Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-25

tn. new states. IN th, s,mr f""ting "a
our trade and in;er course with fnflanc'
France or ary other nation; aud eur e..
tizens will have the same right 10 call
upon congress to project them IN this
new, equally a. in any otiier legitimate.
branch Of navigation and trade.
This collision could have bu' on" re
snlt--some persons see nu.IGiag diSc"S"a
Gin. 10 var with Spain-and war wi,h
| Spain alone. would not be Formidable
but we cannot BE- certain, nay, we car
hardly expectin the extraordinary condi-
ton Of Europe, that other p,wers ma
not be drawu in 20 take Part in war,
having for its object he separation Of the
Spanish colonies. The probability Of
| this event is not diminished by he poto.
rious fact that Spain has taken great pairs
to circulate through the courts of Europe
an opinion that we are seeking an occa-
sion to go'o war with her; that We, CO.
vet her contiguous Territory, and indigo
liz views still more extensive.
Although We know that This opinion is
wholly withou, foundation. and lhat tie
! same is shameful device which Sprin
! makes u.e OF to cover ne, injustice, in
continuing to deny to us an ad quate
reparstion for the multiplied ifjuries she
has done us-s,ill offers do not know
this fact and the opinion is on this &C
count, not tie less infur' tial in exciting
jealousy, nor less likely TO lead Ger
tain powers to in expose, first their meii-
alton, and the, their aris, H. a war
! Brought on by our acknowledgement of
the Independence of thu Spanish colo
nies-and then by the as stance which
! our interference may become the occa-
sion of SPANS receiving the difficulties
of the colonies may be multiplied, the
danger II their subject ~ increased,
aud the period of their ird,Fendence
deferred.
; So little are these views the result of
. tia'!G conjecture, or Of a visionary specu
Iaion, and therefore unworthy of the So
Der consideration Of our statesmen, that
they are derived from the only analogous
case, with whose history we are we'll &C.
qualnted, the case of our own revolution
We solicited France to recognise our
independence for 0 long tirae tefore she
consented to do so. As soon. however.
as she resolved on the step instead Of
relying upon the innocence of The act.
and her right to avov it, she lcok-.. well
into The question, not oniy Of What ought
I to be, but further, of what probably would
be tie conduct of England when she
should avow her acknowledgment. Al
though she might have sen, forth a mani
festo in justification of her conduct. de-
monstrating lis innocence. and proving.
by citations from writer's on the law Of
nations, that her recognition could afford |
nojust cause Of olfe' ce to England sill
she we'll understood that it would be IN
wise and imPplitic to rely on the efficacy
of manifestos, or to omit those measures
of precauticn, which in all probability
won!d be, and which in tact proved to be
necessary.
When, therefore, the Ambassador an,
! rounced to the English government that
France had acknowledged the indepen.
! dence OF the U. States, he added, " that
being determined efiicaciously 10 protect
the lawful commerce of her subjects. and
TO maintain The honor of her flag, France
had taken with the U. States eventual
measures for this purpose There was
dignity in this proceeding, and the event
proved that there Yves equal wisdom.
Instead then Of endeavOring 10 con-
vince ourselves. and to persuade the pub
lie, that the acknowledgment of the in
dependence Of the Spanish colonies, is a
mere harmless and uuconsequpntial act,
that we may lawfully do. and which ought
not, and therefore will not give offence
to others it behOyes those who may b.
called on to examine this subject, 10 ex-
tend their enquiries a little further, to
look into the influence of the passions on
public measures, and to examine what,
according to the course of human affairs,
allowing TO power, to pride. and to the
modification of disappointment, their ma.
tural influence, is likely to be the conse-
quence of our acknowledgment of the 10.
dependence of the Spanish colonies.
II this be done. and it still be deemed
both just and e1pedient 10 make such &C
acknowledgement, the President i'll TO tn
with enter into treaties of friendship and
commerce with the new states, not to Sc
cure to the U. States exclusive CONNER.
cial advantages, but to prevent such adj
vantages being granted to others. Whe
Their he will also conclude with them
treaties of alliance, having for their ob-
ject the establishment Of their indspead-
ence, and engaging mutual cooperation
and succor. are questions of tie highest
political import and the discussion of