The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-23
SPEECH OF HON. CHAS. SUMNER On
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS

The New OTk papers OF the ltl devote
large portion OF their space 10 the great speeei
Of the Hon. Charles Sumner on our Foreign Re
lAtions, delivered on Thursday evening, the lOIh
at the Cooper Institute IL that city. We Car
give but the propositions discussed bs the dis
tinguished gentleman in his speech OF over twen
ty columns OF eloss print aud small tgps. As il
appears III the New York Tribune, and the al
mirable passage on D." our duties, with which h,
closed. The New York Tribune says.
Last evening the Cooper Institute vas filed tC
OverfoWing With a polite and enthusiastic au
dience, convened - hear the Hon. Charles sum
ner deliver his address on The subject of oui
Foreign Relations.
Long before the time appointed for opening
the meeting every seat was occupied and the
platform and alsles were crowded with spec
tatOrs.
When the distinguished Senator made his ap
pearance, he was greeted with the warmest dem.
onstratiOns Of approval, cheer. following cheer
until the vast hall shook with the ringing plaudl
of the enthusiastic and patriotic auditors.
The Hon. David Dudley Field introduced the
speaker in few appropriate remarks, which
we're loudly cheered.
Mr.. Sumner was in good health and spirits
and spoke with his usual fervor and power:
LLOw-CITIzESs; From the beginning of the
war in which we are now engaged, the public
interest has alternated anxiOusly between the
current of events at home and the more distant
abroad. Foreign Relations have been hardly
less absorbing than Domestic Relations Al
times she latter have seemed 10 wait upon the
former, and packet from Europe has been like
messenger from the seat OF war. RumOrs o
Foreign Intervention are constant, now in the
form of Mediation, now in the form of RecOgni-
ton and more than once the country has beer
summoned to confront the idea of England. anC
OF France, too, in open combination with Rebe
SlavemOngers battling, in the name of Slavery
to build an infamous Power on the destruction
of this Republic
IL may be well for us 10 turn aside from battle
and siege here at home-trOm the blazing lines
ef Gettysburg, Nieksburg and CharlesLon-tC
glance for a moment at the perils from abroad
OF course | mean from England and France, fol
these are the only Foreign Powers that thus far
have been moved 10 intermeddle on the side Of
Slavery. The subject to which | now invite
attention may not have the attraction OF waving
standards or victorious marches, but more than
any conflict OF arms, II concerns the civilization
of the age. II Foreign Powers can Justly inter
tere against Human Freedom, this Republic vii
not be the only sufferer.
There Is always natural order in unfolding
a subject, and | shall try to pursue it on this oc
casion, under the following heads:
First. The perils to our country from FOreigi
Powers, especially as foreshadowed III the umex
pected and persistent conduct Of England anC
France since the outbreak of the war
Second. The nature of Foreign Intery entiol
by Mediation, with the principles applicable
thereto as illustrated by historic instances
showing especially how England, by her conspic
uous, widespread and most determined interven
ton to promote the extinction of African Slavery
is irrevocGbly committed against any acl Oi
policy that can encourage Mis criminal pre-
tension.
Third The nature OF Foreign Intervention
by Recognition, with the principles applicable
thereto, as illustrated by historic instances
showing that by the practice OF nations, and es
pecally by the declared sentiments Of British
Statesmen, there can BE- no Foreign Recognition
Fl -, T,snrce~s De- II ----s--s Te
Independence is still pending.
Fourth. The moral impossibility of FOreigl
Recognition, even if the pretended power b.
de facto Independent, where it is composed o
Rebel Slavemongers seeking 10 found a nev
Power with Slavery for its declared 'corne
stone" Pardon the truthful plainness Of th
terms which l employ. l am to speak no
merely of shareholders but of people to whOr
slavery is passion and a busness-therefcr
SlavemOngers; now in Rebellion for the sake G
Savery-thereiore SavemOngers.
FIN. The absurdity and wrong Of concedin
| Ocean Beligerencg TO pretended Power whic
| is in the first place without a Prize COurt-s
that it cannot be an Ocean Beligerency IN ta'
and which, in the second place, even if Oces
I Ill q a.fa
ter that the Recognition Is a moral impOssibilit,
Mr.. Summers remarks under each of tn
above heads, would hardly fall short Of the pr'
portions of speech-and for judiciously apple
learning, comprehensive power of argumen
and earnest, dignifed eloquence, is such a NOM
meat of statesmanlike ability a. is rarely M
with, even in the past-in those DAYS whe
L" there we're giants on the earth" But, as v
have said, We can only give the passage at II
close, in which he adverts to
OUR DUTIES.
If the field that we have trsversed has bee
ample, it has been frightened always by Il
light Of Internal Justice, exposing clearly fro
beginning TO end the sacred landmarks of dut
have been frank, Disgusting nothing and kee
ing nothing back so that you have been able
see the perils to which the Republic is expos
from the natural tendency of war TO breed va
as exhibited in the examples of history, and al
from the fatal proclivity of Foreign Powers
intermeddle, as exhibited in recent instances
querulous criticism or intrusive proposition,
adverse to the good cause, while pirate shi
, have been permitted to depredate on our col
merce then how the best historic instances {,
tify in favor of Freedom, and how all interve
ton OF every kind, whether by proffer Of me-
alton or otherwise, becomes intolerable when
: influence tends to the establishment of th
soulless anomaly, prOfessed Republic built
> the hopeleesness and everlasting bondage OF
, rsce-and especially how Great Britain is
credly engaged by all the logic Of her histo
/ and all her traditions in unbroken lineage agsiI
! any such unutterable baseBess; then how all I
Christian Powers, constituting the Family
Nations, are finally bound to set their f.,
> against any Recognition Of the embryo Cove
ment Of Rebel Slsvemongers on two grounC
first. because its Independence j. not in fGct
tablished and secondly, because, even if IN T
established, its Recognition is impossible vi
out criminal completely with Slavery; and last
how these same Christian Powers are 6rn
bound by the same twO-fOld reasons against q
=, concessions Of Ocean rights TO this hideC
: pretender.
: Ii only remains that the Republic should
itself TO the height Of its great duties. Wal
;. hard to bear-EIth it waste, It's pains,
- wounds its funerals Rut in this var ~ \,