Franklin Pierce: “Is it wise to augment this excess by encouraging hopes of sudden wealth expected to flow from magnificent schemes…”

The wise theory of this Government, so early adopted and steadily pursued, of avoiding all entangling alliances has hitherto exempted it from many complications in which it would otherwise have become involved.

This rapid growth has resulted from the legitimate exercise of sovereign rights belonging alike to all nations, and by many liberally exercised.

There is no condemnation which the voice of freedom will not pronounce upon us should we prove faithless to this great trust.

Long experience has shown that, in general, when the principal powers of Europe are engaged in war the rights of neutral nations are endangered.