The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-23
N: WASHINGTON. FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER q, 1853

never 10 make lawful and honorable acquisition OF Gu
ba There is no logical cOanexion between the IDEAS add
there is something bordering upon the offensive IN 'he
association -
Consider TOO, the recent anlecedens OF lhs powers
that yte us TO disable ourselves to The end OF time from
the cQuison 10 any way OF this natural appendaxe 70
our continent Flance within the present century, 10
say nothing Of The acquisition OF LOUISIANA mas wteses
moiey Of Europe IRON II native sovefegns mas pos
sessed herself by force OF arms, and al the me gfeay
10 lhe dsconleni OF England OF six hundred miles Of the
northern of Africa with indefinite extension
the interior; and has appropriated TO herself one Of
the most important nsulat groups of the Pacific Eng
land mention her other numerous recent aoqusi-
lions in every part oil The globe has since your des
patch OF the 10th OF February was written. annexed
half of the Burman empire to her 0vergrown Indian pos
sessionson grounds, IL the statements in Mr. Cobdcns
pamphlet are TO he relied upon compared with which the
assigned BY Russia for invading Turkey are re-
spectacle.
The United States do not require 10 be advised OF the
utility Of those rules for the observance OF International
relations. which for centuries have been known to Eu
rope by the OF the law OF nations" They
known and obeyed by US under the same venerable
mama Certain circumstances in our history have caused
here than in Europe From the breaking OF the
of the French revolution to the year 1872 the United
States knew the law OF nations only the victims Of its
systematic violation by the great maritime powers OF Eu
rope For these violations the part CT England prior
to 1894 indemnI6caton made under the seventh a
Gle OF jays treaty For similar injuries on the part Of
France, compelled to accept illusory set ol
under the convention OF 1900 few years only elapsed
before new warfare upon our neutral rights was COM
menced by the two powers One hundred millions al
least OF American property were swept from the seas
under the British orders in council and the French Ber-
lin and Milan DEGREES These orders and DEGREES were
The time recprocaly declared 10 be in OF
The law OF nations by the two powers themselves, each
speaking Of the measures OF the other party In 1881,
alter the generation OF the original sufferers had sunk
under their ruined fortunes 10 the grave, France &C
knowedged her DEGREES to have been OF that character
by late and partial measure OF indemnihcaton. For
losses under the Brlish orders IN council
not only received decentralization, but the sac
6ces and suderngs OF added to those spolia
lions and invasion OF our neutral rights
which led 10 its declaration. Those orders were at the
time regarded by the Lansdownes, the Barings, the
Broughams. and the other enlightened statesmen OF the
school to which you belong, vioatiOa OF right and
justice as well Of sound policy and within very levy
by yourself at the head OF the tribunals OF England has
declared that The orders in council were grievously
just to neutras. and Is noc generally suosoed that they
1Uere contrary The iaU Of nations and municipal
Ltc"
That cali, my Lord, TO borrow your expression, "a
melancholy avowa for the chief OF the jurisprudence
OF great empire. Acts OF its sovereign authority, coun
enanced by its Parliament ri2dly executed by its fleets
on every sea, enforced in the courts of admiralty by a
whose learning and eoquence among the
modern glories Of England, persisted in ill the lawful
commerce OF neutral and kindred nation annihi-
lated. and pronounced by the hishes, legal authority Of
the present day contrary not merely to the law OF nations
but your own municipal law!
Under these circumstances the government and PEG.
pie vi the United States who have never committed
sanctioned violation of the law Of nations against any
other power may well think il out OF place that they
should be instructed by an English minister in 'he u
y OF those rules which for centuries have been known
10 Europe by the name OF the law of nations"
There are several other points IN your despatch, some
OF great public moment. which, il were still in Office,
should discuss this occasion. | have, however,
deemed proper al present to conhDe myself TO such
marks seemed necessary to vndcate my letter of the
FIRST OF December from your sclures leaving The new
aspects Of the which your despatch presents, espe
cally in its opening and closing paragraphs TO those
whose official duty il is to consider them
You will not, hope, misapprehend the spirit in which
this letter is written As American citizen, do not
covet the acquisition Of Cuba, either peaceaby by
force OF arms When cast my thoughts back upon our
brief history nalioo certainly led 10 think
that the United States have reached the final limits OF
their growth, or, what comes 10 very much the same
thing that representative government, religious equality
the trial by jury the freedom OF the press and the other
never 10 gain further extension this continent
gard the inquiry under what political organization this
extension is 10 lake place, vain attempt penetrate
the inscrutable mysteries OF the future. II WILL il
will be virtue OF the peaceful arts, by which we'll
governed States extend themselves the unsettled
partially settled continents. My voice heard at
the first opportunity in the Senate OF the United Siaes
in favor of developing the almost boundless resources OF
the territory already IN possession, rather than seek
ing TO enlarge II by aggressive Still, think
ii ressonablehardy respecul-on the part OF England
and France, while they daily extending themselves
every shore and in every sea, and pushing their
domnions, by new conquests to the utermost eods of
the earth. to call upon the United States 10 bind them
selves by perpetual compact never, under any circum
Stances 10 admit into the Union island which lies a
their doorc, and commands the entrance into the interior
OF their continent.
remain, my Lord, with the highest respect, faithfully
yours,
To the Right Hon. Lord JoHN RUSSELL