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

connections.
Mindful of the advice given by the Ia
Their of our country in his farewell ad-
dress, tina, the great rule OF conduct Tor
us in regard to foreign nations, is, IN ex-
tending our commercial relations, to
have with them as little political connec-
ton as possible, and faithfully adherlng
to the spiri, of that admonition, cannot
overlook the reflection, that the counsel
of Washington, in this instance, like all
the couDsels OF wisdom, was founded up
on the circumstances in which our coun-
try, and the world around US, were sitaat-
ed at The time when it was given. That
the reasons assigned by him for his ad-
vice were, that Europe had set OF pri-
mary interests, which to us bad none, or
a very remote relation. That hence she
must be engaged in frequent conlrover-
sizes, the causes of which were essen
tally foreign TO our concerns. That our
detached and distant situation invited and
enabled US to pursue a different course.
That by our union and rapid growth,
with an efficient government, the period
was not far distatt when We might DEFY
material injury from external annoyance;
when we might take such an attitude as
would cause our neutrally to be respect
ed /; and, with reference TO belligereDi
nations, might choose peace or war, as
our interest, guided by justice, should
counsel.
Compare our situation and the circum-
stances of that time with those OF the
present day, and what, from the very
words of Washington then, would be his
counses to his coun,rymcn now! Eu-
rope has still her set Of primary interests,
with which we have little or remote re-
lation. Our distant and detached situa-
ton with reference TO Europe, remains
the same. But we we're then the only
independent nation Of this hemisphere,
and we were surrounded by European
colonies, with the greater part OF which
we had no more intercourse than with
the inhabitants OF another planet. Those
colonies have now been transformed into
eigh, independent nations, extending to
our very borders. Seven OF them Re-
publics like ourselves; with whom we
have an immensely growing commercial,
and must have, and have already, impor-
tant political connexions. With refer
ence to whom, our situation Is neither
distant nor detached. Whose political
principles and system OF government,
congenial with our own, must and VIII
have an action and confederation upon
US and ours, to which we cannot be in
different if we would. The rapidity OF
our growth, and the consequent increase
of our strength, has more than realized
the anticipa,ions of this admirable poll
teal legacy. Thirty years have nearly
elapsed since it was written, and in the
interval, our population, our wealth, our
territorial extension, our power, physic-
al and moral, have nearly trebled. Rea-
soning upon this state of things from the
sound and judicious principles OF Wash.
ington, and must we not say, that the Pc
riod which he predicted as then not far
off, has arrived That america has set
of primary interests, which have none,
or a remote, relation to Europe. hhat
the interference of Europe, therefore, in
those concerns, should be spontaneously
withheld by her upon the same princi-
pie that we have never in,eriered with
hers and that if she should interfere, as
she may, by measures which may have
great and dangerous recoil upon our
selves, we might be called in defence oil
our own affairs and firesides, to take an
attitude which would cause our neu,rali-
,y to be respected, and choose peace or
war, as our interest, guided by justice,
shall counsel.
The acceptance Of this invitation,
therefore, far from conflicting with the
counsel or the policy Of Washington, Is
directly deducible from, and coniorma-
BILE to it. Nor is it less conformable to
the views Of my immediate predecessor,
as declared in his annual message to
Congress Of the I'd Of December, 1928,
to which have already aGveried, and to
an important passage OF which invite
the attention Of the House. "I'he citi-
zens of the United States" said he, " che
IRISH sentiments the most friendly in ia.
vor of the liberty and happiness OF their
fellow men on tina, (the Europcan) side
of the Atlantic. In the wars Of the En-
ropean Powers, in matters relating to
themselves, we have never taken any
part, nor does it comport with our poll.
cy so to do. 1t is only when our rights
are invaded, or seriously menaced, that
we resent injuries, or make preparation
for our defence. With the movements
in this hemisphere, we are, OF necessity
more Immediately connected, and by
L L..