“With front of brass but feet of clay,”

may be overturned—­easily overturned, from its fragile pedestal, if the glorious Republic of the United States opposes to it, with resolute attitude, THE LAW OF NATIONS, and does not abandon principles in favour of accomplished criminal facts.

The mournful condition of Hungary seems to be pointed out by Providence to the United States as an opportunity to save mankind from Russia without any sacrifice at all; whereas if this opportunity be lost—­I say it with the inspiration of prophecy—­there are many here in this Hall who will yet see the day when the United States shall have to wrestle for life and death with all Europe absorbed by Russia.

I know where I stand, gentlemen; I know your power and the indomitable, heroic spirit of your people.  It is not with the intention to create apprehension that I say this:  the people of the United States fears nobody on earth.  It may be that Russia, even after having absorbed Europe, will not dare to attack the United States directly.  But it may be that it will dare even this.  Some domestic dissension may come—­(no nation is safe against it)—­the passion of particular interest may cause some momentary discord.  Russia will foster it, by its secret diplomacy, to which nothing is sacred on earth; and when irritation comes to the pitch, and the ties of affection become for a moment loose, then perhaps Russia may step in at a moment of interior weakness, from which not the greatest nations are exempt.  Russia will begin by “divido,” and will perhaps come to “impero.”  All this may happen; I can say neither yes nor no; but one thing I am sure of, and that is, that Russia triumphant in Europe can and will attack you in your most vital interests, and can hurt you mortally, without even resorting to war.

Be sure, gentlemen, so soon as Russia has consolidated its undisputed preponderance, the first step will be to exclude the commerce of America from Europe by a prohibitory system of custom duties.  It will do it; it must do it.  Firstly, because commerce is the convoyer of principles.  That is more sure yet than what a gentleman of New York so eloquently said,—­that “the steam engine is a democrat.”  Absolutism could not for a single moment rule Europe with security, if Europe remained in commercial intercourse with republican America.  And secondly, Russia will exclude your trade from Europe, because (and let the great valley of the West mark it) because your immensely expanding agriculture is the most dangerous competitor to Russian wheat, or corn, in the markets of Europe.  Either you must be excluded from the trade with Europe, or Russia cannot find a market for its corn.