Star.
London, England, 1818-01-15 00:00:00

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A.VIERICA.

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HOUSE 4F REPRESEATIVES, DECEMBER 5.
Mr. BALE alui SMITH' of Virginia, appeared and
wok his seat.
Sundry Petitions were received, and severally re-
ferred to various Committees; when
Mr. ROBERTSON, of Louisiana, offered the folltaw•
ing Resolution for consideration: t
n Resolved, That the President of the United States be L
quested to lay before the House of Repiamstatiees ens* Wee*
matlon as he may possess and think proper to
l,tive to the Independence and poliCual coustitlosalla=at
of Spanish America." • ' .f..,
Mle Resolution baring been read,
Mr. ROBERTSON said, that he supposedthere Weed
be no objection to the adoption of the Resolution
which he had just submitted to the consideration of
the House. Ile found, from the late Message of the
President, that the attention of the House, as well as
of the nation, had been, in a general way, directed to
the situation of the Provinces of Spanish America.
The President had observed too, and very truly, that
the citizens of the United States sympathized in the
events which affected their neighbours. Mr. Robert-,
son said, that as far back as the year 1811, this sub-
ject had excited considerable interest ; that a Com-
mittee had been raised ; the Declaratier: of Indepen-
dencei and the Constitution of Venezuela, • with er
information, laid before it by the then President,
and a Report on them submitted to the House.--
-The Report, among other things, expressed much
good-will towards the Venezuelans, and an inten-
tion to acknowledge their independence, whenever
that independence should be achieved. From that
time till the present, silence had been observed in re-
gard to the affairs of that part of the Continent.—
The reason was obvious; we were soon after engaged
in war with England, and since the peace, our own
pressing concerns had occupied our attention. The
President has spoken, Sir, of the interest and the
sympathy we feel in the affairs of our southern neigh-
bours. Perhaps it may be said with truth, that no
subject excites, throughout the civilized world, a
' stronger interest, than the contest in which the Pro-
vinces of Spanish America are engaged. Every wind
that blows wafts to our shores the schemes and spe-
culations of European Statesmen and Politicians ;
fibril the frozen regions of the North, to the milder
climes, of the Peninsula, it elicits remark, and corn-
Mantis attention. Even Alexander, he who indices
Epistles about Peace and Bible Societies, while he
whets the sword of battle, and prepares the weapons'
of destruction, he, it is said, is about to furnish his
Cossacks, to add to the horrors of, as it is already
called, the war of death. The thunders of the Pope,
too, the head of the Christian Church, begin to be
heard, and no doubt we shall soon see his anathemas
giving up the people of South America, bodY and
. soul, to the punishments due here and hereafter to
the crimes of Rebellion and Republicanism. If
then, to Governments across the AtlantiC the situa-
tion of this people be thus interesting, surely it is not
a matter of surprise that the Citizens of the United
States should with some solicitude turn their attention
towards them. Seery republican in the United States
must lament their disasters and exult in ebeir. tri-
urnths : they do but follow the example we have set
thou; we owe our glory and our fame to resistance
to whim:7 power, and the people of Spanish Ame-
rica, and all others groaning under oppression, must
owe their elevation and worth of character to the
same circumstance. They do but folloW in our
footsteps ; it is in vain to deny or disguise the fact ;
it is known throughout the world—whatever of
injury, despotism or priestcraft have sustained, whe.
ther from the Revolution of France, or that which
now, I hope, figurishes in our hemisphere, is laid
to the accounv.9f our glorious Revolution, and
the excellent ifitf.ciples of our Constitution. It is
to be regretted, Mr. Speaker,, that our acquaint-
ance with the people of Spanish America is not more
particular and intimate than it is : we entertain butl
one sentiment about thlpei—our feelings are all in
unison ; yet we differ ate} dispute on- a variety of
psinti, which it is desirable should
remain in doubt. Mexico, Chili, Bue-
nosno longer suf-
feredatirth to
Ayres, Venezuela, New Gren are they inde-
pendent?. Are they struggling for independence, or
have they yielded to their European tyrant? Have
they made known their situation to the Executive De-
partment? Have they demanded to be recognized
a.independent sovereignties? Do they govern them.
selves ; elect their agents, legislature, executive and
judiciary ; lay-and collect taxes, raise and support ar-
mies and navies? It is possible these facts are in the
possession of the President ; it is very well known that
there have been agents, men of high respectability,
sent publicly from the Governments of Venezuela,
New Grenada, Buenos Ayres, and Mexico, to this
country, and, for what I know, from other provinces.
• It is probable that they have not remained silent, but
whatever they may have said has not been. made
known to this House, or to this nation. As our Go-
veriunent is essentially popular, I wish information
to be given to the people. I wish for information, that
our judgments may sanction sentiments our hearts
so warmly approve. I do not mean, Mr. Speaker,
to commit myself in regard to my future course—
it must, to a certain extent, depend upon circum-
stances. This House will act as circumstances may
require, but for myself I have no hesitation to.say,
that if it shall appear that the provinces of Spanish
America, or any of them, are really independent, no
earthly consideration shall prevent me, in my public
character, from acknowledging them as Sovereign

