Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-24

ALREADY formed engagements, let them be fulfilled
with perfect good faith. Here let US stop.
Europe has set of primary interests, which
to US have none, or avery remote relation. Hence
she must be engaged in frequent controversies,
the causes of which are essentially foreign to our
concerns Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in
to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the
ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ord-
nary combinations aud collisions of her friend
ships enmIties.
Our detached and distant situation inyitesand
enables US TO pursue different course. III We
remain one people, under efficient Govern
-ment, the Periods not far OF. when We mas defy
material injury from external annoyance; when
we may take such attitude as vii. cause the
neutrality, We may at any time resolve upon, to
be scrupulousy respected; when belligerent ma
tons, under the impossibiIity of making acqusi-
tons upon US, will not lightly hazard the giving
Us provocation; when we may choose peace or
war, as our Interest, guided IL justice, shall
counsel. n, "A HTEvFTI gTNFT
Why forego the advantages Of so peculiar 4
situationl Why quit our TO stand upon for
eign groundl Why, by intervening our destiny
with that OF any part of Europe, entangle our
peace and prosperity in the tolls of European am
bition, rivalsiiip, interest, humor CT caprice2
1t Is our true policy 10 steer clear of permanent
alliances with any portion of the foreign world;
so far, mean. We now at liberty to do it;
for let me not be understood as capable OF
patrOnizing in6delity TO existing engagements. /
hold the maxim no less applicable to public than
to private affairs, that honesty is always the best
policy. repeat it, therefore, let those engage
ments be observed in their genuine sense But,
in my opinion, it is UNNECESSARY and would be I'M
wise 10 extend them
Taking care always TO keep ourselves, by suit
able establishments, on a respectable defensive
posture, We may safely trust TO temporary ALI
ances for extraordinary emergencies. ~
Harmony, liberal Intercourse with all nations,
are recommended by policy, humanity and inter
est But even our commercial policy should hold
an equal and impartial hand neither seeking nor
granting exclusive favors or preferences: consult
ing the natural course OF things diffusng and d.
yersifying by gentle means the streams of com
merce, but forcing nothing; establishing. with
powers so disposed, in order to give trade aStable
course, to define the rights of our merchants, and
to enable the Government to support them, con-
ventional rules of intercourse the best that pres
ent circumstances and mutual opinion viii per
init, but temporary, and liable to be from time to
! time abandoned or varied, as experience and cir
cumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in
view, that it is folly in nation to look for dis
interested fayors from another; that it must pay
! with a portion of its Independence for whatever
it may accept under that character; that, by such
acceptance it may place Itself in the condition of
having given equivalents for nominal favors, and
yet OF being reproached with iBgratitude for not
giving more There can be no greater error than
to expect or calculate upon real favors from ma
ton TO nation. Ii is Illusion, which experience
must cure, which just pride ought 10 discard
In offering to you, my countrymen, these coun-
sells of old and affectionate friend, dare not
I hope they will make the strong and lasting i'm
preston l could wish; that they will control the
usual current of the passions, OF prevent our IA
ton from running the course, winch has hitherto
marked the destiny of nations. But, If / may
even hatter myself. that they may be productive
of some partial benefit some occasional good /;
that they may now and then recur to moderate
the fury of party spirit. to warn against the mis-
chiefs OF foreign intrigue to guard against the
mpostlres OF pretended patriotism; this hope will
be full recompense for the Solicitude for your
welfare, by which they have been dictated.
How far in the discharge of my official duties
/ have been guided by the principles which have
been delineateds the public records and other evil
denceS of my conduct must witness to YOU and 70
the world. To myself, the assurance of my own
conscience is. that have least believed myself
to be guided by them.
In relation to the still subsisting war in Eu-
rope, my proclamation OF the 22d Of April, 1893,
is the index to nv plan. Sanctioned by your ap-
proving voice, and that of your representatives
in both houses of Congress, the spirit of that
measure has continually governed me. unin-
tiuenred by any attempts to deter or divert me
from it. ens -
After deliberate examination, with the aid of
the best lights could obtain, | was well satisfied
that our country, under all the circumstances of
the case, had right to take, and was bound in
duty and interest to take, neutral position.
Having taken it, determined, so far as should
depend upon me, to maintain it with moderation,
perseverance and frmness
The considerations which respect the right to
hold this conduct, it is not necessary on this oc-
lcasion to detail. / will only observe, that, ac-
cordng to my understanding of the matter, that
right SO far from being denied by any Of the
fbelgerent powers, has been virtually admitted
by all f. rsv f- as
The duty of holding a neutral conduct may be
inferred, Sithout anything more, from the obli-
CATION which justice and humanity impose on ev
cry nation, in cases in which it is free 10 act, to
maintain inviolate the relations of peace and am
ity towards other nations. .a
The inducements of interest, for observing that
conduct, will best be referred to your own refec-
ton and experience. With me, predominant
motive has been to endeavOr TO gain time 10 our
country to settle and mature its vet recent insti
tutions and to progress, without interruption, to
that degree of strength and consistency which is
necessary to give it, humanity speaking, the COM
mand of its own fortunes.
Though in reviewing the incidents of my adj
ministratiOn | am unconscious of Intentional err
ror; am, nevertheless, too sensible of my de-
fleets not to think it probable that ! NAV have
committed many. errors. Whatever they may
be, / feryently beseech the Almighty to avert or
mitigate the evils to which they may tend. |
shall also carry with me the hope that nv coun-
try will never cease to view them with Indulgence;
aud that after forty-fye wears of my life dedica-
ted to its service with upright ZEAL the faults
of incompetent abilities will be consigned 10 ob
liviOn as myself must soon be 70 the mansions Of
rest.
Relying on its kindness in this, as in other
things, and actuated 10y that fervent love towards
it which is so natural to a man who views. in it
the native soil of himself and his progenitOrs for
several generations, anticipate, with pleasing
expectation, that retreat in which i promise my
self to realize, without alloy, the sweet enjoy
ment of partaking. in the midst of my fellow
citizens, the benign influences Of good laws I'M
der free Government-the ever favorite object
Of my heaft-and the happy reward, as l trust,
of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers. y,
GEORGE WAsHISGToS.
UNITED STATES, Sept. IL, 1876.
Senator Cowan.
1t gives US much pleasure to learn that Sena-
tor Cowan, of this State. has expressed his inten
| ton 10 act with the conservative nartv in Con-