The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-16

becope Incompetent to selfdefense? Ar -
10 need OF foreign counsel and foreign dslib-
eratienss TO msnage our own concerns! On ara
we so moon struck, or 20 hstis employed n
home, as, in the eloquent language Of our Prssi.
dent, on another occasion--wheu the sentimepts
expressed found response in every patriot
heart-as to wander aboad in search Of foreieps
monsters TO destroy! Speaking of America.
and her foreign policy, he observed. She h..
abstained from interference in the concsrns ~
others, even when the conflict ha. bsen n,
principles to which she cings az to the sst vital
drop which visits the heart Whenever The
standard Of freedom and independence has been.
or shall be unfurIed. there will her heart her
benediciions, and her prayers be. But she goes
not abroad in search Of monsters to DESTROY
she Is the we'll wisher to the freedom and ipde-
pendence OF all. She is the champion and vim
dicator only OF her own"
Hugh Lawson White of Tennessee. held this
language 3
- II this mission should be advised new era
Will have commenced in the history IF ouy
foreign relations. Have peace with and GOOD
Will towards, all naiions--entanplinc alliance.
with none-has been our cardinal policy in time
past 1t was recommended by the Father of
our Country; repeated and practced upon bv
the republican successors When given We were
lew IN NUMBER comparatively poor, and insight
cant IN the scale OF nations; now twelve mil
lions. rlch IN men, in means, and in character.
Our prosperity has surpassed the most extrava.
CANT calculations of the most sapeuine amocgst
US.
" In our late contest with the most powerful
nation in the civilized world unaided bv and
unallied to any other nation, we furnished con.
elusive evidence, both upon the ocean and upon
the land, that we are able and willing to defend
The rich inheritance derived from our ancestors
line sincerity of our conduct in our inter.
course with other nations careful abstinence
from all interference in their concerns, united to
our determined and successful resistance n
awless entertainments upon our rights. have
given US proud name throughout the nations
OF the earth. Happy at home, and respected
ABROAD, why should we change the policy by
which these blessings have been obtained?
we ought not to advise it, except to obtain
some lasting and important benefit for the United
STATES, certainly to be attsinabe in this mode
prooaoiy 10 be attained in no other; never from
sympathy Tor others-from a desire to serve
vanity"
The last that shall cite is an extract from
the speech of Martin Van Buren,. delivered ut
the same time. He said:
AT this moment the United States (thanks to
The wisdom of their early counsels) are unfet.
tcred: NO government has right to demand
our AID or interference in any of the changes in
the condition OF the world--come what NAV. wa
are now unembarrassed in our choice. Until
lately, had battered myself that the acknowl.
edged obligation on the part of our government
to maintain that condition was as firmly Eyed as
ita republican character. | had the best reason
to think so, because knew it to be a principle
in our public policy which had for its support Nh
hat - instructive in experience, all that il ven.
cradle in authority. That authority is no less
than the parting admonitons of the Father of h;a
Country. The earnest, eloquent, and impres.
slve appeals upon this subject. contained in bis
Farewell Address, are yet, prd will, trust. lonp
remain fresh in our rccolIeptions; nor were the
sentiments ne thus avowed mere speculative
OPTIONS, founded upon an alb tract cons;dera.
ton of the subject. Motley were sentiments
matured by reflection, and confirmed bv ectnal
experience Of the practical results which Ind
arisen from connection of the character he 40
nrdently and so justly deprecated A reference
to the history OF that period will illustrate the
feet, and - repete with instruction"
might multiply passages of a like kind but
it is unnecessary. What | have read, shows
that the statesmen of that day, in 1928. believed
that there was an established foreign policy for
this government, and that it was unwise to da.
part from it. This was in the DAYS of John
Quincy Adams, who had parliamentary mo;o.
rity with him in both Houses of Congress- H;s
nominations were consequently ratified. But
when the commissioners went to Panama. for.
tunatey for the country, they could find no
Congress there
What Is the proposition now? 1t is declar.
ation on ihe part OF the Congress of the United
STATES, II the resolution of the Senator from
Michigan shall be adopted, that the United
states cannot again see, without 'deep concern"
the violation OF this principle of national indie
pendence' 10 w.t. The Inference of one European
power in the internal affairs of another. IF the
resolution Of the Senator from New York shall
be adopted, it will be declaration that tho
United States will not be Indifferent to a sim;-
lar act of national injustice, oppression. and
usnrpatlon" | submit to the Senate, upon the
authority OF those who have gone before US
upon the experience of the country. if these
resolutions are adopted, and it should happen
(Which, apprehend, will not happen, at least
within the lives of any now in being, that
Hungary should be in position to call on this
country to make their word good, if we should
not be bound to do it; if the honor of the conn.
try will not be involved; if they REQUIRE it OF
our people, will we not be committed to ne
mere VIII have been avowed distinct purpose
on the part of this government not to allow
like armed Intervention against any European
power. Where shall we stand then! do not
know that those who may come after us. will
feel themselves called on to make our declara.
ton good before the world. But if they do not.
we shall have placed them in position to
lower the proud standard of their country. Il
will place the American people in position
compelling them to descend from that nroud
emnence which they attained, by the declara-
ton OF Mr. Monroe. l shall feel myself con-
strained, then, so far as am concerned, with
perfect respect to the gentlemen who entertain
opposite opinions. to stand by the policy Of
washington and Jefferson-to adhere to it as
the creed of republican America.
Mr.. President, | will weary the Senate no
longer than briefly to cum up the points I have
thus endeavored to establish, by reference to tho
appropriate history of our country The policy
of the United States in her intercourse with
fnvn irVv III