The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-06-27
America and Poland-The Ho..
OF Mr.. Seward and the Russian
WAsuINGrnN MAJ

VI. MERCER mas read to me and at NV
request has left me copy of a dispatch
dated April %, which he has received from,
M. Drouyn de Lhuys, and which refers ~
the important events now taking place in
roland and engaging the serious attention
OF the principal States of Western Eurone
Mr.. MERCER at the same time has comnu'
nicated to me copy of dispatch relative
10 the same events which has been adj.
dressed by M. Drouyn de Lhuys to the
Einbassador OF France at st. Petersburg.
by the first of these documents wo
learn that the step taken by the Cabinet Of
Paris, with view to exercising moral in
Huence upon his Ma esty the Emperor of
Russia, has received the appreciation and
the concurrence of the Cabinets of Vienna
and London, and that the Emperor of the
French, approaching the value of orr fra.
ditional sympathy for Poland on the one
hand and our ancient friendship for Rms.
STA on the other, would be happy to
obtain the cooperation of the Govern mont
of the United States in this important uues-
ton.
''Having taken counsel with the Presi-
dent, L am now able to communicate TO yo,,
our views on this subject, for the inforna.
ton of M. Drouyn de Ihuys.
''The American Government is deeplv
sensible of this proof of the friendship Of
the Emperor of the French in asking its
cooperation upon a subject doubiy i'm
portant in its relations to Order and to
Humanity. 1t has been no less favorably
impressed with the sentiments which the
Emperor Napoleon has expressed in so
delicate manner at st. Petersburg and
with the appeal which he bas made to the
noblest of human sympathies. The en-
llghtened and humane character of the
Emperor OF Russia, which has recently
shown itself in the liberation of so large a
number of serfs in his domains, gives us
the assurance that this appeal will be ac-
cepted, and that it will meet at St. Pc
tersburg with all the good will compatible
with the general well-being of the vast
States which the Emperor of Russia gov
erns with so much wisdom and modera-
ton.
Nevertheless, notwithstanding the so
favorable reception which we are disposed
to give to the suggestion of the Emperor of
the French, the American Government
finds an insurmountable difficulty in asso-
ciating itself, by an active cooperation,
with the Cabinets of Paris, London and vi
emma, as it is requested. ..
Having founded our institutions upon
the Rights of Man, the founders of our Re-
public have always been regarded as polit-
ical refOrmers, and it soon became evident
that the revolutionists ofiall countries coun-
ted upon the effective sympathy of the L.
States, if not upon their active assistance
and protection. Our noble Constitution
had hardly been established, when it be-
came Indispensable for the Government of
the United States TO examine to what de-
gree it was compatible with our security
and wellbeing to interfere in the political
affairs of foreign States, whether by an al
lance or any concerted action with other
Powers, or otherwise. An urgent appeal of
this kind was addressed to us with regard
to France. This appeal was sanctioned by
and acquired new strength from the treaty
Of alliance and defense which then existed
and without which, it must be confessed to
the honor of France, our sovereignty and
would not have been so
promptly secured.
''This appeal touched so profoundly the
heart of the American people, that it was
only the Difference felt for the Father of his
Country, then at the apogee of his moral
greatness, that compelled it to declare that,
in view of the condition of the Republic, of
the character Of it's constituent parts, and
the nature of its exceptional
Constitution, the American people must
contine itselfto advancing the cause of pro-
gress in the world by exercising at home a
wise power of self-government, but keep
ing aloof from all foreign alliance, inter-
vention, or interference.
''It is true that Washington believed that
a time would come when, our institutions
being firmly consolidated. and working
in the deliberations Of foreign powers, to
the general advantage of all nations
Since that time, many occasions have
arisen for departing from a rule which, at
the first glance, might seem to be an newt
able cause of isolation. One was an invita-
ton to join the Congress of the Spanish
States of America, then ust liberated
Another was the urgent appealo Hungary
to aid her in the recovery OF her ancient
and illustrOus independence. Still another
the project to guarantee Cuba to Spain, con-
jointly with France and Great Britian.-
More recently, the invitation to cooperate
with Spain, France and Great Britain in
Mexico; and later still, the proposition of
some OF the Spanish American States to
establish an international council for the
republican States of this Continent. All
these suggestions were, IN succession, de-
clined by our Government. and this de-
cisOn was each time approved by the
judgment of the American people. Our
policy of non-intervention, however vigor-
Gus and absolute 1t may appear to others,
has thus become traditional policy, W hich
ought not to be abandoned, except upon
urgent occasions ola manifest necessity. 1t
would be still less wise to deviate from it
when local, though we hope transitory
instruction, deprives our Government of
the advice of one part of the American peo-
pie, to which so grave a deviation from the
SStdDiiSIltu pOll'f "OttiNt NC ie'I IloHI DS-
ing Indifferent.
1.-THE President does not doubt a moment
that the Emperor Napoleon will see a proof
of the Difference for him and the French
people as well as a desire to Cooperate for
the maintenance OF peace and the progress
of humanity in Europe, in this fidelity to
our traditional policy, the observance of
which has contributed to our security and,
we hope, also to the interests OF Humani-
ty."
The Europe also publishes the substance
of the reply of Prince Gortchakoff, which is
addressed, not to the Russian Minister in
Washington, but to the American Embas-
sador at st. Petersburg, in order thus to be
at liberty to publish it at once in the Off
cial paper of ST. Petersburg, prince
Gorchakoff," The Europe says, "expres-
SEES, in the name of the Emperor, his august
master, the satisfaction and the gratitude
which the heart of his Majesty has felt by
seeing the Imperial policy and intentions
so well appreciated by the American peo-
pie. He refers, by the way, to revolutions,
their doctrines, and the consequences
which they bring inevitably in their train,
and he expresses his wish for the pacitica-
ton of the American Republic" #a.s..