Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
[ Continued from DE Jiirst page. /

Continued from the Jirst page.
into our political vocabulary and which have provoked
more criticism than they merit and been assigned more
Importance than they entitled to- take Il they
all merely indicative Of strong impression Of the mighty
that is before and Of the duties and response
bes il brings with it, well towards ourselves as the
world. However these may be magnifed depressed,
they cannot be avoided and that past which alone
shadows the future is filed with the most startling proofs
Of national progress which have arrested the alton
ton of mankind.
The generation has not yet wholly passed away since
we were peaceful dependency Of England and he Who
by the kindness of Providence and the favor Of his fellow
citizens is permitted to address you born before
the final acknowledgment of independence by the pa
rent country narrow strip Of seacoast and scatter
ed population short of three millions, who hardly
permitted it has been said in illustration rather than
in assertion to make horseshoe nail for themselves, d
vided into separate colonies, and almost unknown, with
profitable rather than patriotic antcpatons home,
England then called that these possessions might
be useful for the purpose of taxation Such was con-
dtion about the Of revolutionary srug
ge and at its close found ourselves exhausted by the
exerons had made, and without internal trade, with
out external commerce, and in fact without Govern
ment for the protection of social order the prevention
of foreign aggression and indeed demonstrations Of the
country were maintained by the character OF the peo
pie and not by political organization The seventy years
which have since passed away have than uadruped
the of territory, have increased our popua-
ton eightfold and have added to productive indus
try to commerce and navigation, to and
resources and to all the other elements of power and
prosperity in still greater ratio, while they have given
Government and institutions free as is compatible
with the preservation of order and have placed among
the great Powers of the earth, with to make
afraid And at the same time our intellectual improve
ment has kept pace with material advancement and
whole progress is without example the history Of
nations elrsg Ff
Now, sir in this state of things let despair of
the future Let fear that his country will not
sooner or later come to her proper work.
SUMPTION but without hesitation Our progress from
day IN a htffh hafor
the world the decennal periods, when the number
of the people, discloses results surprising
ourselves and almost incredible to the other nations Of
Chrstendom Eight of these have lived to see and the
gigantic strides they mark indicate future which is al
most appalling to the imagination. If this magnificent
destiny gratifying to national pride but in
prospect boundless in its power for evil for good
brings with of graduation for every true Amer
it brings also grave responsibilities which cannot be
evaded, and ought not to be neglected.
1t is thus have mission 10 iLf in the example
may Offer and in all just efforts to promote the extension
Of freedom, the advancement of knowledge and the
adjustment of all the great principles which public
and private prosperity depends.
In looking back upon progress from infancy to
turty it is obvious that have submitted to much that
was unjust and conumeous because had not strength
to resist should do, pretensions not less
markabe for their injustice than for the presumption and
pertinacty with which they urged. We had true
patriots in those days of weakness to guide and counsel
and well did they fulfil their trust But had to bear
much because could forbear when could not avert
or ayenge.
But old things have passed away and with the power
has the determination of the American people to
protect their interests and their honor wherever and when
and however these may be assailed Why sir is
difficult for this generation to believe, and to the
next it would appear perfectly incredible unless estab
shed by the rrefagabe evidence of public records that
for twenty years seriously argued with England in la
bored diplomatic notes, whether her naval officers had
right to enter and vessels wherever these might
be met the and to take thence at their mere will
.~It
of slavery the slavery of unlimited service on board hos
tile ship to fight against his country Well sir
have exhausted that argument and shall supply its place
by other means We have got far beyond discussion,
and the first man impressed from American vessel bya
British officer whose act is recognised by his Govern
ment, viii be the signal of Nor shall we ever
again discuss the legality of Berlin and Milan decrees
and all the other schemes Of rapacity by which neutral
property stolen during the terrible contests arising
out of the French revoution-schemes which were de-
Tended, in elaborate State papers, upon highwaymans
plea that he robs because have been or will be-
robbed by some else. All this, too, is with the
things that have BEEN And think you sir that the time
will return when third of the territorial of
Of the States Of this Union will be coded upon such
pretexts those which dsmembered the State of Maine?
Never, in my opinion, was there public claim urged
upon grounds utterly indefensibe that but we
yielded and now let make the best Of it. and acquir
ing resolution acquire strength let do just what
is right, and demand it from others. That is true
policy; and it is right that should exercise the same
authority the other Powers of the world coequals
only in position in the declaration of great principles of
international law the sentiment Of sclfrespect viii
teach long to maintain its inviolablity when
threatened with dangerous innovations, hostile to the
freedom and independence Of nations by the solemn
and authoritative procedure that which its
peril If We choose that Chief Magistrate should
hat, and not crown, desire it to be under
stood that just jealous Of rights and honor
and have just much Of BOTH the gaudest monarch
Of them all.
We committed great error, not fatal one-that il
would be difficult TO do in condition Of elasticity
when last session refused to pass declaration deny
ing to the Emperor Of Russia the authority be had
sumed the part Of universal legislator and to i'm
press his will upon the code Of the public law Of
mankind prostratng with his pen preparatory pros
rang with his sword all the barriers that protect the
political rights Of nations. Well, shrunk also from
this high duty We got alarmed at the shadow Of
thing-l do not know precisely what whether Russian
ukdses entangng alliances and left the Gar to pass
his law, and to enforce it, too. And hereafter when
the occasion comesand it will come for power like the
daughters Of the horseleech always cries give givehe
will be able to quote his precedent submitted to in
both hemsphere and seek to regulate the whole subject
Of international uncation and Of national rights by
ukase he regulates the lives and fortunes OF the
sixty millions Of people who call him lord AMI master
In brief time shall abjure all this, well our own
subseryence his presumption and our place IN
the great legislative council Of nations.
We have evidently reached Of those epochs In the
Of nations to which the historian Of their decline
and fall looks back in his searching investigation into
the Of their fate Our duties plain, noble in
deed and position invites to fulfil them firmly and
fearessy. The progress and improvement IN oil the
great branches of human industry and especially IN those
which relate TO the Of nations and to
the benefit that each may derive from all by the inter
change as well Of knowledge Of material products,
have brought the human family closely into contact