Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-19


to be influenced by the conviction that NO APPA-
RENT ADVANTAGE CAN BE PURCHASED AT A PRICE
so DEAR AS THAT OF NATIONAL WRONG OR Dis
HONOR"
When we say that this extract is in the spirit Of
WASHINGTON himself, we can add no higher praise.
1t has the merit, however, of being, besides,
almost in the language employed by that great
Patriarch in his Inaugural Address first President
Of the United States, sixty-odd years ago; when,
congratulating himself upon the assurance derived
from the composition of the two Houses of Con-
gress that the foundations of our national policy
would be laid in the pure and immutable principles
of private morality" he gave utterance to the fol
lowing memorable sentiments:
'tThere is no truth more thoroughly established
than that there exists in the economy and course OF
nature an indissoluble union between virtue and
happiness betgeen daty and advantage; Jetaoeen
The genuine marims Of an honest and ndgndna-
nous policy and the solid rewards Of prosperity
and plenty and hence we ought to be no less per-
suaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can
never be expected on nation that disregards the
eternal rules Of order and right which Heaven it
self has ordained"
The doctrine of INTERVENTION, also, by diplo
macy or by arms, in the affairs of Europe, is with
sufficient explictness dsavowed by the President, in
the following passage OF the Inaugural:
" The oppressed throughout the world, from that
day 1.-THE day of the establishment of this Fedora
tive Government of ours] to the present, have
turned their eyes hitherward, pot to find those
9 lights extnguished, or 70 fear lest they should
wane, but to be constantly cheered by their steady
and increasing radiance
In Mis our country has, IN my judgment, thus
far fulfilled its highest duty to suffering Humanity
1t has spoken, and will continue to speak, not only
by its words, but by its acts, the language of SYM
pathy, encouragement, and hope to those who ear
nesty listen to tones which pronounce for the arg
est rational liberty. But after all, the most ami
mating encouragement and potent appeal for free
dom will be its history, its trials and its til
umphs Prominently the power of our advocacy
reposes in our example; but no example, be it re-
membered, can be powerful for lasting good, what
ever apparent advantages may be gained, which as
not based upon eternal principles Of right and
justice"
The language of sympathy, encouragement and
hope will continue to be spoken, it has been by
our country to those who lin foreign lands] listen
to tones which pronounce for the largest rational
liberty. But after all, the most animatng encou-
ragement, to such portions of suffering humanity
desire our aid to accomplish their own projects of
liberty, will be the force Of oar example; bearing
in mind that no example be powerful for last
ing good which is not based upon eternal princ-
pies of right and justice" truly just and high
minded sentiment which cannot but command the
respect Of all honest men.
1 In addition to these distinct recogntions of the
obligations of National and of Moral Law upon this
Government, the President warns his countryn.en
not to rest its hopes for durable peace and quiet
even within our own borders, upon mans wisdom
g 1t must be felt" he says "hat there is no Ma
tional security but in the Nations humble, achnow
ledgea dependence upon GoD and has orerrultng
| { ProUidence."
In collating these successive affirmations by the
President Of the authority and respect due to Su-
perintending Providence, to the Law of Nations,
and to Moral Law, we must, in sheer justice reject
all suspicion of his being under tho control of the
Manifest estinarians, and merely regret that
casual expressions in any phrase of the Inaugu-
ral which seem at the first glance to lean to ia
vorite doctrine of that school, have given rise to
apprehensions on that ground in any quarter.
| To return, however, to the passage of the Inau-
gural in regard to the importance of the acquisi-
tion of certain possessions not within urisdic
ton, in view of our attitude as nation and our
position on the globe. When, few days ago, we
referred to this passage, we presumed, from the
apparently general consent of commentators on the
subject, that the possession" of the Island Of
Cuba was at least one of the leading objects of
the policy thus announced by the Executive. On
this point of Cuba being the primary object Of the
policy proclaimed by the new Administration, fur
Their consideration has rather lessened our own con-
fdence. Rejecting upon the fact of the Spanish
Government having refused to listen to proposition
made by former Executive for purchase of the
Island at the stupendous cost of Hundred Millions
of Dollars and upon the fact that the assent of
both the Senate and House Of Representatives
would be required to the execution of any contract
for the purchase of it, in connexion with the
profound respect and trusting confidence"
with which the President declares that he " shall
always look to the coordinate branches of the
Government meaning the two Houses Of
Congress-we are led to entertain some doubts
of the correctness of our first impressions Whether
it is the Island Of Cuba, or whatever other Island
or Continental territory to which the attention of
the Executive is particularly directed, we so en-
trely coincide in the opinion expressed by of our
contemporaries (the New York Commercial Adver-
tiser) that we shall adopt instead of attempting to