Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-22
WEDNESDAY, MARCH %, 1896.
Documents accompanying the Presidents Message
on the Panama Question.

documents accompanying INC IIeot&oH p1ooouS'
on the Panama Question.
Extracts Of letter from Mr. Adams Secretary State
to Mr.. Anderson, Minister Plenipotentiary to Colon
ba, dated 9th May, 1928. :
"Tbe revolution which has severed tbs colo
mics of Spanish America from European thral-
dom, and left them to form sef-dependent gov
ernments as members of the society OF ciViiiz-
ed nations, is among the most important events
in modern history. As general movement OF
human affairs, it is perhaps no more than de-
velopement of principles first brought into &C
ton by the separation of these States from Great
Britain, and by the practical illustration given
in the formation and establishment Of our UNI
on; to the doctrine that voluntary agreement is
the only legitimate source of authority among
men; and that all Just government is COM
pact. 1t was impossible that such system as
Spain had established over her colonies, should
stand before the progressive improvement OF
the understanding in this age, or that the light
shed upon tile whole earth by the results ofour
Revolution, should leave in utter darkness the
regions Immediately adjoining upon ourselves
The independence Of the Spanish colonies, how
ever, has proceeded from other causes, and has
been achieved upon principles in many respects
different from ours In our Revolution the prin-
chile Of the social compact was from the begin
ming, in immediate issue. ltoriginated in ques-
ton of right, between the governmental Europe,
and the subject in America. Our independence
was declared in defence Of our liberties, and the
attempt to make the yoke ayoke Of oppression
was the cause and the justification for casting it
of.
The revolution Of the Spanish colonies was
not caused by the oppression urder which they
had been held, however great it had BEEN
Their independence was first forced upon them
by the temporary subiuga,ion of Spain herself
TO foreign power. They were by that event,
cast upon themselves, and compelled to estab-
lish governments of their own. Spain, through
all the vicissi,udes of her own revolutions, has
chung to the desperate hope, OF retaining, or OF
retaining them, to her own control; and has
waged, 10 the extent Of her power, disastrous
war to that intent. In the mind Of every ration
al man, it has been for years apparent that
Spain can never succeed to recover her ,doml-
MON where il has been ablured, nor is 1t proba-
bic that she can long retain the small remnant
of her authority yet acknowledged IN some spots
of the South American continent.
The political course of the United States,
from the first dawning of South American In
dependence, has been such as was prescribed
by their relative duties to all the parties. Be
ing on terms Of peace and amity with Spain
through all the changes OF her own governments
they have considered the struggles of the colo
mics for independence as case OF civil war, 10
which their national obligations prescribed to
them to remain neutral. Their policy, their IN
terest, and their feelings all concurred to favor
the cause of the colonies; and The principles up
on which the right of independence has been
maintained by the South American Patriots,
have been approved, not only as identical with
those upon which our own independence was
asserted and achieved, but rs involving the
whole theory Of government on the emphatlca!-
ly American foundation Of the sovereignty OF
the people, and the unalienable rights OF man.
To cause reposing upon this basis, the people
of this country never could be Indifferent, and
their sympathies have accordingly been, with
great unanimity and constancy, enlisted in its
favor. The sentiments Of the Government OF
the United States, have been in perfect harmo-
nv with those of their people, and while torbear-
ing. as their duties of neutrality prescribed,
from every measure which could Justly be con-
strued as hostile to Spain, they have exercised
all the moral influence which they possessed, to
countenance> and promote the cause oil lndepen-
dence So long as contest OF arms, was MAIN
tainedby Spain, the United States could not re-
cognize the independence of the colonies, as ex-
listing de facto,, without trespassing on their du
ties to Spain, by assuming as decided that
which was precisely the question OF war In the
history Of South American Independence, there
are two periods clearly distinguisha5le from
each other. The first, that Of its origin, when
it was rather war of independence against
France than against Spain, and the second, from
the restoration of Ferdinand the Seventh in 1914.
Since that period, the territories now constitu-
ting the Republic of Colombia, have been the
only theatre upon which Spain has been able to
maintain the conflict Extensively, with even a
probable color Of ultimate success. But when
in 1915, she made her greatest effort in the ex-
pedition from Cadiz, commanded by Morillo,
Mexico, Peru, and Chill, were ye; under her
authority, and had she succeeded in reducing
the coast of Terra Firma and New Grenada,
the nroyinces of La Plata, divided among them
selves and weakened by the Portuguese occu-
nation of Monte Video, could probably not have
held ont against her long. This at least was
the calculation of her policy, and from the geo
ographical position Of these countries, which
NAV be termed the heart of South America, the
conclusion might well be drawn that the pow