States.
Mr. FORSYTH said he was too well acquainted with
the temper of the people of the United States on
this subject, to oppose any motion for inquiring into
it—such was not his object ; but he knew from
experience, that some inquiries were proper and some.,
dangerous. In this case, he thought that all which
could be known ought to be known ;but he suggested
to the mover of the resolution, whether it was not too
broad in its call ad the Executive' and whether it
ought not to corm& the usual qualifieation of ex-
cepting such infortriation as the President might deem
the commune aten of incompatible with the public
inter? Mr.; Forsyth presumed the President had
edinsounicated AI that he knew, or all that he wished
C.ongress to Lwow on the subject ; and as it was usual,
It
in requestin Information of Executive, to ask for
such linty public interest would, in his opinion,
permit to tit' lased, he proposed so to modify this

motion, in which shape oul7 could he COPP* $0
vote for it.
Mr. RONERTSON siguified his-beady Sessulttralk
Portsrries: proposition. .
The ites4i. tton passed near. co u modified, soll
a Committee of two was appointed to wait open she
President with it.

. .
i i,
•
. s
. t
. ...r, ,
, - motion, in
AMERICA t vote for it.
--.-___ Mr. ROM
HOUSE 4F REPRESEATIVES, DECEMBER s. r°,„,_
_115rT5.47 1
Mr. BALE SMITH, of Virginia, appeared and a Commute
wok his seat. President ve
Sundry Petitions were received, and severally re-
ferred to 'rations Committees; when
Mr. ROBERTSON, of Louisiana, offered the follow-
.
illßesolution for consideration: k
Resolved, That the President of the United Stud> be rt. s?-Urti ilt4
quested to lay before the House of Repiaetitatives suah tr.for., . **TORS,
11 notion as he may possess and think proper to essinaniukar..., rep .tint step'
l,tive to the Independence and poliCual coudition of the provinefee GArr. At je,.
of Spanish America." Ete. &c.
'The Resolution having been read, •
Mr. ROBERTSON said, that he supposecithere would '4" IstilA
bytl
,
be no objection to the adoption of the Resolution
and lribmereatet
which he had just submitted to the consideration of
the House. He found, from the late Message of the '
,
President, that the attention of the House, as well as bean more
f‘ of the nation, had been, in a general way, directed to
the situation of the Provinces of Spanish America.
..,, '
able
Ttonhthabeit
who
i* ' The President had observed too, and very truly, that, for Oita
___',
the citizens of the United States sympathized in the ic`i Vence;
events which affected their neighbours. Mr. Robert-
have belnic
son said, that as far back as the year 1811, this sub- Spanish :-
, re
i ject had excited considerable interest; that a corn-
the Govern
• mittee had been raised ; the Declaratierr of Indr-
er mana prese
dence and the Constitution of Venezuela, • with
information, laid before it by the then President, your evils.
tided to n
and a Report on them submitted to the House.—
answer the
—The Report, among other things, expressed much
be i
disl
odge
good-will towards the Venezuelans, and an inten- which
they 1
bon to acknowledge their independence, whenever
that independence should be achieved. From that „ HeiS.qifi
time till the present, silence had been observed in re-
gard to the affairs of that part of the Continent.—
The reason was obvious; we were soon after engaged DECREE
r
it . in war with England, and since the peace peace, our own For the en
- Chants, and il
pressing concerns had occupied our attention. The der and .
1 , President has spoken, Sir, of the interest and the qucoce of tb
sympathy we feel in the affairs of our southern neigh- merchandize
bours. Perhaps it may be said with truth, that no Chterre„,
cult'
!
Pi subject excites, throughout the civilized world, a ast. Any
' stronger interest, than the contest in which the Pro- or use, Wit
winces of Spanish America are engaged. Every wind diminution o
that blows wafts to our shores the schemes and ape- the lame ye
enlations of European Statesmen and Politicians ; ltd. Any a
fromthe frozen regions of the North, to the milder Lees„ Alan
i clines, of the Peninsula, it elicits remark, and corn- above esprei
Mantis attention. Even Alexander, he who indices ,
__i'i„ 4.11,,/ f.
Epistles about Peace and Bible Societies, while he, iltrn.Zo"y`
lit,. t .
whets the sword of battle, and prepares the weapons Lead, Shan ;
of destruction, he, it is said, is about to furnish his nth. awl
Cossacks, to add to the horrors of, as it is already .1-each en all
called, the war of death. The thunders of the Pope, ate.
Aantz I
too, the head of the Christian Church, begin to be . 7,1:. Any
heard, and no doubt we shall soon see his anathemas Lead, shall
! giving up the people of South America, body and
