The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-14
The Mortara Case-Am0th her Letter
from Gen Case


We recently publisheda letter from Gen. Cas- In
reply to one from Mr.. A. Hart, president OF a He.
brew congregation In Philadelphia. asking our
government to interfere In behalf OF the Mortars
boy. Mr. Hart subsequently wrote another letter
to Gen. Csss, calling his attention to the action OF
our government In 1s40, during Mr. Van Buren's
Administration, in relation to the cruslties to the
jews in Damascus. To this second letter OF Mr..
Hart Gen. Cass responds that he can find no reason
u change the views he communicated In his frat
letter. which were to the effect tnat the abduction
OF the Mortara boy took place within the terri:o-
RES OF an independent power, and without affect.
ing therights ofany American citizen-under such
circumstances IL was the settled policy of the
United states to abstain from all interference as
sney expect other nations to abstain from all In.
terierence in the internal concerns of this coun-
uy. zen. Cass, In his response, furlher says:
IN tpis additional letter which you have address.
gu 10 me you Introduce an extract Of letter from
.hts department., dated August ii, 1S4o, to the
American Consul at Cairo spsaking in inst farms
OF iroprehensicn Of the atrocious ca.umnie which
the Jews OF Damascus had been then recsntly Y sub-
lecseo tn, and OF the terrible crueltes which had
ueen ihhicted upon them. And considering this
as case Of Intervention and as A proof that ro
snch settled policy that Indicated have been
adopted py the United States, you consider also
that TIE public support and influence by the
coQel3t6QtTy
asked tor suppression of snch wrongs to human
NY, as were the occasion of my former note etc -
have no remarks to make respecting the nro.
ceeoings OF the government in this case at Damas.
Gus, WHICH was marked by the most calumpious
representations of the Jewish people, and I'm which
excruciatihg torfures were Inflicted and MANY
lives sacrificed. But think it proper to obssrye
that THIS single action, on the part OF the govern
ment can scarcely be said TO change that charac-
yer oi national reserve which attribute to our
foreign policy.
Those principles of cur external intercourse
may well be said to be established, which during
toe seventy yearsof our national existence and
In stirring period, abounding with great event..
everywhere exciting corresponding interest have
been adhered to with that stoadness of purnose
which, almost without exception, has marked the
conduct OF our government while dealing with
these subjects. There are cruelties and ontraaes
OIL such revolving nature that it is natural lauA
dible indeed, that when they occur they should
meet with general condemnation. But this duty
to Outraged humanity" should be left to the ac.
tion Of individuals, aud the expression of pnbio
opinion, for 1t is manifest that, If our government
assumes TIE power to judge and censure the pro.
ceedAngs OF another, or the laws it recognizes in
cases which do not affect their own interest
the rights Of their citizens, the intercourse
OF parties will soon become a system of cri-.
mination. For the principle of interference
being orce admitted, it's application may be indefi-
niteiy exttn e1 depending for its exercises on the
opinion which each country may form OF the civil
policy of another, and ,of the practical opera
lion. There is no people who would rebuke,
with more aspori'y, such intermeddIing with their
affair, than u.a the people Of the United States
and it becomes us to maintain in the same re-
serve forward other countries which we expect
them to observe towsrdus. Human governments
are necessarily imperfect, and neither tine United
States nor any other nation can claim exception
from the common attribute.
Ifany of the Powers of the old world should
believe there "were wrongs to suffering humanity
in this country, the same principle which would
justify this government in acceding to ysur spsii
cation, W. uld justify them in similar measure
should they deem, the circumstances of any case
sufficiently grave to call for their interposition.