The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-01-09
From Me London Courier Of Nor. 10

80
From He London Courier Of Nor. 10.
1t srcms strange HAT any person should
,Icw our sentiments upon the South Anne
rlcan states as breathing either war or de
fancc. Ii is ap0lcy upon which, we con
tend other European powers have 40 right
Ia inter tcrc with us-nor do we pretend 10
interfere with them. They may or may
moi acknowledge and treat with these
states that IS their busiur-e. But Hey
cannot justly complain of our exercising
the same privilege. And here, IN order Ia
clear away IN HBfiae the ground of some
obicctiuns thai have been urged, We must
desire the public Ia bear this IN mind
that il is not die case Of an lncipicut insur-
rrCiiun of the Colonies against the parent
statc--ihai ii i not a struggle IN which the
power OF one SIDE Is BALANCED by the other,
and the issue Doubtful is not a case III
which a third party stepping in turns the
scale aud decides the conflict IN favor nf
the side Ia which it carries its weight. II
bears no resemblance II the case of ouf
American colonies, whcn France aud
Spain intrrforcd The conflict is decided
the issue is aIri,ed-and Spain is mol
more div ided by the seas from her ancient
poespsslnns, than SHE j. h. the difference
Of their respective institutions; nor has she
more sovereignty over them thar We had
over France. though We continued Ia bear
the empty title of her king. The question
la been we'll put hy one of our cOiem-
porarirs.-" As to Independence, the qnes-
tioa IS nj rest-the states are free--ihe
acknowledgment by Spain IS not worth
straw TO England all colonies are 0diurt
sovereign ST ttrs, tn. moment IN which They
achieve their independence, DE- Idcto. Thus,
for the cledrest of all reasnns, because the
foundation of their allegiance i Their en-
jotment Of protection from Il parent
state hen The colonic, csasr 10 want
protection. They ~" no longer bound to
pay the price of II and this IL one of u
class of cases ia which power becomes the
evidence Of right"
This Is what we wished Ia lay down an
imine. Tn South American States are
to all irtents and purpose free aud indie
pendent States, with which any other
States may treat and negotiate, aud form
alliances, without any violation Of treaty or
good Faith towards any other Power.
DuT u IS saIu, GphIu fId, NOT uViS1TrF'Sftetig.
ed then independence, and therefore you
are guilty ri az attack upon her sovereign
! ". Indeed Let us see the absurdity 10
which This position would lead. The South
! American States might have established, AS
! they have, their ght have
exercised all the acts of - sovereign and
! indepe ndent power-mlaht have entered
| into commercial and political relations with
other uations-Spain would mol he able 10
take any step, to do any act, caiculcted 10
resume her former authority over the
! States. orto arrest for a moment the march
aud exercise Of their dependencG--nay
might remain totally inactive and supine
vet, because She refused to acknowledge
them rs free States, We are tn refuse all
intercourse, aud political relations with
them whatever! Why. does not every one
see the utter absurdlty aud chlldishne7s OF
such reasoning, if reasoning ii can be call
ed
But we are told OF Congress Of Euro
pcan powers to settle the fate Of the Ame
rican colonies. We should like 10 see wha
sort of a preamble such q congress wonlt
draw up To their deliberations. !" Whereas
, certain tract Of country SOME thousand
. # miles distant from Europe, containing
ahOut 1900 square leagues, and pop
ton of seventeen millions, has detrrintn
d that it will be goverord by lis OVID II
6. | .jtutions, and viii no longer continue II
= dependence, which thcy do not want, ar