The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-23
TIL e r L ? u b Lie.
SPEECH OF HON. JEREMIAH CLEMENS,
of Alabama,
On Non -intercention, dsliuered IN the Senate
Of The United States, February ~, 1852.

On Non -intercention, dsliuercd m the Senate
of The United States, February II, 1852.
The Senate proceeded to consider the fol-
lowing resolutions, which were submitted by
Mr.. CLARKE on the 10Th ultino:
Be tresoIced J The Senate and House Of Represen.
tdtipes of he United States Of dfaeica IN Congress
assembled, That Congress recognises and reatfirms
these manifest truths: That governments are
instituted among men to secure the inalenabie
rights oite, liberty, and the pursuit o happiness,
deriving their Just powers from the consent OF the
governed. That whenever any form of gov
ernment becomes destructive OF these ends, II Is
the right Of the people to alter or to abolish it, and
to institute a new government, laying Its tourda-
ton upon such principles, and organizing Its
powers in such form, as 10 them shall seem most
likely to effect their safety and happiness
"Rssopcd, That, while we ciaitn iqf ourselves
these comprehensive rights OF seli-governnicnt,
and also a consequence of sovereignty the right
to be exempt from the coercion, control or inter
ference of others in the management oi our inter
nal affairs concedc to others the same measure
of ri ght the. same unqualified independence.
"ResOUed, That it Is upon the sacred principle oil
independent sovereignty that we recognise, IN our
intercourse with other nations, governments de
fdcto without inquiring by what means they nave
been he'd, III what manner they exercise
their powers.
'Reso!ued, That this Government has solemnly
adopted, and will perseverlngly adhere 10, as
principle OF international action, the advice given
by Washington in his Farewell Address: OBJ
serve good faith and justice towards all nations
cultivate peace and harmony with all, give to
mankind the magnanimous and too novel an
example of people always guided by an ex-
alted Justice and bencvolence.' Sympathy for
favorite nation bctrays itself into a par
tcipation in the quarrels and wars OF an-
other without adequate inducemcnt or justin
cation Against the insidious wies of foreign
influence the jealousy of free people ought TO be
constantly awake, for foreign influence is the most
! baneiul foe OF republican governments 'lhe true
1 E,r, rd fAF11
! is, in extending commercial relations to have
with them as little political connexon as possible
why quit our own to stand upon foreign groundt
Why. by intervening our destiny with that OF any
part OF Europe entangle our peace and prosperity
in the tolls of European ambition, rlvashlp, inter
] est, humor, caDrCsE
'iResolptd That while VIC cherish the livelicst sym
| pethy towards all who strive for freedom of opin
] ion for free institutions, yet we recognise our
| true policy 10 the great fundamental principles
! given TO US by Jeherson Equal and exact justice
| 10 all men, OF whatever state or persuasion, re-
| gious or pohtlcai-peace, commerce, and honest
| friendship with ali nations, changing alliances
! with none
"Resolved, That although we adhere tothcse es-
sential principles of onintervention as forming G
| the true and lasting foundation OF our prosperity
and happiness; yet whenever a proyident foresight
shall wern us that liberties or institutions
threatened, then just regard TO our own safety
! will require to advance to the conflict rather
than await the approach the oes Unconstitutional
| freedom and of human liberty"
| Mr.. SEwARp's amendment proposes TO strike out
all after the second resolution Of Mr. CLARKE, and
| insert:
"Resolued. That while the United States, in con-
sderatiun of the eHiIenoes of society, habitually
| recognise governments de tacto in other States,
yet that they nevertheless by no means indii-
| fcrent when such government Is established
against the consent Of any people by usurpation or
by armed intervention OF foreign States or natons
| "Resoiped, That, considering that the people OF
hungary, in the exercise OF tue right secured to
q tka,,. Ian asgflRrn N
gitmate manner asserted their nstiunal indepen
dence, and established a government by their own
voluntary act, and successfully maintained II
against all opposition by parties lawfully interested
in the question, and that the Emperor OF Russia
without just or lawful right, invaded Hungary, and
| by fraud and armed force subyerted the national
independence and political constitution thus cstab
shod, and thereby reduced that country to the con-
dition OF province ruled by foreign and absoute
power the United states, in defence OF their own
interests and Of the common interests of mankind
do solcmnly protest against the conduct o Russia
| on that occasion IA wanton and tyrannical in.
