The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-07

DO you suppose that IL such conflict should arise
In Europe-a conflict involving the settlement OF
principles which may have universal ascendancy'
Tor ceuturics-that we should be SO unimpressble,
SO indifferent, that could not be drawn into IT,
despite all calculations of policy OF of interes7
Do you conceive, sir, with your knowledge OF the
heart Of this country at this day, that cold aud
sordd calculation Of mercantile profit, that the
devotion 10 MammoB, or any more laudahle SER
vice, would be so faithful and intense as to restrain
even those reckless passions and emotions which
belong to our nature, 10 say nothing Of freezing up
all generous and noble impulses, tempting US To
tnst on The side of freedom in such strife!
No; TIE time has never been, when, in any one
country IN Christendom, mind meets mind in
hGrce conflict upon principles which touch near.
ly the social feelings and interests OF men, the
mental strife would not become contagious and
move the sympathies of every other. But ie;
the clash OF arms add TO the excitement and
the blood will be stirred and fired in it's inmoat
recesses. Let the tidings Of such conflict such
war of opinion, but reach our shores, and, my
word Tor it. whatever may be tho conclusions OF
mere policy, Young and Old America alike will be
swayed TO and fro by the passions natural to .he
occasion, like the trees Of forest swept by strong
wind. Little time, ween, would be allowed for
weighing the counsels Of the ilustrious and i'm.
mortal sasss OF nifty years ago. Nor are the feel
logs and calculations which sway the twenty mil
lions of freemen If this day the same which con
trolied The two three millions Of fifty years ago
All change is not progress but the law Of change,
inexorabie. We have our destined career to run.
Nations cannot stand still until the point of mau-
rity and manhood is passed, as yet we go forward;
and we will go forward; whether for good is ano
Their question Our discretion may not, however,
put to the test OF war OF opinion in EUROPE az ihs
luncture.
BOT i war should spring up in Europe Of the
otd' fashioned kinda war Of aggression en- one
side, and defence on the other-a war OF ambition
and conquest, with the feelings OF jealousy and a
resentment which may exist the part OF the ma
tons OF Europe against the United States at this
time, do you suppose that such cal rage in
Europe Tor one year, especially If any of the great
maritime powers be pafties to it. without compro-
missing the peace Of this country? Our commerce
and navigation arc too extensive and widely diff
fused; the general competition for the trade OF the
world is become too fierce 10 allow any escape
from collision with the belligercnis OF Europe
have you not seen, cir, in tie last few years. low
omcnt II ~ even IN times Of peace, 10 digest the
insults which the war vessels of Great Britain pre-
Stunning upon their superior naval power coca
siohaiiy offer TO our flag? But let there once be
war, and you will soon perceive the difference IN
the calculations and feelings which control the
people OF this country and If this ge.era tiop
ana those which controlled Them forty or tftv
years ago Since that perio., we nave grown
SIX or seycnfoid greater Ia population and
resource; and, true TO the characteristic traits
OF our lineage, we have grown in conceit of
our pursuance still more. Neither our temper nor
our prudence improves with the changing circuIn.
stances oil our condition aud resources. Let there
our neutral rights, The fret breach OF The accus.
toned courtesies To flag, will be Instantly re.
tallated, and thus the would be begun ali un
prepared as we may be. And let me say TO the
people ot this country tbat, with the feelings which
exist probably at this moment in Europe any of
the maritime powers of that continent would be
nothing 10Th 10 accep; the issue OF thus pre-
sented. The weak points in cur condition, our
six thousand miles o. inadequatey protected sea.
coast 10 shy nothing of other capscs which NAV
paraIyze our energies, are as well understood
abroad as at home. And let me cay further that
under existing circumstances, il will be rare good
fortune II, in any European war in which we sha Nj
be engaged, We shall not have the sympathies Of
every other power oil that continent enlis gainst
us, except only such as may be strengthened by
our interposition.
