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

y
principle on which we now propose to act Or
have they ever complained of one another, or
oil us, for acting on that principle?
NO nation OF Europe, excepting Spain her
self, has, hitherto, opposed force to the indie
pendence of Spanish America. Some of those
nations have not only constantly maintained
commercial and friendly intercourse with
them, IN every stage of the revolution, hut in
directly and efficiently, though not avOwe.lly,
aided them in the prosecution of their great
object. To these, the acknowledgment by
the United States, of the attainment of that
object, must be satisfactory.
| TO the other nations of Europe, who have
regarded the events occurring in Spanish A
merica, not only without interference, but
with apparent indifference, such an aclnow-
ledgment ought not to be offensive.
| The nations, who have thus, respectively,
favored or never opposed the Spanish Amcri-
can people, during their active struggle for in
dependence, ca.,aots itis believed. regard with
dissatisfaction the formal recognition OF 1li:if
independence by nation, which, while that
struggle lasted, has relgiously obser, ed, to-
wards both the conflicting parties, all the du-
ties OF neutrality. Your committee are, there
fore, of opinion, that we have right, on this
occasion, confidently to expect, from what
these nations have done or forbornc tn do,
during the various fortunes of the civil war
which has terminated, that they will frankly
approve the course of policy which the Uni
ted States may now think proper TO adopt,
IN relation TO the successful party in that war.
1t surely cannot be reasonably apprehendeG,
that nations who have thus been tranquil spec
tators, the apparent we-wishers, if not the e;-
iicient supporters of this party; and who have
not made the falntest attempt TO arrest lis
progress, or TO prevent IFS success, should be
sfd al
cogniZlng the governments which, owing 10
that success, have thus been virtually permit
ted, or implicitly approved, in acquiring the
undisputed and exclusive control ofthe coun-
tries In which they are established. 1t is,
| therefore, on the consistency well as on the
justice of these nations of Europe, that we
may confidently rely, that the simple rccog-
milton on the part of the United States, of the
necessary effect of what has already been
/, done, will not be considered as ii just cause of
complaint against them, while the Interested
and immediate agents. who have been direct
ly and actively engaged in producing that ef-
feet, nave neither hcenOpFosed nor censurcd.
Your committee, therefore, instead of ser-
ously experimenting that the recognition, by
the United States, of the independence OF
Spanish America, will be uuacc"pt bic TO these
nations, are not without hope, that they may
practically approve it, ny severaly adopting
similar measure. Ii is not, indeed, unrc asona-
bic 10 suppose, that those governments have,
like this, waited only fur the evidence of facts
which might not only suffice to Justify them,
under the laws and usage of nations. but 10
satisfy Spain herself, that nothing has been
prematureiy done, or which could Justly
offend her feelings, or be considered as incon-
sistent with her rights. As their motives for
nOt'having, hitherto, recognized the indepcn-
dence of Spanish America, may thus.be sup
posed TO have been analogous TO our own, it
IS permitted to presume that the facts and
\ reasons, which have prevailed on us no longer
to hesitate, will, confirmed as they are by our
example, have a like influence on them.
No nation can entertain more sincere
Difference for the feelings of Spain, or take a
more lively interest in her welfare, than the
United States. 1t is to this Difference, too evil
! dent t. be doubted or misunderstood, that
ought TO be ascrihed the hesitation of this go
vcrnment, until now, To yield to the claims OF
| Spanish America, although these claims were
10 perfect accordance with our own principles
feelings and interests Having thls lorborne
To act,j even at The hazard of having those
principles aud feelings misunderstood, on thi.
side of the Atlantic, we have, a your. commit
Tee believe, given at once satsfacto ry proof oil
our dlsinterestedness and muderation and oI
our scrupuious respect to the principle which
leaves the political institutions ofeyery foreign
state to be directed by It's own view of ils
own rights and interests.
Your Committee have hten particularly
anxious to show, in manner satisfactory IL
Spain herself that the measure which thi.
government now proposes to adopt, has beer
considered with the most respectful attention
both in relation to her rights, and To her feel
ings.
/. 1t is not on the laws and usages Of nations
or on the practice of Spain herself on like DC
customs, that your committee have relied fo
our Justification towards her
: The Fact, that, for the last three years, sbf
has not Sent Single company of troops agains
: her transatlantic colonies, has not been used n
evidence Of their actual Independence, or o
her want of power to impose it. This fact
explained as tits, by the public acts of Spai
herself, is regarded by your committee a
evidence enly of her policy.
The last troops collected at Cadiz in 1919
which were destined TO suppress the rcvo!u
tiOnary movements in Spanish America, no
only rejected that service, but joined in th'
{ revolution which has since proved Successful
. in Spain itself The declaration of the lead
ers in that revolution, was, that "Spanisl
America had right to be free, and that span
= should be free" Although the constitution
which was re-established by that revelation
{ guaranteed the integrity the Spanish domin
r IONS, yet the principles on which that consiiiu
} ton was founded seem to disc0untenance TIA
p employment of force for the accomplishment
D ofthat object, 10 contempt Of the equal right
( and declared will of the American portion q
. the Spanish people. The conduct Of the go
j. vernment, organized under that constitution
. has uniformly been, in this respect, in coz
: lOrmity to those principles. Since its exis
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