The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-24


war with the United States, and before
they are on Of it they will be shaken
to their foundations by a general
European revolutionary convulsion
which will far eclipse in its sanguinary
struggles and radical changes the
twenty-five years OF wars and recon-
structions which followed the setting
up of the first French Republic. The
ruling aristocsacy of England and the
Emperor and his satellites of France,
in our late struggle, have been against
us: and have given the rebellion their
moral and material aid to the verge of
an open alliance. They have done all
they safely could do to secure the de-
struction Of the only Republic they
had to fear. They have failed. We
have triumphed. How are they to
escape the consequences?
President johnson is called upon to
| initiate and establish a new foreign
policy, embracing the Monroe doctrine,
American rights, neutral rights, bel
l'gerent rights, insurrectionary rights,
p'ratical rights, and the metes and
bounds Of all these rights, or wrongs,
rather, as construed by En- gland and
France during the last four years.
That President johnson in these things
will vlndlcate the just claims Of the
country it is not questioned. but that,
in dealing separately with France and
England, all those complications will
be avoided likely to kindle the flames
of European war it is not so certain.
For the sake of universal peace, how
ever, he is now in position to initiate
a general and comprehensive adjust
ment of American and European
affairs, political and commercial, in
the simple proposition for a general
Congress Of naiious..
The call for this Congress might be
extended not only to all the indcpen.
dent States of America and Of europe,
but 10 the leading nations Of Africa
and Asia, so as to embrace the whole
world in the framing of an authorita>
tive law of nations. Paris would be
the most eligible capital for the FIRST
session of this Congress; but if a
second should be found desirable,
Washington would be the proper
place, in view OF the claims of this
continent and this country to the dis
tinction. Through the deliberations
of such a Congress not only might the
Monroe doctrine be established peace
ably: and the m,blic law in reference
to maritime; belligerent and neutral
rights, and the status of instructions,
but the disputed boundaries of many
States in both hemispheres might be
adjusted, and even the Holy Father of
Rome might be quietly provided a
permanent place Of refuge and the
worlds protection.
We do not want Canada, nor
Mexico, nor Cuba. Situated as we
are, in tie heart Of the temperate zone,
and possessing the inexhaustible and
varied resources of great continent
looking out upon Asia, Europe and
Africa and the isles OF the sea, we
have territory enough for the comfort
abba. maintenance of three hundred |
millions Of people. We have sea
room enough, land enough, margin
enough for thousand years. But if
the Governments shall fail to meet
and settle the questions we have indi>
Gated, American public opinion in
some way will enforce a settlement,
regardless of the revolutionary conse-
quences to England, France and the
other great powers of Europe. AS
peace offering to them, therefore, we
would earnestly invite ,he attention of
President johnson to the proposition