Before conclude, il may be well to turn for "a mo.
ment 10 those evidences of that sober discretion
that steady adherence to home interests that rev.
erence Tor the teachings oil our ancestors, that con-
clllaiory and forbearng spirit towards foreign
powers much relied upon To shield ls from IN.
wasting and runous Jolly Of foreign ware exhibited
IA The last few years.
IL Is true that in the matter Of the Cubao ipya
son, the interven;iono OF England, and the return
of the Spanish consul 10 New Orleans, our Govern.
Inent has pursued policy singularly modest, ~
respects sny conceit OF our own pretensions, aud
IN Tue highest degree iorbearing and corlormab.e
10 a peace policy.
But let us see whether We have manifested equal
discretion and orbes rance, and equally concil-
iatory spirit IA regard 10 the recent disorders on
the continent of Europe.
IL was bat natural that ocr synpathics should be
deeply moved by the gallant struggle Of the Hon
garisns in their attempt so maintain their nation.
ATTY and TO asSert their liberty and indepcndeuce
IL was but just and natural that when the Austrian
oppressors were driven cut ~ Hungary, and trcfn-
bed On the verge OF defeat under thu walls OF Vien
na, We should have bcheld ~ih no little indig1n.
tiOn the Intervention OF the Gar Of Russia in arrest
lag the victorious career OF Hungary. Nor wns II
possible that should not bc dcepiy moye, by tbe
airociyus cruelties alleged TO have b en-and a
We suppose, were-perpetraied by Austria agairst
the captive Hungarian Chisfs. Nor could il b. sun
pVsed that lac popular feeling would not find *.
precision through public j,urbels, public meetings
aud various other channels Of coinmu nication 10
the world Nor could IL have been ex pccted under
such cireumstances that, through the same media
the popular ideas and theories OF government ana
human rights In general should not be man ,festet
IN violent invectives and denominations agairsttbe
despoic principles and policy Of the Austrian and
Russian governments. All that might have been
eSpcc ted, and could not have been a ground OF
complaint.
But these expressions u popular feeling and
principle did not stop there. One Of the moot ds-
unRvished Statesmen Of the cUuntry-and refer
10 this in personal unk indness 60 the honorable
Senator (Mr CAss) drought forward re,olu.
ton 90 suspend all diplomatic intercourse with one
81 those powers, (Austria.l And afterwards, an
other Senator, who has attained considerable dis
Junction IN the country, moved a resolution which
was acccdcd % by tho Senate, calling upon The |
president 10 nteipose his good offioes for the re-
their captivity In Turkey, aud 90 tender 10 him a I
national weasel 60 bear him and his suite 10 Anr-
RIGA. kossuth and his companions were accord. /
iugly released, and oetonisfionsy borne under tc
NATIONAL flag, Go our shores Nhtre he wns received
With trIompbai hoBors. But this did not suffice
Alter We had thus, and % this extent intericred
n the affairs and quarrcs OF two Of the great pow,
era oil Europe We proceeded still iurtiItr to pro
woke them by BREACH Of national courttsy-such
a breach as is never forgotten or forgiven, how.
ever the revenge may BE- delayed. The man
wh5In we bad already 50 highly honored, wac at
The time, and j. nov, regarded by the Emperor Of
Austria the prime mover, the living anima;ing
principle Of an internal CONFUSION which shook
his throne TO its foundation, brought humiiinhun
upon his house, attached n stain 10 the proud O..
cutchcoD 81 the Cmears that can never be- Il.
Faced; the man Who seeks 10 be 70 the Gar
Oi Russia what Sir Sidney Smith sought to
be 20 Napoleon, his evil genius dedfcating
bis life, bis genius, and his clcqucnce 10 the
encouragement u bis cbsracier-preaching cru.
sade against bis policy, his power, and tie prins
PICS OF his goyetnmeutj the man who, az the samc
time, y proclaimed 20 b. OF once the martyr aud
the apostle OF liberty in For pettis man BY vo.c
81 the Scnate--iheir attention being called 20 him
ia messsgc ~ the President Of the Tnited s'n.er
h!Wself--was invited 10 tile scat At ttc Nafforai