Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-12

uVSVosoAy
Heretofore the advice of Washington has been respected
and have succeeded in steering clear Of the tangled
web Of European politics. Besides, the grown 81 the
American Union has been rapid as TO defy the cac9
tons Of European statesmanship, The merchant when
he found rival taking away his most pronpAoss 'ra'e
the manufacturer, year by year the demand lor ms
productions diminished; the fisherman, wnen A. saw
Of the deep, all these understood that new rover nad
sprung existence and felt that they were engaged
in rivalry in which European energy ma European IN
tegencs were destined to be overshadowed But kings
and cabinet ministers could not comprehend that few
scattered colonies but short time since feeble depen-
dency on the Crown Of Britain had indeed become pow
erful nation The monarch who looked back upon line
Of hundred sres could comprehend stable form Of
Government save that which was endeared to him alike
by interest by educational prejudice IT, in his imperial
dreams the vision Of America before his eyes,
it was only as people whose own unbrdled passions
would drive them into anarchy whose turbulence dis
sensons would furnish another to the world for
committing all government to sceptered hands.
In the time the neglected and despised Republic
was moving steadily rapidly along the road to wealth.
topowsr, and to honor but its strength unmarked
and its vigor unknown abroad. The war with Mexico
followed. A little handful Of citizen soldiers
nation Of seven millions of inhabitants and dictated
the terms of pence from her national capital Here
lesson which kngly dulness could not msunder
stand or ministerial servty misnterpret Suddenly the
whole tone Of the public journals Of Europe changed
Prior to that time they had defided progress and
laughed at the feebleness Of military force II
assumed to be impossible for Government like to
writing at the dctaon Of still foolish masters
gued themselves and their readers the conviction that
the frst of the drum aggressive would
be the signal Of ruin and destruction the Union That
came; powerful nation was yanqushsd !; and
little the energies Of our people taxed that
home 1t would scarcely have been known that war
going for the reports Of battles and victories
which foated upon every gale from the south.
Thus vanished deusion, and with it the old system
of political tactics 1t longer weakness, but
strength which became the subject of comment The
and ztuN Of Apor
portrayed in the darkest colors, and Europe
called upon nterpose check to the territorial a
grandirement of the great Republic Wrong in their
apathy they reused from only to involve them
selves still deeply in by their action From
newspaper articles they progressed to diplomatic notes
and, now, have been informed by the President,
France and England have made formal proposition to
the United States that the three Powers should unite in
assuring to the Grown Of Spain undsturbed possession Of
the Island Of Cuba, through all coming time.
Now, Mr.. President willing to 60 with the Sena-
tor from Michigan and to that this proposition meant
something willing say that it did mean what
it imported its face that it known it must be
jected and the idle form of making the offer would have
been dispensed with but for Interior objects Let it be
conceded that it intended to ntmidate the United
States give notice that France and England
watching Cuba and determined to resist any efforts
upon part to acquire its possession But sir while
conceding all this do not agree with that Senator
the mode in which it is to be met do not think il is
the part Of WISDOM sound policy permit ourselves
to DO hurried into incorporate action because France
purposes
To redeem threat from contempt it is necessary that
the party making should possess the power Of CARRYING
il into effect As long English statesmen keep their
senses thousand Cubns could not induce them declare
against the United States. Withhold the exports of
cotton for year. and their starving millions will
be in open rebellion We have heard not long SINCE in
time of profound banners borne by her
ry with the fearful inscription, I" blood bread" Who
doubts that that would be reawakened and who doubts
that blood would furnish the first the second and the
third of the banquet which she would be invited
at home? Add this the certainty of seeing hun
dred thousand American bayonets gitterng in the
light of Canada and thousand American vessels cutting
up her commerce every sea- and you have amount
of danger and suffering nation will willingly brave
member Of this body not long ago. declared that England
had given bond and security to keep the towards the
United States. Yes, sir and that security is her ifes
blood her very existence; not merely her provinces and
dependencies though fancy she would consider it poor
exchange Cuba to Spain and lose Canada her
self but she has something at stake and regard any
threats from that quarter the verest gasconade in
which any Government permitted itself indulge
France is in scarcely better condition. She has
Gently erected imperial throne above the of
Volcano and he who occupies that seat must watch by day
and by night eruption will to bury him
and his fortunes beneath burning food Even If the
great Emperor himself held the reins war with
America would be destruction to France To land
my shores would be to devote IL to the sword and
the is not element which any great portion
Of French glory has been acquired. not unaware
that upon paper the naval power Of France be
lose sight of great truth guns and vessels do not
stute q navy. If every vessel naval register
WERE burnt to the waters edge France would
no be capable of contendng with the United States
upon the than the oak of the forest is capable
resisting the thunderbot of Heaven 1t is who
make navy and wherever they found vessels will
not long be wanting In this the main element Of sue
cess far in advance of every European Power.
Our fisheries turn out annually body Of hardy Mariners
unequalled for Skill for energy and for daring 1t must
be remembered too that tonnage greatly exceeds
that of any other Power And long these advanta
gss remain to us, the crumbing dynastes Of the Old
World may build war-steamers without number; but,
whenever contest the best Of them will be
found sailing under Yankee, colors. Vessels ofwar
manned by peasantry feeble foes.
Mr. President, have referred to these things with no
view Of encouraging spirit OF aggression, but the
verse. The proposition Of England and Of France has
been seized hold OF to nfsme the popular mind, and
had apprehenons that the indignation and resent
ment excited by it might lead to offensive acts which
TO avoid. wish to show that afford to laugh to
the Implied threat hanging us and that hisis
better policy than yielding to the dictates Of hasty
sentiment. Cuba will be whenever il is right and
needfu for take it. Whenever the might Of this Re-
public is put forth in just there human pow
which resist it, Under such circumstances, we
well afford ia wait until the pear has rpened have
sympathy with those who impatient 20 grasp the
territory of neighbors do my opinions at all
cord with those who tell us with such confident and
selfsatis6ed air. that ii is time this Government had
foreign policy believe we have always had foreign
policy; nay, more the very best that II possible 70
adopthe policy Of attending to business without
attempting to ASSUME sort Of general guardianship
all mankind
said Mr. President in the outset that we were APP
preaching period efra and Of danger but that danger
does not threaten from abroad In that quarter the