The southern press., 1852-01-15
Speech Of Senator Douglas, at the Congress.
si0nal BANQUET 20 KOssuth.

si0nai Banquet 90 kOssuth.
e The rights of States are only valuable wheI
subject TO the free control Of those TO whom thel
appertain, and utterly worthless if to be deter
mined by the sword Of foreign interference"
Mr.. DOUGLAS being loudly called for, ross
and expressed his Acknowledgements for thu
honor conferred upon him by the call to RESPOND
to the sentiment just given.
/ He would remark that there were some posi-
tons which might be assumed, bearing upon the
sentiment proposed, TO which he presumed thai
all would agree That nation had right to
establish her own form of government, and to
regulate her own internal affairs according to
her own pleasure, was too clear TO admit of a
dispute or require an argument in its support
| Applause If they denied to nation that
right, and subjected her to any other law than
the law Of nations in the regulation of her for
eign affairs, or her own law, expressed accord
ing to the forms of her own constitution, in her
domestic concerns, she, from that instant ceased
TO be an independent State. If nations of the
world could be brought not only to recognise
this principle, but to act in sacred obedience to
it, then they would find that each nation upon
the face Of the globe would adopt such nsttu-
lions as it thought best adapted to its condition,
its interest and its position.
For one, he held thatit was the duty of every
lover of freedom, and of every republic, to de.
monstrate to the world upon which side they
were, whenever a contest arose between repub,
licanism and absolutism, [applause] and that
demonstrations should be made sosclearly and
so distinctly that none could doubt or misunder-
stand the principles upon which they based their
declaration.
There were other things which America not
only could do, but ought to do, not only by way
of encouragement to every liberal movement in
every part Of the world, but in reference to our
o avn rights, interests, and dignity. We should
make it a fixed principle of action to recognise
the independence of every republic the moment
it should be established. Applause. We
should open commercial intercourse with such
governments, and also diplomatic correspond
ence, though it might be that the exercise of
such right might give offence to the crowned
heads of Europe.
The question with us was not whether it
would give offence to any, but whether it was
just cause of offence to the laws of nations
and the principles of right and justice Did it
lay in the mouths of European despots to say
that republics had no right to. sympathze with
republican movements, when the history of Eu-
rope for the last two hundred years had been
replete with succession ofinterferences in the
affairs of other nations? The nations of Eu-
rope had interfered against liberty; they had in
terfered from time immemorial, in violation of
national law. 1t was one thing to interfere in
violation of the national code, and far differ
ent thing to interfere in favor Of the laws of
nations. He would assert that if he was correct
in the proposition that cry nation possessed
the right to establish its own form of govern.
ment, then an invasion of that rie hit was viola
ton of the laws Of nations; and when any ma
ton committed crime against these laws, each
and every nation of. the globe had right to in
terfere in their vndcation. Whether we would
deem it wise to interfere or not, would depend
upon the peculiar condition of the case pending.
In this connexon, he would say that he would
never form an alliance with England for the
purpose of restraining the march Of the autocrat,
50 long as that country did injustice to Ireland
Applause, So long as England imprisoned
the Irish patriots aud banished them for life for
doing the very act for which all America honored
the great Hungarian leader, he would not form
an alliance with her. Loud applause. Eng
land must first do justice to Ireland and her own
people, and then assimilate her own institutions
to those of this country, before she should have
his aid in propping up her system of govern,
ment against the march of the autocrat England
saw the fight approaching between democracy
on one side and absolutism on the other She
saw that Napoleon's prediction, that in fifty
years Europe would either be Republican or
! Cosssck, was about TO be verified and she now
| trembled because she saw that the success of
either party would be fatal to her system of
government. IL the autocrat should prevail,
constitutional liberty would be gone while If
republicansm should prevail, the throne would
fall, the nobility would vanish and the estab.
| lished church would become extinct and re-
publican government be raised upon its ruins.
Therefore, the success of either party in this
great struggle would be fatal to England, and
that proud monarchy would therefore be glad
to obtain the aid Of republican America.
Then he would say that whether he would or
would not interfere in the struggle in Europe,
would depend upon the peculiar circumstances
of the Gaze, and the principles involved, and the
consequences following them. He would not
say that he would not interfere; for case
might arise in which our interests our honor,
and our self.respect would compel us to inter-
fere. He would prefer decision of the ques
ton when the case should arise but while hold.
ing this in reserve, he would demonstrate to the
world that we do sympathise ardently and &C.
lively with every liberal movement throughout
the globe.
| He would remark that he regarded The inter.
vention ofRussia in the affairs Of Hungary as a
palpable violation of the laws Of nations, that
would authorize the United States TO interfere.
[Applause.l If Russia, or Austria, or any other
power, should interfere again, then he would
determine whether or not we should act, his
action depeaRg upon the circumstances ne
they should then be presented. In the mean
time, however, he would proclaim the principle
Of the laws Of nations; he would instruct our
ministers abroad to protest the moment there
was the first symptom Of the violation of these
laws. He would show 10 Europe that we bad
as much right to sympathize in a system Of gov
eminent similar to our own, as they had in sim.
liar circumstances. In his opinion, Hungary
was better adapted for liberal movement than
any other nation in Europe.
In conclution, Mr.. ID. begged leave 10 offer
the following sentiment:
"HUSeARY: Wien she shall make her next
struggle for liberty, may the friends Of freedom
throughout the world proclaim to the ears Of all
European despots, hands off, clear field and
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