The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-24

think il quite possible that would peril life and
limb in such a cause, as readily as the noisiest
advocates of Intervention but in this chamber
endeavor to separate the man from the legisla-
Tor, looking only to the good of the country,
seeking to perpetuate its institutions, and pre-
serve unimpaired the high privileges we enjoy;
can Psrmit neither sympathies nor enmities To
govern my conduct, nor sway me FROM. path
way poih'eu cut by reason and reflection. Feel
ny, Piiue' passion, prejudice, are all out Of place
ne.e lne ln'eress OF this great nation, and its
Ion.hueu e1islelce asa free republic, must not
10 sun,eo.eG 20 caPflclo.s legislation dictated
arc always unreaectng tn. beart il q Ind
counsellor at best. An individual mav he mar
doned for yielding to its Promptinss when the
risk is all his own; but no code Of IeoraIs no
precept OF religion can excuse or extenu.ta the
guilt Of him who idly perils nations welfare
peoples happiness.
twas an infexible rule of the Roman Sen.
ate, never TO make peace with a victorious enc.
my, lest amid the sufferings and humiliations of
defeat they might be tempted to sacrifice the
interests of the republic No wonder that
people governed by snch rules became the mas
tiers OF the world. Over them the passions had
no sway--reason ruled supreme. Cold as the
marble columns about them, no wild fancies led
them into profitless adventures, no vain dreams
Of universal philanthropy taught them to forget
the higher duties they owed to Rome.
The present project of Intervention does not
come recommended to me by the company in
which it proposes to place us. We are asked
to act in conjunction with England, who may
well lind 1t for her own interest and her own
safety, but who will offer us nothing in ex.
change for our share in the common danger and
the common expense. The policy of England
Is known to the world, and all history is falseif
she ever formed an alliance without selfish
end IN view. Whatever nation snbseryes her
purposes, is her ally for the time being, but not
q moment longer. A league with Englara, out
OF which any good could arise to America, il +
an Utopian dream, of which school boy should
BIO mha;ne0
~ ias case, also, even feeling prompts rs to
reject the proilered fellowship. There 40
many wounds inflicted in the past whose sspoor
dumb mouthsn plead eoquently against such
an alliance. The fierce Tarlton aud the merci-
less Rawdon are not yet forgotten. The house
burnings of Cockburn and the savage massacres
of Proctor still blacken the page of history.
Time has not abated the deep indignation ex.
cited by the brutal war cry which rang over the
plains OF New Orleans; and none of us remem.
Der, without a feeling o. resentment, the Van
dial inread to which this capital was subjected.
That large class of our population who are Of
Irish birth or Irish extraction have darker
memories to cherish and deeper wrongs to
venge Many of them have had their infant
slumbers broken by the rattle of musketry and
the fierce yell of an Infatuated soldiery, and
none of them have forgotten that there was a
time when the frightened peasant who fled to
the mountain or the morass for safety. was
lighted on his way by the flames bursting from
the roof of his cottage; when the dungeon was
filled with the noblest in the land, and the scat
fold groaned with the weight of its victims
when terror walked side by side with the paid
informer, and desolaton made lis home in Ire
land.
These are the souvenirs connected with the
name Of England; and will not so libel a gal
liant people as to suppose for moment that
they have any great anxiety to clasp in friend
ship, hands red with the best blood of their ma.
tive land. Let me not be misunderstood |
seek no quarrel with England, but | do not for
get what she has DONE and want no alliance
with her. So long as she attends to her own
business, and does no presume to meddle with
ours, ! am willing that our present relations
should continue. BET let her beware how she
arouses the animosities now slumbering in the
American bosom. The bones and sinews Of
the young giant of the West are fast hardening
into mature manhood, and the next time we
meet in hostile conflict, the proud boast that
the roll Of the English drum may be heard
from the rising 10 the setting sun, will be
nothing but tale of the past Then, too, may
the Irish heart leap with proud Joy, for the
time will have come when the epitaph of En-
nett may at last be written.
Dir. President, we have all read recently, and
none Of US, trust, without deep feeling, the
opinions Of the venerable statesman whose
bodily infrmity now keeps him from among US.
Who is there with higher wisdom than his
Who is there with wider experience Who
is there with so few motives 10 deceive himself
or Others as TO the true interests Of his country
His voice comes 10 US clothed with all the
sanctty the grave can give, with the added
knowledge OF existing things, which the grave
must take away. Standing upon the verge Of
two worlds, aud looking back upon that which
he is about to leave, his heart swelling with a
patriotism little less than holy, his vision clear
and unclouded by The passions and preiudices
which dim our sight, he tells us that ours is
mission OF peace, not mission OF blood; that
20 avoid all interference in the affairs Of other
nations, To preserve our own independence, 10
live for America, to labor for America, and if
need be TO die for America. Is sacred duty, the
performance Of which will best serve the cause
Of human liberty IN every land beneath The sun.
Sir, shall follow his advice. II my own judg-
ment differed from his, should distrust il, and
feel inclined rather TO be governed by the sug-
gestions Of him whom al men Of every party
have agreed 10 name patriot, statesman, sage.
Mr. President, have nearly done. IL is my
habit 10 compress what have to say into as
small a space as possible, and have not de-
parted from II on the present occasion If I
have ever studied words al ALL Il has only been
to ascertain how few could be made 10 answer
my purpose. There is one great rule Of con-
duct, applicable alike 20 individuals and TO na-
tons, stern and rigid adherence to which leads
inevitably TO power, prosperity, and happiness.
That rule has been so well imboded by Eng
lands greatest poet, that give Il 10 bis own
words: =
"And this above all, TO thine ownself be true,
And IL will follow, ms the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false TO any man"
~ The road 10 judicial preferment in. The
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