R I i •exempt frog
li f'
soul, to the punishments due here and hereafter to 'PT:" °I
the crimes of Rebellion and Republicanism. If .„4 Flints, ,
then, to Governments across the Atlantic the situa- above specit
tion of dais people be thus interesting, surely it is not
a matter of surprise that the Citizens of the United A:nun
who carry
atlenCt Of tb
States should with some solicitude turn their attention t,„„„,.„,,,,,,i
11 towards them. Emery republican in the United States the sacrifice
must lament their disasters and exult in sheir tri- die-it countr
4 urtrth es : they do but follow the example we hax set 4444"ntaa'
India Island
thou.; we wee our glory and our fame to resistance the Supreme
to arbitrary power, and the people of Spanish Ame- imported it
rice, and all callers groaning under oppression, must Bat and b<
n ar
owe their elevation and worth of character to the Per
sha cebe ob,a,
sane circumstance. They do but follow in our the G
footsteps ; it is in vain to deny or disguise the fact ; to SO, they 1
it is known throughout the world—whatever of The swill
injury, despotism or priestcraft have sustained, whe. tht:ere 111,ot
Cher from the Revolution of France, or that which be condemn
now, I hope, figurishes in our hemisphere, is laid afterwards r
• to the account'.of our glorious Revolution, and for as such 1
the excellent ifdif.ciples of our Constitution. It is I,l_, Gila.
to be regretted, Mr. Speaker,• that our acquaint-
...
ance with the people of Spanish America is not more • 1
• i . - particular and intimate than it is : we entertain but
one
e sentiment about thlim—our feelings are all in .
unison ; yet we differ ate} dispute on- a variety of
peinti, which it is desirable should
remain in doubt. Mexico, Chili, Rue- If no longer suf-
feredatiwth
to ej- we!
nos Ayres, Venezuela, New Gren are they inde- ou of t
• pendent ? Are they struggling for independence, or beam'
,
have they yielded to their European tyrant ? Have
they made known their situation to the Executive De- 23d, ./f
~ , .
partment ? Have they demanded to be recognized
a.independent sovereignties? Do they govern them- Ti
, selves ; elect their agents, legislature, executive and
'r
judiciary ; lay and collect taxes, raise and support ar- n
mies and navies? It is possible these facts are in the
i 5 Reduce
, possession of the President ; it is very well known that
Cons. f
to , . there have been agents, men of high respectability,
. sent publicly from the Governments of Venezuela, Navy 1
New Grenada, Buenos Ayres, and Mexico, to this Exchec
;,.., ,i country, and, for what I know, from other provinces.
•It is probable that they have not remained silent, but Th.
Ti
' whatever they may have said has not been. made
,
' .it known to this House, or to this nation. As our Go- this morn
veriunent is essentially popular, I wish information The on
1•••, t .t• to. be given to the people. I wish for information) that, is a repo:
our judgments may sanction sentiments our hearts of M. Sol
so warmly approve. I do not mean, Mr. Speaker,
.State of 1
' • to commit myself in regard to my uture course—was occu
, .
.' st : it must, to a certain extent, depend upon circum-
.. • I , stances. This House will act as circumstances may sate, M.
require, but for myself I have no hesitation to.say, Some ter
4 that if it shall appear that the provinces of Spanish „ja
:1 '', America, or any of them, are really independent, no
earthly consideration shall prevent me, in my public
primary
character, from achlowlesiging them as Sqvereige struction
States. of obser
i Mr. FORSYTH said he was too well acquainted with
spirit of
the temper of the people of the United States on less prec
, v this subject, to oppose any motion for inquiring into
, 1 1 it—such was not his object ; but he knew from intentiox
ii; ' experience, that some inquiries were proper and some to you,
I . dangerous. In this case, he thought that all which to parti
could be known ought to be known ;but he suggested meaning
I .
to the mover of the resolution, whether it was not too ;„,4,„„:,
broad in its call cret the Executive' and whether it"l7'
. ought not to cont.& the usual qualifieation of ex- ustraiwn
i
1 cepting such infortnation as the President might deem be afraic
the communication of incompatible with the public to profs
Waist ? Mr.; Forsyth presumed the President had ..1.- i
1 . C.w.r. y :
i conuounicateitil that he knew, or all that he wished
Congress to ifidow on the subject ; and as it was usual, vocation
in requestin Information of the Executive, to ask for ever set 4
I 1 1 such only public interest would, in his opinion, to extra
permit to bd disclosed, he proposed so to modify this by a see
1
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