Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-04-15

the proposed Assembly.
If ii be true that the noblest treaty Of
peace ever mentioned in history, is that
by which the Carlhagenians were bound
10 abolish the practice OF sacrificing their
own children, because n zvaS STIPULATED
in favor Of human nature, l cannot ex.
aggerate to myself the unfading glory
with which the United States will 60
forth in the memory Of future ages, ii, by
their friendly counsel, by their moral in
flueDce, by the power of argument and
persuasion, alone, they can prevail upon
the American Nations at Panama, to sti-
pulate, by general agreement among
themselves, and SO far as any OF them
may be concerned, the perpetual aboli-
ton of private war upon the ocean. And
it we cannot YET f1ater ourselves that this
may be accomplished, as advances to-
wards II, the establishment OF the prlncl-
pie that the friendly Gag shall cover the
cargo, the curtailment of contraband OF
war, and The prescription oil fictitious pa
per olockades, engagements which, we
may reasonably hope, will not prove i'm
practicable, will, il successfully inculcai-
ed, rebound proporlionably TO our honor,
and drain the fountain Of many future
war.
The late President ofthe United States,
in bis message to Congress, OF the I'd OF
Dec. 1928, while announcing the nego-
llalion then pending with Russia, relat.
ing to the North West Coast oi this ,on-
IineDt, observed that the occasions OF tho
discussions, to which that incident had
given rise, had been taken, "ior assert
ing as a principle, in which the rights
and interests Of the United States were
involved, that the American continents,
by the free and independent coDdillon
| which they had assumed and maintained,
were thencelorward not to be consider
ed as subjects for future colonization by
any European power" The principle
had first been assumed in that negotiation
with Russia. 1t rested upon a course of
reasoning equally simple and conclusive.
With the exception of the existing Eu-
ropean colonies, which il was in no wise
intended to disturb, the two continents
consisted OF several sovereign and iDde-
pendent nations, whose territories CO.
vered the whole surface. BY this their
independent condition, the United States
enjoyed the right of commercial inter-
course with every part OF their possess
sions. To attempt the establishment of
colony, in those possessions, would DO
to usurP, to the exclusion Of others, a
commercial intercourse which was the
common possession Of all. 1t could not
be done without encroaching upon exist
ing rights of the United States. The
Government Of Russia has never dispu,-
ed these positions, nor manifested the
sightes. dissatisfaction at their having
been taken. Most OF the new American
Republics have declared their entire as
sent to them, and they now propose,
among the subjects OF consultation at
Panama, TO take into consideration the
means of making effeclual The assertion
Of that principle, as well as the means
of resisting interference from abroad,
with the domestic concerns oil the Ame-
rican Government.
In al,ud,ng 10 these means, it would
be obviously premature, a! this time, TO
anticipate that which is offered merely as
matter for consultation; or to pronounce
upon those measures which have been
or may be suggested. The purpose Of
this Governme nl is to concur in none
which would import hostility to Europe,
or Justly excite resentment in any of her
States. Should it be deemed advisable
10 contract any conventional engagement
on this topic, our views would extend no
further thanto a mutual pledge OF tho
parties to the compact to maintain the
principle in application to its own terri
tory, and to permit no colonial Judgments
or establishments, Of European jurisdic-
ton, upon its own soil: and with respect
to the obirusive interference from abroad,
il its future character may be inferred
from that which has been, and, perhaps,
still is, exercised in more than one Of
the new States, joint declaration of its
| character, and exposure Of it to the world,
may be probably all that the occasion
would require. Whether the United
States should or should not be parties to
such declaration, may justly form .
part of the deliberation. That there is
an evil to be remedied, needs little in
sight into the history OF late years to
know and that this remedy may best DO
concerted al the Panama meeting, de-
serves at leas. the experiment Of coasi-
Iteration.
A concert Of measures having refe.
renee to the more efectual abolition Of
The African slase-trade, and the conside-