I fraction of the laws of natone; and the United
States do further declare that they will not hercaf-
| ter be indifferent 10 similar acts Of national njus-
| toe, oppression, and usurpation, whenever or
wherever they may occur"
! Mr.. CAss's amendment ia designed as n substi-
] tuto for Mr.. CLARKx's series. 1t is as follows
! ''Resolved bv the Senate and Houscof Representa.
huosofe United Sldla Of AnertcGi IN Congress Assem-
bLd That while the people of the United States sym
pathize with all nations who striving to establish
/ Tree governments, yet they recognise the great
principle OF the law Of nations, which assures 10
each VI them the right to manage its own internal
Affairs in ils own way, ana 10 establish, alter, or
aUolish It's government At pleasure without the in
! reference Of any other power. And they have not
/ seen, nor could they again SEQ without deep con
cern, the violation Of ihis principle ui national in
| dependence"
! Mr. CLEMENS said Mr. President, when this
question lnst under consideration, listened
With deep attention to the remarks OF the honora-
/ ble Senator from Michigan, (Mr CAss In that
| speech h-pcrhaps the ableBt OF bis liic-thcre Is
much TO which cannot subscribo but thcre Is alec
much 10 which yield cordial assent. had cup
poscd that differed more widely than VIC do;
4 snd that suppositi0n was source e. me 81 pro
/ found regret, not merely because be is the ac-
/ knowlcdgcd leader of the political party to which
belong, but more account Of the kind and cor
! dial relations existing between Us u was there
! fore with sincere pleasure heard him announce
that hy proposed no intervention in the Affairs oi
other nations beyond an expression oi opinion that
/ the contuct OF RussiA had not been ia accordance
with the law Of nations, and that VIC could not look
upon q similar violation Of that law WITH unconcern
/ shall not 20 out OF my way To diScns5 with MN
! the proprety Of the expression Of such an opinion
! shall address myself rather 10 those who 60 far
beyond that honorable Senator, and demand "ms-
j ,crial aid for hungary a'n AFRAID that therc
/ s deposition in some quarters 90 uudcrvsluc the
! import1ncc Of this question. Indeed have heard
IL, On tWU occasions. characterized IS an ab-
straetion. wish It vac. Ia my opinion il i not
|
portaucc, bat IL is question, upon the correct dc.
/ cision Of which must depend the liberty and hap
/ pincss ci generations who are to come after US.
! a foreigner has landed upon our shores, preach
/ ing "a crusade against tic natious OF the Old
/ World, and boldly asking us 10 incorporate a
new principle in the foreign policy Of the nation
/ OF that foreigner II is necessary that should
| say something. That he is an orator OF consid-
! cradle ability is conceded but he Is orator
merely. To call him hero is, In my opinion,
a very near approach 20 the ridiculous. The
man who the brst 60 shrink at the approach
| Of the ,ompcst be had raised; who abandoned his
1 country when be had still an army OF ono hun.
drcd and thirty five thousand men ~ his com
mand; who surrendered the powers vested in him
for the good of the State into The hands OF a man
whom ior months be had believed to be a trai.
! tor, is not made OF such etuli as Washington, or
! Sumter, or Marion, or Greene, The excessive
laudations which have been beaped upon him sine,
bis arrival among 20 iEuet, in the cyes OF foreign
nations who know his history fer better than We
seem 30 know il, cover US with rdculc, IL not will
contempt. Mt long since saw a lgtter written
by an individual in high place, IN which the wri
ter seemed 90 be at luss for words to express thS
amount OF his rerutpce for the " iilustriOus Mag
var" An American citizen, freeman, talking
about his rSrOencs for any living thing below ID,