The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-26

I Mr.. INGERS0LL said - ..
Mr. CHAIRMAN: II is not my purpose to continue the dis
cussion of the territorial question which has long been
the topic OF debate before the committee
My views the general question OF slavery under the
constitution, as connected with the rights Of our citizens
whether as inhabitants of States Territories were wei
known " the people of my congressional district long be
fore they returned to this honorable body in
marks that submitted here during the last Congress
I have to alter the opinions | then enter
tanned during the discussion have listened to at this ses
sion of Congress Indeed, when think of what has been
the of the opponents of the bill at home in yily
ing and abusing my distinguished colleague in the other
wing OF this Capitol, pure and upright ever
lived for the patriotic course he has taken upon this
ton, am the more convinced that am here standing
with the great body of that party Of which have
been member, and supporting the constitution of my
country, and the rights of the people under it.
But the subject to which desire this morning TO call
the attention of Congress certainly of less Importance
than that involved in the territorial bill under consdera-
ton. Its point Of inquiry extends beyond State and terri
torial imtsit reaches beyond shores in word ii
concerns rights and duties nation in view of the
threatening aspect of affairs in Europe.
I Mr. Chairman, fear not n nation sufficiently
alive the Importance Of what is taking place the other
side of the Atlantic has begun there which, before
it is over may involve the whole of Europe in its conse-
quences. think in all this danger to the interests
of and citizens to the peace of the
nation itself Who is the that will ioree how and
when the will end 1t is nominally against the en-
pre of Russia but that in its sequel it will
prove Of conflicting interests extending through
the organization and ramifcatons Of European society?
As mere question of war between the Mussuman and
the Bashk there perhaps little in the struggle cacua
ted to excite either interest sympathy In COM
mercal point of vew surely could be losers If Rus
occupied every foot Of ground in Turkey for the com
of Turkey with this country comprises hardly
than few cargoes of wormeaten figs; and what is there
| in Mahomedan Turkey that should the feelings OF
those whom they pleased to call Christian dogs2n Un-
derstand me express sympathy with Russia in the
croachments she has made upon the Porte side with
Turkey. / rejoice at her victories Why? Because the
sympathies of ones nature turn towards the weak and
wronged What this that there nothing in the
past history of Turkeyand the atrocities Of the Greek rev
olution yet fresh in the minds of who hear
nothing in its present condition. and nothing in its relations
with this country commercial social which should make
prefer the desposm Of the Sultan 10 that Of the Gar
And who for moment believes that the immense prep
arations that being made by the allies for the with
Russia have anything but seshness the bottom OF them
Who believes that the greatest naval armament pu
aHoat has been set in motion from any other causen
word that France and England exertng their mighty
energies borrowing millions Of money embarrassing trade
and sacrificing lives for other purpose than 10 preserve
intact what in diplomatic parlance called the ntegrity
of the Ottoman empreY Russia conquered, all that Tur
key gains will be at best change of sentinels But i
Russia conquered easily are disposed TO think
She has at the head of the nation who knows wha
he is aboua sovereign of iron WILL with talents of h,
highest order energy OF purpose and bodness In executing
his plans
The resources of his country are almost limiess hs
people have enough to eat well clothed and happy
they understand the term happiness; and they look
upon their master but little inferior 10 the power that
created them. His army is disciplined numbers million
of men, and TO support them requires but little expense
compared with that which necessary sustain European
soldiers. And all this, remarked Dy Lore
Clarendon in his late speech the address the Queen
there is in the dominons of the Gar who doe
not expect that Constantnople will ultimately belong L
Russia The Russian looks TO Consantnope as the Amer
lean looks upon Cuba.
But Mr.. Chairman the war begun win it end here
the field Of battle win il be confined the soil Of the Sui
tan in the final victory Of two issues
prominent in the public eye in the ascendant The cont
nent of Europe in revoutona struggle between the op
pressor and the oppressed between right and wrong be
tween dying theories and living principles between dis
eased conservatism and healthy progress again. tn
contest finishing between those very nations whose hand
are now joined together but between whom natural hat
exists in the heart Yes sir the begun may end II
revolution throughout western Europe, else betweeI
England and France and the stake may be the lions sha
in the game these two nations playing the European
stage. View the struggle may this point Of oh
seryaon IL is not certain that the United States may
be called upon act her important part Her sympathe
may be aroused the hand and the other she
find herself in the position in during the war be
tween France and England, wherein rights honor
interests were insulted, outraged, and abused
Forewarned Is TO be forearmed Hence desire to cal
the attention Of the committee TO what think il incum
bent upon the government in this uncture OF affairs
do II we would avoid the scenes that brought TO
war of 1912.
In order that there may be no mstake in my meanin
here let start by saying what desire is that ther
should be unanimous declaration by Congress Of on
neutral rights (no treaty which will not only disparag
but eompcac rights ia terms expressive OF SINGER
and anxious desire for the consent Of the European nations
and unanimous request that the Executive should pro
claim position, which position take II TO be included
in the term free ships make free goodsno search,
boarding Of vessels but by two men in boat Will
the warship stays out OF reach papers over
hauled but ships the cargo papers not TO be touchc
asked for, tho two boarders TO remain deck uncs
invited to go below and search of fmennothig Of tina
kind.
Thi, hold to be good maritime law, as acknowledge,
at different times by every European nation England no
excepted and that il is prominently the American Law
Of nations asserted by early statesmen early Con
crosses, and early treaties. aware sir that fed
eral courts during late with Great Britain hell
that this was not the European law Of nations
them reversing in regard 20 maritime law the decisions
the early federal courts Of country Nor igno
rant Of the fact that Of writers the subee
have followed the English jurists in their opinions shal
none the less bold in repeating here what hold to he
part Of the American law OF nations
As general rule IL win be admitted that nation has
Of itself the right to prescribe rules TO what shall be tn
conduct OF other nations navigating the high seas for th
Is the property OF ALL either for commercial
or war purposes and under this rule nation has RICH
TO interdict trade between its enemy and ncutrf
proposition simple and natural does not require argu
ment 10 prove IT,
This the rule Of the sen Of the European nations
laid down in their early treaties hazard nothing wheI
say that up to the seventeenth century the Fundamental
principle in the earliest commercial treaties was that nayi
CATION and commerce should remain free in the Of
with the enemies Of or the other Of the contract
ing parties And let il not he forgotten that n these trea
ties England was frequent participator She not
that time the sovereign OF the and the egazed robbe
Of neutral rights She the Christian beggar asking
avor Ind to be protected from the nde robbers in h
only upon her commerce. but that Of the European nations
4 generally.
In the seventeenth century the doctrine Of entfaband
was for the FIRST time adopted the earliest treaty Of tha