Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-22

acknowledgement of the independence declared
by the Spanish American Colonies could no
longer be withheld Both Houses OF Congress
having almost unanimously concurred with
these views Of the President, an appropriation
was made by law, Gath May, 1929 for such
missions to the Independent Nations on the
American Continent, as the President should
deem proper.
On the day after the Presidents message OF
The 9Th of March, the Spanish Minister, Andua-
ga, addressed to this Department remon-
STRANGE against the measure which 1t recon-
mended, and solemn protest against the re.
cognition of the Governments mentioned, OF
the insurgent Spanish Provinces OF America.
He was answered on the 9th OF April, by let
ter recapitulating the circumstances under
which the Government Of the United States
had "yielded to an obligation OF duty OF the
highest order, by recognizing, as independent
States, Nations which, after deliberately assert
ing their right to that character, had maintain
ed and established it against all the resistance
which had been, or could be, brought to oppose
it," On the Gath of April. he gave informa-
ton that the Spanish Government had disa-
vowed the Treaty of oath August, 1891, be-
tween the Captain General O'Donoju and Coll
I,urbide, and had denied the authority of the
former 10 conclude it.
On the 18th of February, 1892, the Spanish
Extraordinary Cortes adopted the Report OF
Committee proposing the appointment OF Com
missioners to proceed TO South America to
ne gotiate with the Revolutionary Patriots con-
corning the relations to be established thereaf-
ter, in regard to their connection with Spain
They declared al the same time, all Treaties
made with them before that time, by Spanish
Commanders, implying any acknowledgment
Of their independence, null and void, as not
having been authorized by the Cortes; and on
the next day, they passed three resolutions, the
first annulling, expressly, the Treaty between
O'Donoiu and 1turbide.
The second, "That the Spanish Government
BY declaration to all others with which it has
friendly relations, make known to them, that
the Spanish Nation will regard, at any epoch,
either partial or absolute, Of the independence
of the Spanish Provinces of Ultra Mer, so long
as the dissensions which exist between some of
them, and the Metropolis, are not terminated,
with whatever else may serve to convince TO
reign Governments, that Spain has not yet re-
bounced any Of the rights belonging to it in
those countries"
The third resolution recommended to the
Government to take all necessary measures, and
to apply to the Cortes for the needed resources,
to preserve and recover the authority Of Spain
in the ultra-marine provinces.
These measures Of the Cortes were not known
10 the President Of the United States when he
sent to Congress his message of the 9th of
March, But information Of them was receiv-
ed while the bill making an appropriation for
the Missions was before Congress; and, on the
18th of April, resolution of the Senate re-
quested Of the President any Information he
might have, proper TO be disclosed, from our
Minister at Madrid, or from the Spanish Min
lister resident in this country, concerning the
views Of Spain relative to the recognition ofthe
independence of the South American Colonies,
and of the dictamen of the Spanish Cortes. In
answer to this resolution, the letter iom Mr.
Anduaga, protesting against the recognition,
and one from Mr.. Forsyth, enclosing transla-
ton of The dictamen, were transmitted to the
Senate, which, with all these documents before
them, gave their concurrent sanction, with that
of the House Of Representatives, to the passage
Of the bill o. appropriation.
This review of the proceedings Of the Gov
eminent Of the United States in relation to the
independence of Spanish America, has been
taken to shew the consistency Of the principles
by which they were uniformly dictated, and
that they have been always eminently friendly
to the new Republics, and disinterested. While
Spain maintained doubtful contest, with
arms, to recover her dominion, it was.regarded
as civil war. When that contest became so
manifestly desperate, that Spanish Vice Roys,
Governors, and Captain Generals themselves,
concluded treaties with the insurgents, virtual
ly acknowledging their independence, the U.
States frankly and unreservedly recognized the
facts, without making their acknowledgment
the price of any favor TO themselves, and al
though at the hazard of mourning the diSplea-
sure ofSpain. In this measure they have taken
the lead Of the whole civilized world: for, al
though the Portuguese Brazilian Government
had, few months before, recognized the Rev
dictionary Government of Buenos Ayres, it
was at moment when a projected declaration
of their own independence made the question
substantially their own cause, and 1t was pre-
sen,ed as an equivalent for reciprocal recog-
milton Of their own much more questionable
right to the Eastern Shore of La Plata.
On the 18th day of June, 1922, MIR. Manuel
Torres was received by the President OF the Y.
States as the Charge Affairs from the Repub-
lie Of Colombia, and the immediate consequence
of our recognition was the admission OF the
vessels of the South American nations, under