Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-05-12


narchies; for particular dynasies; 10 support
or defeat particular SUGGESTIONS; 10 enlarge cur
tail the domiuions of particular Cown wars to support
or dissolve family alliances; Tine TO enforce 10
resist religious intolerance. What long and bloody
chapters do these not fill the history of European po
hcs. Who does not see, and who does not rejoice 10
see that this continent under other forms of govern
ncn we have before the noble hope o! being able
i by the mere influence Of civil liberty and religious to-
erat6n, To dry up these outpourDg fountains of blood
ana 10 eXtlnguish these consuming fires OF war. The
general opinion of the age favos these hopes and these
prospects There is growing disposition 10 treat
The intercourse of nations more like the useful inter
course OF friends ptosophy-just views of national adj
vantage; of good sense and the dictates of common
gon and an increasing conviction that war not the
interest OF the human racial concur To increase the
interest created by THIS accession 10 the list OF
tions.
We have heard it said sir that The topic of South
Ame'c Independence is cut, and thread bare.
Such IL may be, sir, TO those who have contemplated
merely as an article of news, alike the fuctuaton of the
markets, or the rise and fall Of stocks Such may
these minds who can Consequences following
from these great events, But whatsoever has either
derstood their present Importance at all estimate
their 'u;urc Observation-Disclosures has reflected the
new relations they introduce with their states-whoeycE
among ourselves pecaIly has mcttaied The new
relations which bear TO them and the striking
attitude IN which we-0ursclyes are now placed, as the
oldest OF the American nations, will feel that the topic
can never be without Interest," ana will be sensible that.
whether wise enough TO perceive it or not the
establishment of South American Independence will
affect all nations, and ourselves perhaps more than any
other, through all coming time.
But, sir although the independence of these new
States seems citeCtualy accomplished. vet lingerinr
and hopeless is kept up against them by S,ain-
Tins IS greatly to be regretted by all nations To Spain
Is, every reasonable sees, useless and without
hope To the new States it is burdensome and aiilic-
tVe 10 the commerce of neutral nations it is annoy
ing and veXatious. There TO be something of the
pertnacity of the Spanish character III holding on in
such desperate course 1t reminds us ofthe seventy
years during which she resisted the independence of
land. think however that there is some reason to
believe that the approaches to its end. believe
that the measures adopted by Government have
had some effect in tending to produce that result I'M
derstand, at least that the question of recognition has
been aiken into consideration by the Spanish Govern.
mcnt; and it may be hoped that war; which Spain finds
10 be burdeusome, which the whole world tells her
Is so hopeless. Ind which, if continued now threatens
lie! wi new dangers, she may ere long have the pru-
dcnce to terminate.
Our own during this .contcst between Spain
and her colonies is we'll known. Though entirely and
strictly neutral in favor OF early rccopniiion
Our opinions known 10 the Allied Soyeregns y hen
IN Congress at AiXla Chapee in 13l8, at which fine
the affairs of Spain and her colonies were under cosi
dcration; and probably, the knowledge those senti-
ments together with the policy adopted by England
prevented any interference BY other powers at thai time
Yet wehave treated Spain with scrupulous dclicacy
! we acted on the case as one OF civil We treated
with the new Governments as Governments de Jacio,
not questioning the right Of Spain to them back
to their old obedience if she had the power We vet
held to be right to deal with them as with exist
ing Governments in fact, when the moment arrived at
winch 1t became apparent and manifest that the domi-
DION OF SPAN over these her ancient colonies at an
end Our right, our interest and duty, all concur
red at That moment TO recommend recogni;ion-and we
did recognise
Now. sir the history Of this proposed Congress goes
back to an earlier date than that of recognition 1t
commenced in 1921 and of the treaties now before
us, proposing such meeting, that between Colombia
and Chill, concluded in July 1892 n few months
Wp had acD LODI cd ~
the new States. The idea originated doubtless in the
wish 10 strengthen the union among the new Govern
TnentS and to promote the cause of ALL the eff
tectual resistance of Spanish authorize As ndenen
dencc was at that time their leading object il is natural
to suppose that they contemplated this mode of mutual
intercourse and mutual arrangement, favorable 10 the
necessary concentration of purpose and of action for
the attainment of that object But This purnose oF te
Congress, this leading idea in hich NAV be SIM
posed to have originated, has led seems to me- TO
great nlsaPprehcnslons as to its true character and
great mistakes IN regard TO the danger be apprehcud-
ed rom our sending ministers TO the meeting This
meeting, sir, Congressman a CONGRESS rs tho word
is known 10 orr Constitution and laws for weuse il in
peculiar sense, but is known 10 the law of ma
tIoDs. Congress, by the law of nations is bnt an an,
pointed meeting for the settlement of affairs between
different nations, in which the representatives or agents
OF each treat and negotiate they are instructed BIZ
their own Governments. In other words this Congress-
is diplomatic meeting We are asked TO ioin mo- ro
vernmcnt-no legisature-no leartc--actjnp bv votes
1t is Congress- such as those of Westpbaa of MIN
egneec, of Ryswyck, of Utrecht or such as those
which have been holden in Europe, in our own time
No nation is party to any thing done in such assem-
bes, 10 Which does not expressly make itscIf narfv
No ones rights put at the disposition of any of the
rest or Of all the rest.What ministers agree TO- being
afterwards duly ratified at home, binds their Govern
'neni; and nothing else binds the Government. What
scever Is DONE to which they do not assent neither
! binds the ministers their Government any more
than if they had not been present
These truths, sir seem too plain, and two common
! I GudTn 10,
approximations of the character of tie meeting TO which
have referred both now and formerly. II has been
SAID That commercial treaties not negotiated at such
meetings. Far otherwise is the fact. Among the ear
lest OF important stiPuaticns made in favor commerce
] and navigation, those at Westphaa And What
we call the treaty of Utrecht, was bundle of treaties
negotiated at that Congress- some of peace some oil
boundary, and others ofcOrnmerce Again it has been
SAID IN order TO prove that this meeting sort of con
iederacy that such assemblies are out oftbe way ofor
dInarE neg0Llaon and alzau rluu.lc.L