American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-03-15

remained neutral and have fulfilled, with the ut
most impartialIly, all the obligations incident to
that character.
This contest has now reached such stage x been
attended with such decisive the part OF the
provinces, that it merits the most profound consi
Iteration, whether their right to the rank OF indie
pendent nations, with all the advantages incident to
1t, in their intercourse with the United States is
not complete. Buenos Ayres assumed that rank
by formal declaration in the year 1916 and has
enjoyed it since 1870 free from invasion by the
parent country. The provinces composing the
republic of'Colombia, after having separately de-
clared their independence were united BY tunda
menta! law of the 18th of December, 1919 A
strong Spanish force occupied at that time certain
parts OF the territory within their limits and waged
destructive war. That force has since been
peatedly defeated and the whole of it either made
prisoners, or destroyed or expelled from the coun-
try with the exception oil an inconsderable portion
only, which is blockaded in two ioItresses. The
provinces on The Pacific have likewise been very
successful. Chill declared independence in 1918
and has since enjoyed it undisurbed: and of late,
10y The assistance of Chill and Buenos Ayes, the
revolution has extended to Peru Of the move
ment H. MeNico our information IS less authentic
but IS nevertheless distinctly understood that the
new government has declared its independence -
and that there is now no opposition to it there, nor
- ---~t'N
government OF Spain has not sent single corps of
troops to any part Of that country nor is there
any reason 10 believe it Will send any in future
thus it is manifest that al those provinces are not
only in the full enjoyment ol her independence,
bui consdernR the state OF the war AM other cir
cumstances thele is moi the most remote prospect
o their being deprived OF it.
When the result oil such contest is manifestly
settled, the new governments have claim to recog.
~ otb a.r kch he II
resisted. ClyI wars too often extite feelings which
the parties cannot control The opinion entertained
ny other powers to the result, may assaage those
feelings and promote an accommodation between
them useful and honorable to both he delay
which has been observed in m king decision or
this important subject, will, it is presumed, have
afforded an unepnIvocal proof to Spain, it must
have done 10 other powers. OF the high respect
entertained by the United States tor her rights -
and OF her determination not 10 interfere with them.
The provinces belong to this hemisphere, are our
neighbots and have successfully, as each portion Of
the country acquired It's independence pressed their
recognition by an appeal 10 iacts moi 10 be contest
cd and which they thought gavr them Just title
to 1t 10 motives OF interest this government has
invariably dlsclalmed all pretension, being resolved
10 take no part in the controversy. or other measure
IN regard to t, which should ct merit the sanction
OF the civilized world. To other claims justI
senslbty has been always ,it and iralkly acknowl
edged; but they in themselves could neycr become
an adequate cause OF action. i was incumbent on
this government to look to every important iact s
circumstance on which sound opinion could bel
formed (which has been done. When we regard
then the great length OF time which this wal has
been prosecuted the complete success which has
attended It in favor OF the provinces, the present.
condition ui the parties, and the utter inability oil
Spain to produce any change IL 1t, we are compel
ed to conclude that its fate is settled and that the
provinces which have declared their independence
and are in the enjoyment oil it, ought to be recog-
nzed.
OF the views Of the Spanish government on this
subject particular information has been recently
received. II may be presumed that the successful
progress OF the revolution, through such long ST.
ries oil years, gaining strength and attending annu.
ally In every direction, embracing by the late i'm
portant events, with little exception, all the DOM
mons OF Spain south Of the United Stayes on this
continents placing thereby the complete sovereign.
ty over the whrie in the hands OF the people will
reconcile the parent country 20 an accommodation
with them, on the basis of their unqualified indie !
pendence. Nor has any authentic information been
recently received, OF the Dis POSITION of other DOW
efs respecting il. A SINGER desire has been cher
ished to act in concert with them IN the proposed
recognition, Of which several were some time since
duly apprized but 1t was understood that they
we're not prepared Tor it ne immense space be.
tween those powers, even those which border on
the Atlantic and these provinces, m kes the move
ment an affair of less interest and excitement to
them than 10 1t is probable therefore, that they
have been less attentive to its progress than we have
BEEN 1t may be presumed however, that the lac
events will dispel all doubt of the result
In proposing this measures it is not contemplated
10 charge thereby, in the slightest manner our
friendly relations with either Of the parties but TO
observe in all respects, as heretofore, should the
war be contained, the most perfect neutrality be-
tween them. Of this friendly disposition, an as
surance VIII be given to the government of Spain
whom IL Dre sun,ad il will he - o,.>. l.