Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-28

OF prccauuon which prudence suggests England, Rus
sa and all the principal Powers Of the continent are
increasing their ornaments. Shall Belgium isolate her.
self by remaining In the of all this movement This
cannot be intended is all in that neutrality
is guaranteed by treaties We must be in position to
enforce respect to it," N l
tits impossible omit seeing that il is distrust Of
Napoleon I'LL and Of his intentions that has inspired the
measure discussedin Belgium Under Louis Philppe
under the Republic even the military precautions now
deemed indispensable not thought necessary
The Law fixing the standard army at eighty thousand
dates from 1845.
"By promptly mourning" said one of the orators
" the expenses now required for putting the military de-
fences Of the country upon proper footing you may be
efecng most important economy by preventing an in
vason of the country. hostile occupation may take
place. What would you do in that case with disor-
ganized army? An occupation OF another kind may
occuran occupation by friendly Powers; and you
in duty bound with respect to them to put your
selves in position that will command respect and show
to allies that Belgium is not country to fall into the
hands of the first who shall chose to seize upon her. Ress
lance possible competent have told you and
resistance possible it would be proving false the ho
est of duties II in advance abandon the idea Of max
ing it, oppose to the single voice that has been raised
in this assembly in support Of contrary opinion land
profoundly greved to hear that one) the unani
opinion of the commission and the confidence of the
whole army
f Belgium yielded without resistance she would be-
the object of contempt to all Europe instead Of
if to decree in anticipation the humiliation Of my
country in presence of foreign invasion, should blush
to be called Belgian and the country would have
to blush for its name before posterity"
The Minister, NJ BRoUcKERE, said in his opening
remarks
However good may be the intentions and sincere the
in behalf by the Powers which have guaran
tied political existence is ncontestable fact that
it would require considerable time for them to
assistance in case one Of their number pretending 10
be disengaged from the treaties which bind it, should
invade portion of territory But this invasion,
it did encounter part serious and prolonged re-
sstance, would become condemnation. Even if it
only partial and temporary such invasion would be
disgrace and run and Europe would have the right
to say that had deceived its trust, that had
not answered the end which had dictated to Europe the
policy Of permitting Belgium to constitute itself indie
pendent nation" ~ "Believe me- gentlemen,
in the event of European Far, evenualty that we
should provide against even though not believing pro-
bable whatever party should be the victor the victor
would have but slight respect and small sympathy for
people who stingily counted the money spent in its
Defence and who had left to others the of protect
ing its frontiers and of saving Of restoring its ma
tionality."
Now, am no alarmist, and believe as firmly as my
brother correspondent of the Journal of Commerce. whose
letter you quoted lately with much appreciation that
peace is the interest and the wish of all the people Of
Europe. But cannot for all that, partake his convic
ten that the peace Of Europe is assured. Peace and
not questions determined here as they are with
u.s. by the interest and wishes of the people They de-
pend upon the will the passions the supposed interests
of faible ambitious, daring INSCRIPTIONS man.
devoted couple of letters months ago to the expo
ston of the which would impel the Emperor
Of the French to break the peace Of Europe-causes
personal to himself and which would almost certainly
control and give character to this policy, despite the in
erests and wishes Of the majority of his subjects which
may be safely assumed to be in favor of peace. My
views then expressed have not been changed. The
discussion which progressing in the Belgian CAPT
tai proof that there at least my apprehensons not
considered without foundation and chimercal Yet at
present symptoms that threaten the peace
of Europe this year. is very possible that unless some
new exciting arise the policy which attribute to
Napoleon Ill may not rpen to war even in 1854 but
have much miscalcuated Louis Napoleon if the year 1855
be suffered pass without decisive demonstration
his part for the remuneration to the Empire of Belgium
and Savoy. And there many reasons that make me
doubt than M. Brouckere seems to whether the
kings viii not permit that annexation by treaty rather
than light up Europe the conagraton of general war;
Of which say when it will end or what it will
not consume.