The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-12

gered by the expressions Of opinion in regard to
Hs Of IN 81 sha,
before the House Of Commons, to call for the
papers in relation to the Russian Intervention with
view to the judgmen. Of the House. But here
We are told, touch not taste not, handle not, or
great will be the danger thereof. Sometimes the
interest involved IN questions like this is imme
date and Observation-Disclosures It is remote aad
unimportant; but in the practical relations of indie
pendent powers, great questions may arise, which
may eventually attest the whole common wealth Of
nations. Every power must judge for itself, how
far its own interests may be touched by the preten
sions advanced, and what course true policy re-.
evil day should be upon it, before it makes kno vn
its disapprobation, for in that ease aggressions
would be eternal, or war the only remedy to resist
them. The annunciatiOn OF the objects of the
quintuple treaty, awakened the liveliest socitude
Of the American people; and their determination
to resist it to the last extremity, made known,
though they had then sustained no injury, as the
treaty had not been Iatifed; and this very
demonstration prevented its ratification, and
saved them from o perilous contest. No
man ever condemned the Executive for laying
down in an authoritative manner our views Of the
laws OF nations upon the subjects embraced in that
treaty, and denouncing pretensions, equally dan
gerous to our rights and honor. It may be aaid,
indeed, that the danger we had to apprehend from
such an Interpolation into the true code of public
law was imminent, and justified prompt and euer-
gehc measures. 1t was so, and We were, therefore,
prepared to take far more decided steps, than would
be expedient In less pressing exgency. But the
principle remains the same. We proclaimed our
opinion upon great question ofpublic law, because
a pretension had been advanced Incompatible with
the independence of nations, and In which ell were
interested And not all interested in the great
right of self control, in the right of establishing,
maintaining, and changing their governments at
earthly power! 1t is not probabls that the Rus
sian Emperor, even in his widest dreams of unli-
censed power and ambition. ever contempla ted
sending his Cossacks to put down free institutions
among us, though he put them down in Hungary.
for Hungary within his reach and within his
power. But we have direct interest, q material
interest, if you disclaim every principle of action
but the unitarian principle, the benefits of com.
mercial intercourse, in the prosperity, and stability,
aDd independence of nations, by which the resources
and commerce of countries are increased and in the
maintenance Of the great principles which protect
these rights. But agree with one Of the most in
dependent of the public men of England, Mr.. Roe
buck, that higher considerations may justly in
fuence our actions, and that we should not bind
up all our feelings in the interchange Of commo-
dties, or the sordid question of profit or loss He
believed there was something more in the souls OF
tho people than that And the sentiment, id.
vanced by Lord Palmerston, that great country
should not "be passive and mute spectator of
everything that goes on around" deserves our
commentator and concurrence. There is not
a page of modern diplomatic history in which
may not be read the outlines | have already
error seems to prevail respecting one branch
Of this subject, which it is necessary to ex-
anime not from the support it derives from reason
or authority, but from the confidence with which
it is urged, and because if not corrected, it may
paralyze the national action in all time to come.
Before, however, | advert to it, l may be per-
mtted to say that the discussions which have taken
place, here and elsewhere through the country,
manifest a very unreasonable jealousy of the good
faith and sound discretion of the American people
suppose man could hardly be found in this broad
land, however sensitive he may be on the subject
Of our foreign policy, who fears the wrath or the
power Of the Russian or of the Austrian Emperor,
should We assert great fact, now passed into his
tory, that the rights and independence of nations
have been Aagrantly violated in the case of Hun
gary, and should we declare the principle Of public
country. Well, then, if We fear no such danger
abroad, where is the danger We do fear 1t is at
home, sir. We cannot shut our eyes to that truth
The signs all around us indicate, with unerring
directed not to others, but to ourselves. One would
really suppose there was inn inent danger, if this
claim to assert an equal right to adjust questions
of the law of nations is once established, taat this
great public would deal with war as child deals
with plaything, and that it would rush into
it with blind haste, restrained by no con-
siderasions of duty or expedency. Let this ap.
prehenson &c dismissed. This is one OF the last
Of the country safe in the custody of the pe
and we need not hesitate to assert our just rights,
lest the people should betray their ewn trust. AL
most seventy years have passed away since the
acknowledgement of our independence, and in that
time we have had but two wars deserving the
name Of such. Where is there another na'ion,
great or email, which can say ,le same for its
own u moderation! SO much for the effect of a salu-
tary public opinion upon the policy Of 6 country.
fut TO return to the erroneous doctrine, which has
been so widely and SO confidently spread, aud which
seeks to deter us from expressing any opinion upon
the law of natio ns by apprehe Of the con.
and hu III ia mn n hQk n
all cases where a nation makes such declaration,
it is bound to support it's views by war; if these are
not scquie seed in 1t will lose its self respect,
and subject itself to the centumely Of the world.
There is not the least foundation in reason, or
authority, or precedent, for such an assumption.
1t is as gratuitous as it is untenabe. And ye. this
position is repeated here and elsewhere, from one
end of the country to the other, as though il were
written upon every page of every treatise on the
law ofnatione, and many mau, who does not doubt
right 20 express opinion upon questions pub
lie law these arise in the world for consideration
doubts the expediency OF exercising IL, lest We
should be driven 70 war to support il. Mr.. Pre-
sdeDt, | have already said that the particular
form in which q nation makes known its views,
from the most common diplomatic note to the
most solemn protest, neither adds to nor takes
from its responsibility or obligation. IL appears
to be assumed that there is some peculiar plgna.
cious quality attached to protest which neces.
safily leads to armed action. This is no. go.
public declaration in that form no more imposes
on the nation making it the duty of indicating it
by arms than the every day representations
which the usual diplomatic intercourse renders
necessary. To be sure, the proceeding is moro
solemn, as the subjects generally are more grave,
and it goes forth to the world under circumstances
of elaboration, which give to such declarations
more than usual importance. But that they are
necessarily followed by war, whenever they fail in
the result, is contradicted by all the diplomatic
experience Of modern times very few re.
ferences will place this subject beyond dispute.
Before advert to them, however, let me remark,
that | find part Of my task, that Of establishing
that declaration upon questions of public law is
a legitimate mode Of national action, anticipated
and taken out Of my hands by the resolution of the
Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Clarke), which
practically admits this right by the very enua-
citation of many principles of the law of nations.
And allow me further TO remark, that if protest,
which is truly an act, and solemn one too, of ma
tena intervention, especially as it points TO apar-
ticular power and particular meas IRE, carry with
it no necessary obligation for armed action Ger
tainly a declaration Of &c aeral principles, common
to all, cannot impose higher duty upon the party
makipgit. When, however, q natien, az some
times happens, distinctly announces in its protest