mean that doctrine that
every nation Of the world has right 10 stand
by itself and regulate its own government, it's
own domestic cOncerns and that individuals are
not bonnd to the despot under whose flag they
may have had the misfortune TO have been born.
! knew that this second part of the question
what is international law--went even 40 far rs
to enter into the causes of that war already, |
which was decided by the victory Of New Or
leans and knew that the former part OF the
questionable national, az ! would call it's |
brought home 10 public decision in tho United
States by being arrived, in the process Of ma
tioual life, TO the very period Of power on
earth, besides the urgency Of many particular
concerns.
The cause Of Hungary, 50 intimately connect