The daily union., 1852-02-14
THE UNION: WASHINGTON SATURDAY MORNING. FEB a. 1852

means Inc question: then, arises, shall we furnish
them This IS the pont-the whole gst OF ths matter
Let me begin by supposing that 10 in our power 10 do
so--that we have the ability TO punish Russian inter
ference and Iepel Russian invason-how are we 10 be
benefited What portion OF the fruits OF victory is TO inure
to us do not address this question to dinner orators
brmfull OF philanthropy and champagne. nor 10 vain
glorious militia colonies. who are exceedingly anxious
10 march to Hungary Tomorrow but who could not make
il convenient TO march TO Mexico when country
engaged in address il 10 grave senator's who are
charged with the interests OF twenty-five millions OF
people, and who responsible 10 the present and the
future for the manner in which they discharge the duties
assigned them.
General Washington has said
There be greater hanto expect calculate
upon any real ayors from nation TO nation. IL Is illu
SION which experience must cure and which Just pride
ought to discard"
There is deep wisdom in this paragraph, and he who
dsregards treats il lightly wants the highest attribute
OF statesman. We can expect nothing as favor from
other nations and have right TO expect favors from
us Our interference, # we interfere at all must be dc
taed by interest and therefore ask, in what possible
manner can we be benefited Russia has done us no in
Jury; we have, therefore. wrongs TO avenge Russia
from her there is danger against which 1t is necessary
TO guard Enlightened sef-interest does not offer sin
gle argument IN favor OF embroilng ourselves in quar-
rel with her. So obvious, indisputable is this truth
that the advocates OF Intervention" have based their
speeches almost solely on the ground that we have a
divine mission to perform, and that is to strike the mana
ces from the hands OF all mankind. Ii may be, Mr.
President, that we have such mission but if 30, the
time of it's fulflment is not yet" And for one, pre-
fer waiting for some clearer manifestation OF the Divine
surest means OF disappointing that manifest destiny"
OF which we have heard SO much. We have before us
the certainty Of inhicng deep injury upon our
ing others. According to Kossuth's own admis-
sion, Russia can precpitae upon Hungary one
hundred thousand men in thirty days; Austria at the
lowest calculation, can bring as many more into the
field. II we give them notice in advance that we
intend TO interfere in the affairs OF Hungary, only
these troops, but all the disposable forces OF both
he o,llnn thn mt
points, and an attempted revolution would be crushed
before we heard il had begun. ] need not depict
the unenviable attitude in which we would then be
placed--involved in war without any object our ally
vanqushed the very chains sought to loosen riveed
with enfod strength, the miserable victims of their own
and our folly png curses upon us with the sneerlng
Quxotism Of America. Sir, if had but one prayer 10
offer for my country. would be- May God avert this
deep disgracew Msfortunes may come upon US all !;
dishonor attaches only to the unworthy nation may
be conquered, trodden downher living in chains
her dead the prey of vulturesand still leave bright
ample glorious history, to aftertimes But when folly
and wickedness have ruled the hour-when disaster is
the legitimate child OF error and weaknessthe page that
records II is but record OF nfamy, and pity for msfo
tame becomes a crime against justice:
Sir, do not love that word destiny-manifest' or
not manifest" Men and nations make their own des-
tnies
" Our acts angels are, good or ILL
Our fatal shadows that walk by us still.'
The future of this republic is in our hands and it is
for us to determine whether we will launch the ship Of
State upon wild and stormy sea, above whose black
ened waters sunshine beams, shines out where
not ray IS seen but what is caught from the urd hight
ming as it reads its fiery path This senators, is the
mighty question have to solve and let me add that
II the freedom OF one continent and the hopes oil four
shall sink beneath that inky flood, will be the
gullt-ogrs the deep damnaton il deserves,
Shall be told these idle fears THAT in a war
with Russia, matter for what cause waged, we must
be the vicors THAT, in short, all Europe combined
could not blot this Union from the map of nations Ah
al q L fear pr m
defeat The senator from Michigan [Mr CAssl was
right when he said that our fears were TO be found at
unnecessary foreign wars let victory encourage the mil
tary spirit already too prevalent among them, and Ro
man history will have no chapter bloody enough to be
transmitted TO postenty side by side with ours In a
brief period we shall have reenacted, on a grander
scale, the which marked her decline. The
veteran soldier who has followed victorioos leader
from cline TO cline will forget his love OF country in
his love for his commander and the bayonets you send
abroad to conquer kingdom will be brought back TO
destroy the rights OF the citizen and prop the throne of
an emperor.
have thus sir, briefly traced the prospective effects Of
intervention. Let me refer as briefly 10 It's present and
immediate effects. We must begin with outlay, the
lowest calculation, OF one hundred millions Of dollars
and this, be IT remembered, is but beginning Our
navy must be QuadTupled, army increased not less
ioaa r hundred M thousand men Every % iof upGn our
and from Northern Oregon TO Southern California, must
be gasoned, and the immense thus expended must
De dragged directly from the pockets OF the people All
OF us know that in a with maritime power, our
revenues from imports must decrease below the wants Of
the government. But grevous would be this load OF
debt is the lghest OF the evils will be called upon
to bear From direct invasion admit that we have
nothing 10 fear from battles upon the between
national vessels Just little. The danger is OF another
kind. There is not a which American vessel is
not this moment traversing There is not cline un
known TO our commerce Whenever war is declared, the
lust OF gain and the love OF adventure will the
with priyaieers and the rich fruits gathered by the
arts OF peace will be sacrificed TO the demon OF folly The
spindes OF the New England manufacturer will stand
still the door Of the New York merchant will be closed
the poughshare Of the northwestern farmer will rust
in the furrow; and the noise OF the cotongn will no
longer be heard Not pound OF bacon nor barrel OF
Hour, not sack of corn bag OF cotton, not hogs
head of tobacco terce Of rice, can leave our ports
without danger OF capture. The hardy mariner, who
pursues his perous calling in the northern seas, may
hnd himself captive, and the fruits OF long years OF
toll swept before he is that he has enemy
to avoid The e-b blood will sagnate in every vein of
our commerce and every interest will wither under its
Grant that ii Is Grant that but one-tenth part OF
what is here depicted will to pass and the eye OF
the patriot will still turn with shudder from the dark
prospect which rests But is in truth overdrawn
There senators here who remember the OF 1912,
its trials and its sutierngs and all OF us have learned
from history tradition that these suerngs were suf
hcen TO cast veil the determines OF treason,
and TO the formation OF party whose object was
to make a separate peace with the common enemy, and
leave the rest OF the republic TO take OF itself Can
il be doubted that with greatly extended commerce
these evils will be propoonaely increased, and, more
over, that they would be aggravated by the reflection
that they brought upon against reason and with
out necessity II may be said, sir that an argument Of
this sort extends TO all well as TO The particular
under consideration Undoubtedly 10 some extent
IL does so. No war be carried on without der-
the prosperity the morality OF the people but
IL fg ttavnr he