Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-20

Il
/" combination and form indeed
Where every God did seem to set a seal
To give the world assurance Of a mani"
Ii is said that perfection is not the lot of human nature
II is also said that the sun has spots it. II there b
defect or bemsh in the character him whose birth
day celebrate they must be like those spots
sunthey can't be seen, at least with the naked eye NJ
one has ever yet seen them in his case with ele
scope No, am too fast II has lately been discovered
by from abroad whose advent amongst us has
hailed by certain atterday saints in politics as
Messiah that he slightly touched with certain spe
cies Of ocgy in his political vision that he did not
straight; that he in great error at least in some OF
those precepts which have heard tonight.
This brings me TO that part of my subject was first
TO speak Of the counsellor and then his counses The
give to advice should depend somewhat upon the
worth and estimation have for him who gives it. The
teachings we have heard tonight then should certainly
be respected IN consideration Of the from which
they come They relate mainly, far shall alude
to them, to two subjects.
The first Is the relation which the people Of the States
bear toward each other in the compact Of Union
The second is the relation which people bear
toward other nations
Both these subjects Of vast Importance to the
quiet and prosperity of the people Of the United States
and both did Washington dwell in his last words his
countrymen, with the earnestness of departing father in
his dying anctons upon the children Of his love and his
hope. The first of these objects with him the Union
Of the States For he that without union we should
soon be without liberty He had not read history in
vain He saw that if once the States divided bor-
ulSSenSl0nS
the most mpacabe would follow and that our ca
reer noby begun, would be cut short and end uti
mately in despotism Hence he has invoked look to
the Union as the "palladum Of political safety and
prosperity and to frown down the " first dawnng OF
every attempt to ALLEVIATE any portion Of the people of
section Of country from the rest eneebe the
cred ties which link together the various parts
here tonight advocate the Union upon these principles
What has it already done for What rapid and
precedented advancement have made under its nu-
ence in commerce. in art in science, and in every thing
that elevates ennobes, and dgnifes man What would
have been our condition without it, Impoverished, dis
cordan and belgerent petty sovcrcgnes, without pow
er at home, and without respect abroad!
We cannot therefore, be too ardent attachment
to the Union when consider its objects and what it
capable Of eecting long those objects kept in
view But allow me- fellowcitizens-and have the pr-
vege well pleasure Of thus addressing you under
the provisions of this Unonto say that upon the sub
ec of the Union and its preservation must not let
zeal take the place of knowiedge. The Union with the
Constitution its basis is complicated and delicatey
constructed system Of government. 1t is political
ganzaton and with it, as with all other organza
tons organisms there certain general principles
that must be looked to when consider what will pro-
badly disturb its operations Its best friends them will
be those who most carefully study those general prnci
ples which may be denomnated the laws regulating its
existence To understand how to preserve it requires
thorough knowledge of its nature its organic structure
well the relations and functions of all its points.
Life in my body is emanaton of the animal organism
of the various parts of my physical frame To preserve
this life must observe the general laws principles that
regulate it. The Union is the life the spirit and soul Of
body polite To preserveit there certain general
principles to be observed One Of the first of them is
constant attention to the objects for which it formed
The life and spirit Of the Union spring from the objects
for which it formed To preserve its life and spirit
the bare name, without the substance, must always be
held subordinate to the original or vital principle
When the soul has departed the dead body may remain
for whls but the energies and functions of the living
man will be gone to return SO with our Gov
ernment Nothing is essential to its existence and
ho,r, oa1Aa
in all its parts which amongst the prominent objects
its creation Every attempt therefore, ALLEVIATE the
affections Of the people from their Government well
every attempt invoke the action Of the Government
such objects viii have this tendency, should be indy
ndnt omned down by every true lover of his country,
wherever his lot may be cast. This is Patriotism am
of those who believe that patriotism is indigenous
to any particular locality in country more than
Their. 1t is plant Of spontaneous and uxuriant
growth upon the green mountains of Vermont and the
granite hills of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, it
Is upon the broad savannahs of the South the rich pra
ries of the West Bad and reckless may be found in
all sections But have yet passed crisis land
we have had many in history when there not
patriotism enough in all parts, when thoroughly aroused
to rescue from difficulty. From this fact alone the
friends Of the Union upon the principles Of the Consttu
on here tonight have abundant indulge
dent hope for the future But must pass The other
point promised aude to is the subject of foreign
relations. This is becoming matter of grave and
importance for the consideration Of the American
people. 1t matter that the farSeeng eye Of Wash
ington did not overlook Hence his emphatic and solemn
warning which you have just heard against the iasidou
rifles Of foreign influence q coi0e you 6eeue me, low
cizens) The eaousy Of free people ought 10 be constantly
dWdkc."
This was the language of the patriot and sage in his
last words to his counymen The hand that penned it
has long since returned its mother dust but the
voice still comes from his tomb at Mount Vernon, and
here this night nvokes you for his sake if not your
to hearken to that voice Again he says: The great rule
Of conduct for regard 10 foreign nations extending
our commercial relations hare h them title political
conperion as possible" From that day to ths-for
than half a century-we have followed that advice. Our
motto from that time this, in the language Of Mr. JEFF
ferson has been Friendship c all misunderstanding
alliances ,cih none" And / proud TO say that no
American-no son Of Washington, not the most de-
generate-was the first to advocate change Of this policy
II was reserved for the Of another and distant
clime-a man. too, who had abandoned his country
in the hour Of her peril to here TO teach how to
make ours great prosperous, and powerful. For the
honor of Americans say be it spoken that this first at
tempt to arragn the wisdom Of Washington this ques-
ton Of our foreign policy made by foreigner.
Would that could say that American had yielded to
the nsdious wle of his influence" But the virus has
taken effect; it is spreading through the land and
hear 1t openly proclaimed in many places that 1t is
time for position amongst the nations OF
the earth that il is time we had q foreign policy.
What does this language mean Is IL intended by those
who use IL to convey the idea that have gone for
upwards Of sixty years in Of prosperity
before equaed without any foreign policy Was not the
rule laid down by Washington and acted by every Pre-
sident from his day to this, pocyP II policy
and is the policy Of attending to own business
and letting other nations alone 1t and is the policy
the time honored policy of nonnterventon. 1t may not
be foreign policy, but it is Washington policy by an