Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-17


We have seen no full and satisfactory report Of
MIR. Clayton's late speeches in the Senate, but
from all that we can learn, the Ex-Secretary's
vindication of himself against the assaults of
General Cass and others, was most able and con-
elusive. Mr.. Clayton did not conine himself.
however. to a defence of his own official eonduct
in connection with the Buwer Treaty, but car
RED the war into the enemy's country aud
showed that the Monroe doctrine which is now
favorite hobby with the Democracy, had been
practically repudated by that party for the last
quarter OF century. Senator Roaslas replied
to Mr.. Clay ton at considerable length. but did
not contest this last proposition. Indeed, he
could not have done so consistently with what he
himself said few weeks since in his elaborate
senatorial harangue the Central American
question. On thas occasion he declared. as our
readers will rec0alact, that whilst it had been the
uniform practice Of our public men of both par
ties to assert the Monroe doctrine when there was
no occasion to do so, yet they invariably shranil
from enforcing it when emergencies arose that
called tor action on the subject. He even went
SO tar as to aver that the Oregon Treaty, which
was negotiated by Mr.. Folks administration and
sanctioned by Democratic Senate, involved a
gross abandonment of Mr.. Monroe's non-cooni-
cation principle. 1t is clear, therefore, that
the illinois Senator had, by his previous admis-
sions, completely disqualified himself for the task
of answering this part of Mr.. Clayton's argu-
ment, and accordingly he does not appear to have
attempted it, He acknowledges by implca-
ton, the ruth and justice of Mr.. Cayton's
charge, that the Democratic party have hereto
fore failed to maintain the doctrine Of which they
now assume the exclusive guardianship
Gen. Pierce has followed 10 the footsteps OF
Mr.. Polk, by declaring in his inaugural that nc
| further colonization on this continent by any
European power should be tolerated by the
United States. These are brave words, but il
remains to be seen whether their author is pre-.
pared to make them good Mr.. Clayton has
proved, and Mr.. Douglas has admitted, that whilst
Democratic statesmen always profess the Mon.
roe doctrine in times Of pence, they uniformly
repudiate it in the hour of danger. We have nc
reason to believe that our new President is made
OF sterner stuff than his Democratic predeces-
sors aud as they condescended to abandon thei,
| principlesin preference to fighting for them, il
| is not at all improbable that Gen. Pierce will do
the same thing. In Mr.. Folks time the Democrat
ic watch-word was ''ifty-four- or fight" but
got only forty-nine, and still there was blood
| she'd MIR. Folk. we have not doubt, willing
enough to insist on his extreme pretensious even
at the hazard Of war with Great Britain, hut he
saw that public opinion at home would not sus-
tain him in involving the country in hostilities
with the first military and naval power of tn .
earth, for narrow strip of uninhabted territory,
our right to which was doubted by one half of the
American people. He therefore wisely and
discreefly relinquished his ex treme and unena-
BILE position. Thus we apprehend it will be in
respect to this Monroe doctrine. In laying down
the broad principle that no European power
shall establish new col ony on any part of the
American continent, Gen. Pierce has taken
position from which he may be compelled to
recede. Suppose that Great Britain should
send few coonists to some sequestered spot in
the remote and UNEMPLOYED wiIds of Patagonia
does any in his senses believe that Gen.
Pierce would have the hardhood to plunge the
country into war for such a cause! And yet
if this case we're TO occur and Great Britain
should refuse to withdraw her colony, the Press
ident would he bound by his recent declaration on
this subject to recommend an appeal to arms
The con mon of the people of this country
would revolt at an idea so absurd and quxotc,
nd Cen Pierce would be constrained by the
orce of that public opinion which not even pres
idents can disregard, to back out. just as Mr. Polk
backed out on the Oregon question.
q We take the following paragraph from
"Laudatory comments upon the President inaugural
address a:e pouring in from al! quarters. Wings as
well as Democrats delighted with it. Ia short
everybody is pleased except the abotionsts General
Cass is happy find General P 'real old fogy" and
Judge DOUGLAS is equally happy to ..scnYer that