Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-09-17
SPEECH OF HON CHARLES SUMNER.


SPEECH OF HON CHARLES SUMNER.
FELLOW CITIZENS: From the beginning of the war
in which now engaged the public interest hrs
altenatd anxiously between the current Of events at
home and the distant current abroad Foreign ela
lions have been hardly less absorbing than domestic rela
tons At times the latter seemed 10 hang upon the
forne r. ard packet from Europe hae been Ike mes
SCI ger from the seat of war kumors Of foreign inter
yeniion constant IN the form OF mediation, ana
in the form OF recognition and more than once the
country has been summoned to confront the idea OF Eng
land and of France too in pen combination with rebel
slave mongers battling in the name OF slavery 10 build an
Infamous power the destruction of this Republic.
1t may be we'll for 10 turn aside irom battle and siege
here at home-from the blazing lines of Gettysburg Weeks
burg and Charleson-o glance for moment at the pei
from abb Dad of course mean from England and France
for these the only foreign Powers that thus far have
been moved interIneddle the side Of slavery The
SUBJECT which now invite attention may no. have the
attraction Of waving standards victorious marches but
than any couhlct of arms it concerns the cvznton
of the age II foreign Powers justly interfere against
human freedom, this kerub ic will not be the only SUI
ferer.
There is always natural order in unfolding subject,
and shall try to pursue it on this occasion under the fol-
low ing heads:
First The perils to our country from foreign Powers,
especially toreshadoxed in the unexpected and persist
ent conduct England aud France the outbreak of
the
Secondly The nature of foreign Intervention by media
tion with ihs principles applicable thereto as illustrate
by historic instances showing especially how England by
her conspicuous, widespread and most determined later
veuon 10 promote the extinction of African slavery as n
TerOcaby committed against act or policy that can en-
courage this criminal pretensi0n.
Thirdly. The nature of foreign Intervention by recogni.
ton with the principles applicable thereto as illustrated
by historic MISUNDERSTANDING that BY the practice OF ma
lions and especially by the declared sentiments of British
statesmen there be foreign recognition Of an nsar
gent Potcer 1here the contest for indTendeEce IS stM
pending. -
Fouriu The moral mpossibity Of foreign recognition,
even If the pretended power be de fdcto independent
where it is composed of rebel save-monger serkng TO
a L. it5 1anln cd stann
stone" Pardon The truthful psinGess of the terms which
employ TO speak not merely Of shareholders, but
of people whom slavery pas ion and
fore aye-mongers in rebellion for the sake o. slave
ry-therefpre rebel slaye-morgers.
Filthy The absurdty and wrong Of conceding ocean
begertney pretended Power which, in the hrstPace,
is without prize coHrt-so that it cannot be an ocean
belRerent in factahd which, in the second place. even if
an ocean begeren ac is Of such odous character
that it's recognition il moral impossbility.
From this review touching upoA the present and the
past leaning upon history and upon law enlightened al
ways by principles which unerrrg guide, our con-
clusion will be easy.
I-PERns FROM FOREIGN POWERS.
[Uuder this head Mr. Sumner recites at length the in
stances ia which, he conceves the Governments Of
Great Britain and France have Manifested unfendly
feeling towards this country The points Of hs argument
in this part his discourse ecaptuisted in edto
rial columns.
u-FoREIGs ISTERvESTIos BY MEDIATION OR INTER.
There is another branch of the subject which is not less
important Considering all thee things and especially how
great Powers abroad have constantly menaced nerSen
ton in war now by criticism and now by proiiers OF
mediation all tending painfully to something further, u
becomes what according to the principles OF 10
ternaonal law and the examples Of history will justify
foreign Intervention IN OF the forms which may take
And here there is remark which may be made at the
outset Nations eqna in the eye Of international law
so that what is right for is right for all 1t follows
that nation justly exercise right which 1t is not
.,pdar hLan irc here f,rr
should be reversed, there nothing which Erg
land and France have proposed Which they may
hereafter propose which it will not be our equal right to
propose when ireland India rebel when
France in the hroes Of it's next revolution Generously
and for sake Of that international comfy which should
be lightly hszarded may reject the precedents they
now furnish but it Will be hard for them to complain #
we follow them
Foreign Intervention liza face inconsistent with every
idea national independence which in itself nothing
than the conceded right Of uaton to rest unds
furbed long does not disturb others II nations
stood absolutely alone, dsassocatad om each other
that v hat passed in had little Influence in
other only tyranncs ineImeddlng spirit could fail
10 recognise this right But civil cation elf by drawing
Laons together aud bringing theminto sociey
has brought them under reciprocal Influence, that
nation act suffer BY itself alo e. Out # the
relations and Of good MISUNDERSTANDING
Of course the admitted right Of sedefencesprnRs the
only justification spolgy which be found for foreign
which is the general term to signify inter
position the affairs Of another country, whatever form
il may take. Much il done under the name Of good
and much also by military power whether 10 the declared
will Of superior force directly by Recognition Of
indpendenoe also another instance Intervention auy
interference. If pesceable it must BE- judged by
its motive aud tendency forcibe will naturally be
sisted by force.
Intervention may be between two more nations, il
may be- between the two parties to civil war; aud yet
again may where there foreign domestic
In each case il should be governed strictly by the
principles except perhaps that in the Of civil war
there should be careful consideration, not only Of
the rights but OF the suscepbes Of nation severely
tried Th- ia the obvious suggestion of humanity Indeed
Intervention between nations only form Of
participation III foreign but Intervention is inter
seddDg in the domestic Of another nation OF
whoever acs at the otn limitation Of the bsiger
parties, order to compose bloody STRIFE will be en-
titled the blessings which belong to the peacemh
but if unibvited acting only at the invitation of one
party he will be careful 10 proceed with reserve and ten
deuess in the spirit OF peace and will conne his action
10 prOher Of good Offices in the form Of mediation or in.
tereesion uuets he is ready for Such prefer may
be declined without offence. But it be forgotten
that, hre SIDE IS obpiousy fighting for barb uism
any Intervention, whatever form it may takef only by
capous criticism calculated to give
if not fusl successis plainly immoral If not contrary
TO the law II nations, 1t ought to be
Intervention, IN the spirit Of peace and for the cake Of
peace, Of the rehnemens Of modern civilization
Intervention IN the spirit Of If for the cake Of
war has filed large space history, aud modern
But all these Instances may be grouped under
first ntervensiUn IN external affairs and secondly inter
gention in inrnat sars The FIRST may be illustrated by
the intervention of the Elecor Maurice Of Saxony against
Charles "; OF Krg William against Louis XIV Of Rus.
STA and France, in the years Of Russia again
in Alvp kut,.o