Washington sentinel., 1855-01-07
PEACE MEDIATION.
SPEECH OF HON. TIL. CLINGMAN,
OF NORTH CAROLINA

1855
The House being in the Committee Of the
Whole on the state of the Union
Mr.. CLINGMAN said:
MIR. CHAIRMAN: will ask the attention of
the committee, not to the subject upon which
my friend from South Carolina Mr.. KEITTl
has SO eloquently addressed the committee, for
should not like to attempt to CLEAN in a field
which ne has reaped 30 carefully, but to another
question which has some intrinsic merits, and
which ! hope TO be able to present in the in
terval that will elapse prior to the usual time
OF adjournment.
1t will be recollected that, at an early day of
this session, offered proposition, suggesting
the propricty of this Government offering its
mediation to the billegerent Powers OF Europe.
The following is the proposition, as modified
by me:
Joint Resolution requesting the President to
tender the mediation of the United States 10
the Powers engaged in the Eastern war.
Hheys6s, the people of the United States see,
with regret, that several OF the great Powers of
Europe are engaged in war which threatens to
DC OF long duration, and disastrous in its conse.
quences TO the industrial and social interests Of
large portion Of the civilized world and being,
under the favor OF Providence, in the full enjoy-
ment Of the blessings of peace, distant from the
theatre OF conflict, disconnected with the causes
OF quarrel between the parties in the contest and
no purpose TO interfere, forciby or in an unwel-
come manner, nevertheless are of opinion tha,
the controversy may be susceptible of pacific ad-
JustmeLt, through the interposition of neutral
and friendly Power: Therefore
BE IL resolved by the Senate and House of Repre-
ssnfatires Of the Uvitsd States of America Con-
gress assembled, That we would view with salts
faction tender TO the beigerents Of the media
ton of the United States, provided it should be
in accordance with the Presidents views Of the
public interest.
My object at that time was simply to get the
subject before the Committee on Foreign At
fairs, of which ! am known to be member,
leaving 1t to the discretion of that committee to
act upon it as to them might seem best. Since
then, there has been great deal of comment
upon that subject by the press generally. The
proposition has been assailed in some quarters,
and defended with ability in others. The
course OF remark has been such, that desire
20 make short explanation of my views in re-
lation TO this subject, and of the reasons which
governed me in making the movement.
do not propose to speak as a member Of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs now, because
have not the right, under the rules of the
House, to refer to anything which occurs in
the committee until it shall think proper to
make report to the House. desire only to
meet some of the objections which doubtless
induced gentlemen to vote against the PROPOSE
ton at the time when it was first moved.
II IS said, in the first place, by objectors, to
be an Intervention on our part with the affairs
Of foreign government. Fit be Intervention, i,
ID precisely such Intervention as this Govern
ment has practiced from its foundation. Every
Minister sent abroad is sent to influence. the
action of some foreign Government, and to in
duce it so to regulate its action as to benefit
and not injure us. In point of fact, we have
ourselves had several instances of mediation
submitted to us, which we have accepted.
thereby admitting that it was not such inter
vention as gentlemen would now exclude us
from offering TO foreign Governments. Our
Ministers are instructed to interfere with the
action of foreign Governments, so far as il NAV
affect us, and no further; and hence they are
not expected TO look to the internal action OF
any Government, but merely to its external re-
lations, because in these latter we ourselves
have an interest. For example, if the Emperor
Of Russia should deprive MS Of the trade of the
ports of the Black Sea or Baltic, our Minister.
Mr.. Seymour, would be instructed to remon.
strste against it. If that interruption should
arise from a conflict between Russia and some
other Power, why then we might appeal to both
of the belligerent parties. In this particular
instance, our trade is interrupted in those seas
by the existing war, and our Government has
right to relieve US from such an injury, if ii is
practicable for it to do So
A gentleman over the way said, the other
day, when first brought up this proposition.
that he hoped that the war between Russia and
the allied powers would continue for fifty wears.
take it for granted that he did not express
this benevolent wish la laugh from any opin.
ion that it was advantageous to tbs parties
engaged In it; but be must have made the re.
mark TO carry the impression that the United
States would derive some advantage from II.
1t will be conceded, on all hands, that it will
give US no glory and no additional territory.
If we are to be benefited, therefore, it must be
in pecuniary point ofview, either by increas-
ing our exports, that is to say, enhancing the
value OF what we have to sell, or diminishing
the price OF what we have TO import or pur-
chase.
Let us examine this matter briefly, at the
what we have to sell.
Our principal article Of export II cotton
and now, in the face Of two short crops. down
to less than eight cents. Ny own opinion il.
and say IL with Difference 10 the opinions Of
other gentlemen, that but for the war. cotton
would probably be now worth eleven or twelve
cents, as it was in 1850 and 1851. saw so
because the recent supplies do not, think
bear q greater ratio to the present demand Of
the world than did the crops in the years re
ferred TO. If so, the loss on this article alone
viii make difference Of at least forty million.
Of dollars in the value Of our exports; and. II
point Of fact, have no doubt that the wal
makes difference Of twenty. FIVE to forty mil
lions in this respect alone, besides losses ir
tobacco and other articles. Gentlemen will
say to me, perhaps, that breadstuffs are increas
ing in value, bnt they forget that the drought
Of last year so destroyed the crops in most O
the grsin-growing States, that we shall have
nothing to spare for the next twelve months
We have then to take the chances of DERIVING
m advantage two years hence; if we should
then happen TO have produce to sell, as set
of to the large and heavy losses that are fall
ing on us.
But, in point Of fact, Il is the ability OF Eu.
rope 70 purchase that determines the demand
for and price Of breadstuffs. took occasion
some years ago to examine the reports made
- rsl d a n,