Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-03-26

4
country. 1t was not, therefore, until the 12th
OF June, of the last year, that its capital, the
city OF Lima, capitulated Ia an army, chiefly
composed Uftroops from Buenos Ayres and
Chill, under the command of General San
Martin. The greatest part Ofthe royal troops
which escaped, on that occasion, retreated to
the mountains, but soon left them to return
to the coast, there TO join the royal garrison
IN tne fortress Of CalIao. The surrender of
that fortress, soon after, to the Americans,
may be regarded as the termination of the
war IN that quarter.
When the people of Peru found themselves,
by this event, free to express their will, they
most unequvUcally expressed it i'm favor of
independence, and with an unanimity and
enthusiasm which have no where been ex-
celled.
The revolution in Mexico has been some
what different in its character and progress,
from the revolution in the other Spanish A
merican PROVINCES, and its result, in respect
to the organization ofits internal government,
has, also, not been precisely the same. Inde-
pendence, however, has been as emphatcally
declared and as practically established, since
the 9th of August last, by the Z" Mexican en-
plre," as ever it has been by the republics of
the south and her geographical situation, her
population and her resources, eminently quail
fy her to maintam the independence which
she has thus declared, and now actually en-
joys.
Such are the facts which have occupied the
attention of your committee, and which, in
their opinion, irrcsisliby prove, that the ma
tons of Mexico, Colombia, Buenos Ayres,
Peru, and Chill, in Spanish America, are in
fact independent.
1t now remains for your committee TO ex-
anime the right and the eXpediency, on the
part ofthe United States, of recognizing the
Independence which those nations have, thus
effectively, achieved.
In this examination, it cannot be necessary
to inquire into the right of the people of
Spanish America, " to dissolve the political
bands whIc u have connected them with ano-
thcr, and to assume among the powers of the
earth, tlat separate and equal station to which
The laws of nature and OF natures God entitle
them" The right to changerhe political in
sItulions OF the state has, indeed been exercised,
equally, by Spain and by her colonies and for
us to deny to the people of Spanish America
the right 10 Independence, on the principles
which alone sanction it here, would be virtu-
ally to renounce our own.
The political right of this nation to acknow-
ledge their Independence, without offending
others, does not depend on its Justice, but on
ITS actual establishment. TO Justify such
recognition, by us, it is necessary only to show,
as Is already sufficiently shown, that the peo-
pie of Spanish America are, within their res
pectlve limits, exclusively sovereign and
thus, IN fact, independent. With them, as
with every other government possessing and
exercising the power of making war, the Uni
ted States, in common with all nations, base
the right OF concerning the terms of mutual
peace and intercourse
Who is the rjphfFlI aovara;0,, of d, oo,,,t.,
is not an inquiry permitted to foreign nations,
TO whom it is competent only to treat with
the powers that be-"
ihere is no difference in opinion, on this
point, among the writers on public law; and
nc. diversity, with respect to it, in the practice
OF civilized nations. 1t is not necessary, here,
TO cite authority for doctrine familiar TO all
who have paid the slightest attention to the
subject nor to go back for its practical illus
tratlon, to the civil wars between the houses
| of I ork and Lancaster Long since the chiefs
oil those conflicting houses, alternately tri-
umphed and ruled, and were alternately obey
ed at home and recognized abroad, according
as they, successfully, exercised the power,
without demonstrating the right-monarchies
nave become commemorative or republics
ana powerful usurpers have been recognized
by foreign nations, in preference to legitimate
|
replete with instances in point. Have we not
indeed, within the brief period of our own re-
menlbrance, beheld governments vary their
forms, aud change their rulers, according to
tne prevailing power or passion of t,e mo-
inent, and doing So i'm virtue o. the principle
now IN question, without materially and last
| Ingly affecting their relations with other gov
ernments? Have we not seen the emperore
and kings of yesterday, receive, on the thrones
OF exiled sovereigns, who claimed the right to
reign there, the friendly embassies of other
powers, with whom those exiled sovereigns
mad sought an asylum--autl have we not seen
to-day those emperOrs and kings, thus court
ed and recognized yesterday, reft of their
sceptres, and from mere change of circum-
stances, not of right, treated as usurpers by
their successors, who, IN their turn, have been
acknowledged and caressed by the same 70.
reign powers
The peace of the world, and the indepen
dence of every member Of the great poltica
| family, require that each should be the exclu
slye Judge OF itsOwn internal proceedings, and
that the Tact alone should be regarded nv TO
| reign nations. Even when civil war break.
the bonds of society, and 0fgovernment, or, al
! least, suspends their force and effect il give.
birth IN Tie nation To two independent parties
who regard each other as enemies, and ac
knowledge no common Judge" 1t is, of nc
cessity, therefore, that these two parties shoulC
be considered by foreign states, as two distinc
and independent nations. TO consider o
treat them otherwise, would be to interfere il
their domestic concerns, to deny them tn,
| right to manage their own affairs in their owl
way, and 10 violate the essential attributes o
their respective Sovereignty. For nation (,
be emitted, IN respect to foreign states, to tn
q IA ls.gtff ti -
directly in the great political society. il Is sui
l liclenf lhnf il IL rn.,IIn ..,..r.;.... II -.