Year: 1870

HISTORICAL sOCIETY-ADDRESS DI ihb hN'"
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.


The sixty-sixth anniversary OF the founding
of the New-York Historical Society celebrated at
the Academy OF Music last evening. The house was
filed from the orchestra chairs to the topmost gallery
The Rev. Dr. Dewitt the venerable President OF tho
Society occupied the chair and among the wei-kno"h
gentlemen the platform were William Cullen Bryant
Bishop Potter the Rev. Dr. Vinton, Peter COOPER the
Hon. william u. Eyarts, Gen. Mcdowell, Chancellor
Crosby Prof Dwight, Prof Hitchcock, e. W. stoughtoh,
the Hon. Lyman Trenialn Prof. Morse, the Rev. Dr.
Bellows the Rev. DR.. Thompson, Judge Woodruff, Judge
DAILY the Rev Dr. Osgood, 8. Is. Chittenden, and A. A.
Low.


After music, and Q prayer offered by the Rev. DIR.
Potter OF Grace Church, the Chairman In q few com
pmentary remarks, introduced the orator OF the even
ing, the Hon. Charles Francis Adams, eI Minister to
England who proceeded to speak the struggle for
Neutrality in America"


MR.. ADAMs's ADDRESS.


You have honored me with an invitation 10 occupy
position which has been successfully held by many OF
the most eminent Of your own State and also OF
other States accept It with disrust, not less my
ability reach the highest standard attained by them
than by Of my disuse Of the habit OF public
speaking 1t Is easy for long obliged to school
himself to the rule Of saying as little as possible 10 DO
heard out OF doors, TO make an immediate transition,
and expose with freedom all that he may think upon
given subject Yet, confess, know Of no stronger
temptation that could have been offered to me to make
the than this well account Of the kind feel
ing that appears TO prompted the invitation as Of
the legitimate opening 1t affords to the indulgence OF my
fav0rite line Of speculation.


PROPOSE therefore, without further preface to enter
at once upon my subject to devote the brief period to
which hope conne my call on your attention to the
consideration Of single topic In the past history OF the
country refer to the establishment OF the great
principle of international law, that nation has right
70 be neutral in times Of if 1t pleases. think the
world owes the practical adoption OF this principle
mainly to the long and painful struggles OF the Govern
ment of the United States 1t will be my object on the
present occasion, by rapid review OF the chief events
connected with 1t, to show how 1t was done.


think 1t not unlikely that this statement may at first
cause little surprise. Some OF you may at once appeal
to the learned work OF Of the most eminent writers
OF your own State, Mr. Henry Wheaton, work now
recognized OF general authority over the CIVILIZED
world and which feel proud to say that possess
copy rendered into Chinese although cannot read
word Of It, and quote a rule laid down by him in the fol-
lowing terms:


hight every independent State remain at peace while other
State, engaged incosbe attribute Of sovereignty


To which reply that this may indeed be affirmed TO
he true now prior 10 the struggle that
we as a nation went through to sustain it.


Mr.. Adams then described the state of the country
during the administration OF Washington and the in
tense feeling excited In America by the scenes OF the
French Revolution. He continued: In the midst Of all
this formidable demonstration the question pressing
upon the attention Of Washington how this sudden phe
likely TO bear upon the new machinery he
had selected put in motion. Upon the Executive
particularly dey0lyed the establishment OF relations with
nations abroad What he to do in the complications
which were already making their appearance all over
Europei The a difficult one. BE had thus far
been called to do little in that way beyond organizing
formal diplomatic service abroad. The question would
mp the shape Of ENJOYS sent directly here.
For such applications, he must be at once prepared


RESPONSIBILITIES OF THS HEAD OF A NATION.


Aud here let me for moment stop the thread OF my
subject TO make observation upon the peculiar re-
sponsbty which rests upon the head Of nation in its
relations with external powers. 1t is OF nature which
be shared by the people at large. Collectively,


people feel than they reason and they are never
in condition to once. They are moreover, par
tcuarly prone to be swept by sudden passion toward
war especially If nstgated by the cunning devices of
plausible leaders II comparatively as easy therefore,
for demagOgue to stimulate them to "A fatal
It difficult for statesman, IN times OF excitement to
preserye power OF restraint which will secure happy
result Hence II follows that according 10 the course OF


public man. placed In position Of the highest responsi-
hy, Is held worthy of honor IL he controls the
tendencies which may be fatal 10 their welfare. or lie
condemned II he weakly or wickedy lets them go on to


You have st living within the borders of your noble
State citizen to whom trust may venture in pass


ing 10 allude illustrating the point desire TO make
When In the fearful struggle from which we have hap


s his oyay yentured upon the bold step Of seizing


vesse belonging to proud nation then III state OF





TWO Justly odons TO our people ny their share In the
rank treason which conspred tO overthrow our Govern
irg forthe first time to the very doctrines Of neutral


rights, which 1t had ever before been our duty TO main
tain against her when she Was beigerent, formally
demanded of us reparatiOn for the insult and the
ration Of those odoas from end OF the country TO
the other the loyal and the patriotic obyous Of the hon
oabe record OF the past and mindful only Of the Oppor
tany for present vengeance flew to the precedens which
the highest honOrs to the brave officer who


did the deed and insisted above all upon the retention II
hour that 1t invaded the elevated station and
prompted hssty appreciation from the head of the de
partmeat himself 10 seemed ~ there was no chance
left Of escaping collision in which the united voice OF
sll civilized nations would have Justly pronounced US in
the wrong 1t precisely IN that critical moment that
the statesman to whom lude calm In council, saga
eous IN action ana fearless OF sensnFe %nem @ an an
prepare the response in behalf OF the Gov
biity Of adhering to the precedents so honofabiy
established in earlier times. and OF recommending re-
traction OF the and surrender OF the and
his decision finally adopted by the President. do
not feel that am exaggerating when l claim for this
esstsnoe to the natuaon Of the hour that
IL not only correct in principle, but also that it
served the amiy OF the nations The two men were sur
rendered. They forthwith tell into obscurtty and
now buried IN oblivion. Where are they nowf Who
Knows and will add who csresi Yet 1t was for the pos
tered the perous hazard OF the II the Illus
trous statesman who saved us from that folly had never
service to his country In his life for that
alone he earned, though know not whether he will
oeye, the undying gratitude Of his country


SO much for kind Of responsibility Shall reverse
the picture and point ont out anotherf Yes. Look ut
France, bleeding and desperate enduring the last agony
Of national NOR hcaton Who ia II that has done this
Decd and suddenly plunged her from the hight OF pros
periy low into this abysst Behold the aiming at
absolute power by perjury and maud yet fully condoned
by the general suffrage Of too fae people instead Of
fulfilling the main duty OF his trustthe preservation OF
peace to happy and-punging headlcDg into conflict
with neighborlDg power upon doubtful issue in tho
sovereignty OF country over which he he'd no sway.
Tue pretense for hs hazardous step nat the pop


lar feeling IN France was too strong TO be resisted
Had that unhappy chief only possessed lAe couE
age 90 seize the single moment Of esSion
which might have saved the national honor, too
rashy compromised and preserved the peace Tor his peo
Pile they might indeed, in their anger have puei him
down from his gh estate But In such fall attended
by the OF bis country he could have earned
praise much higher than ever attended his days OF