Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-06

I'VE Nhtu we ste tue Continental Powers
were not prepared. They wished TO make u
subsersient to the delays, the turns. and wind
ings at Congress deliberations. We have not
waited TO take upon Us their tranmcls But
they Wish Ia have il supposed that W. have
not M form recognised the independence of
SouIn America. But have we not in fact
1t Is IA manly policy which our government
has adopted. II is the firsi step hut il mus,
he followed by other steps ard we trust il
vii be followed hy the appointment of some
higher dipiu ,,iaiic charartcr-of some Envoy
or Minister the Colonies. This will put our
intentions beyond all doubt. 1t is the only
policy worthy of us.
tfrom he London Courier, Nor. Is.
Some of the enemies OF South American
Independence would have it believed that we
have misrepresented that question. II is much
easier TO hazard charge than Ia furnish the
proof. But lei us see. We contended for the
following facts
That South America had actually achieved
her Independence that all Efforts Ia destroy
1t on the part of Spain, must be Gruiiless-
that they were 10 all inients and purposes free
and SOY ereign States, with which all pow ers
might treat
We hardly suppose that these facts will be
doubted.
2. That onr government had sent out diff
terent official persons To the various States OF
South America, by which step they have, de
iacto, acknOw lodged their Independence Buf
no, says the journal dcs Debats, the formula
of their powers IS only TO the persons in an
thorty, or exei cising authority, in Peru, Chill,
| Lima, Scr. sc. Now what authority are they
| exercising +? Authority in the name of, and for
the service of the King of Spain, or in submits
sion TO the Spanish government ? Not at all
but authority IN The lame OF, and for the SER
vice OF, The Republic, nr state of Lima, Peru,
&c. as independent of Spain. Ii proceeds
rom, and is bottomed entirely upon the per
feet freedom and the independence nf eacl,
state OF The moihvr country. With the know
ledge OF this fact, we sent persons To each of
the states, to be our re representatives., and this
| we call dc facto recognition of their soye-
rcISnty. But further-did we send out such
characters before South America achieved her
Independence ? Did we send out consuls
whilst Spain had real, positive, power and con
! troll over them Would Spain have suffered ?
8. The third position we laid down. was.
that our government did not mean to send any
minister tn the intended cungress How was
this: Let those " no think differently see what
doube-iaced policy thy would recon-
nend-to send minister Ia a congress whose
prntcssed object Is 10 settle the fate of thu. s.
| American states, as If ii were within their
competence and jurisdiction To frame nstitu-
| tons and laws, that shall bind states without
their cOnsent and against their wiIl-to send a
| minister, we repeat, To such Il congress, oGeI.
've have appointed aud despatched cOnsuls
| and commissioners 10 authorities, whose basis
| IS absolute independence of all foreign con-
trout, ana which exercise sovereignty as
complete AZ any of the powers represented in
! congress
1t will thus be seen, that we did not take
upon ourselves 10 do more than any other
person might have done, Who CHOSE 10 state
the same facts, and 10 argue upon them. If
lie facts be enormously stated, let them he
shown-lt the arguments founded ppOu them
be weak, let Their " eakness be- exposed: but
III that hs done, we must continue To enter-
tam the sentiments We have expressed, and
To commend, IN the warmest terms, the equal
~ wise and liberal policy which ministers
have adopted.
| Ii may not he irrelevant, while recurring to
TINS sunject, To quote the following passage
from Mir. Secretary Canning's letter to Sir c.
Stuart, our ambassador al Paris. The des-
patch Is dated March 81, 1898, and formed
part of the documents laid before parliament.
relative to the negotiations with Spain and
France, before the invasion of the former
country. 1t viii be- seen, that the formal re-
coSnltiOn" OF the independence of the pro-
vinces OF America, by this country, is made To
depend upon various contingencies, but that
Spain herself had "long been appraised" of
the sentiments of the British government upon
the subject.
with respect to the provinces of America,
which have thrown off their ac glance TO The
crown of Spain, time and The course of events
appear Ia have substantially decided their Sc
parati"n from the mother country; although
he Gf,rf .vul 80, r
independent states, by his majesty, may be
hastened or retarded by various external cir
cumstances, as well as by the more or less "a.
tIstaetory progress, in each state, towards
regular and settled form Of government
Spain has long been appraised of his maesiys
opinions upon this subject
London. Nor. 14.-1'hc Etoile we perceive,
publishes the whole Of our article OF Friday
last respecting South America, and accom-
panes Ii with quibbns commentary. We
have nothing 10 do with its DOUBTS, lis inter
pretations, It's conjeciures, or It's self-conra-
dictions The Etoile, no doubt, is perfectly
well acquainted. with the secrets Of all cabi
nets, and IN particular can set us right in
whatever regards the policy of our own Its
reasOniHgs may do very well for the meridian
of Paris; but they lose ali their value ol this
side the Channel. 1t seems strange, however.
that the simple declaration of our minister to-
watch over and protect British interests,
should excite so much alarm and so much
spleen. The time is now arrived when those
interests may be consulted without offence or
injury to the only government entitled 10 feel
the one or complain of the other, were we to-
morrow to acknowledge the independence of
the South American republics. II Spain were
IN condition, which she VIGOROUSLY is moi.
TO attempt the re-conquest Of her colonies
ou? recognition of them as independent states
might be considered as violation of good
faith towards her. But Spain has not re-