The National Register.
London, England, 1818-02-09 00:00:00

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

ON THE CONDUCT OF TIIF. UNITED STATES

TOWARDS SOUTH AMERICA.

THE liberality, the exalted love of freedom, and the
philaatrophic policy of the people of America, have so
long been tile themes of praise with the " million" in
this country, that the recent conduct of their govern-
ment appears to them somewhat appalling. The "friends
of the human race," whom Providence has scattered up
and down amongst us, are utterly at a loss to divine
what motive can have impelled the sons of liberty to
the 'Vest, to become imitators of the" rotten legititna-
cy" of the old world. With hearts burning fur the
emancipation of all mankind, tl:cy faint at beholding
the cold-blooded indifference of the •( only free people
on the serf ice of the globe" towards a numerous nation
panting for the same goal of glory, which they them-
selves attained. These worshippers of a shadow for-
get that in the maintainance tf national interests, na-
tional honour will sometimes he compromised, and, that,
however it eity suit the policy of a republican govern-
ment, to ring the note of libcrlJ in the ears of the peo-
ple, its very existence will frequently depend on a prac-
tice, the positive reverse of that dictated by the fine-
spun theories of Utopian politicians.
Without referting to the practice of ancient repub-
lits, whose governments were doubtless the most eager
of conquest, and the most impatient of rivalry of any
on record; we have 'a -striking example of this in the
preient conduct of' the government of the United States,
towards their Southern Neighbours. The people, and
when we say this, \ve 111a131, the mass of the population
who, either by education are unfit, or by want of indi-
vidual interee.:,., are unapt to think deeply on political
events, seem, to u man, in favour of the independence
of Spanish America. Any popular government, while
such a feeling exists on the part of the people, would
be required to act with extreme caution; but in the
Can of the American government, more than usual
skill' is required. For, on the one hand, it has to
geard against the creation of a great neighbouring rival
power, and on the other, against ()Ending the feelings
depopulation, which, notwithstanding the discordant
Materialsof which it is compused,isagrced onone point—
that ofdeprceating every measure which is not ostensibly
in favour of liberty. The delicacy of its situation has
long kept the government of America, in a state of pi-
tiable indecision, it has connived at the most flagrant
violations of its neutrality, by the piratical cruisers atta-
ing under the patriot flag: while, on the other hand,
its open acts in defence of that neutrality, have been
marked by more than common severity. The impri-
sonment of the British officers at Philadelphia, however
justifiable according to the laws of nations, was a mea-
s..:re but ill according with the laxity of its practice on
ether occasions. This wavering system, unworthy a
great people, could not last long, indecision is the bane
of governments as well as of individuals, and to quiet
the clamour created by alternate severity and neglect,
seme decisive step was to be taken. Every considera-
tion )f national policy must have pointed out to the go-
sere-uent, 'the propriety of resisting, or at least, of ab-
staining from encouraging the progress of the patriotic
cause. It must have seen, that in proportion as the
people of South America, should advance in their inde-
pendence, in the same proportion would they become
rivals of the United States. Their' country is rich in
the same commodities, their soil more prolific, their cli-
mate more congenial, and if the precious metals be
a benefit, they have them in a superior degree to the
rest of the world.

To opp tie the progress of Independ,mev, therefore,
Teemed a necessary step, but to do it in a way that
should produce an irmr.taiate benefit to the s:ate and