The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-05-04

.hull indeed in the first instance, Consluer tne
Assembly as merely consultative; and al,
though the plenipotentfaries OF the Onitea
states will be empowered to receive ana re-
fer to the consideration OF their Government 9 9
any proposition from the other parties tot
meeting, they will be authorized to conclude
nothing unless subject to the defaitive sane |
ron of this Government, in all its constitu- {
tional forms. 1t has therefore. seemed TO :
me unnecessary to insist, that every object
TO be discussed at the meeting, should be
specified with the precision OF Judicial SEN
fence. @, enumerated with the exactness OF
a mathematical demonstration. Inc pu!-
nose of the meeting itsefis to deliberate up
on the great and common interests OF several
new and neighboring nations. Ii the meas
ure is new and without precedent, so is the
situation Of the parties to It. lhat the pur-
noses ofthe meeting are somewhat indefinite,
far from being an objection to 1t, is among
the cogent reasons for its adoption 1t Is
not the establishment of principles of inter-
course with one but with seven or eight ma
tions at once. That, before they have had
the means of exchanging ideas, and commu-
nicating with one another III common upon
these topics, they should have definitely set
tied and arranged them in concert IS to re-
ouire that the effect should precede the cause.
It's to exact as preliminary to the meeting,
that for the accomplishment OF which tue
meeting itself is designed.
Among the inquiries which we're thought
entitled to consideration before the deter
mination, was taken to accept the inyi-
tation, was that, whether the measure
might not have tendency to change the
policy hitherto invarable pursued by the Y.
States, of avoiding all entangling alliances,
and all unnecessary foreign connexions
Mindful of the advice given by the Father of
our Country, in his farewell address, that the
great rule of conduct for US III regard to
foreign nations, is in extending our CONNER
cial relations, to have with them little poit-
ical connexion as possible; and faithfully adj
herring to the spirit of that admonition, can
not overlook the reflection, that the counsel
of Washington, in that instance, like all the
counsels Of wisdom, WAS founded upon the
circumstances, in which our country and the
world around us were situated, at the time
when it was given. That the reasons as
signed BY him tor his advice were, that l.u-
rope had q set Of primary interests, which
us had none, or very remote relation
That hence she must be engaged in frequent
controversies, the causes of which were es-
sentially foreign to our concerns. That oai
detached aud distant situation invited AZ eH-
abled US 10 pursue i different course. IHs'
bv our union and rapid growth, with aa
cient government, the period was ~ Ia
distant, when we might defy material nJnl
from internal annoyance; when we might
take such an attitude as would cause our
neutrality to be respected; and with refer
cnce to belligereht nations, might choose
peace or war, as our interests, guided by jus
tice should counsel.
Compare our situation and the circum-
stances of that time. with those Of the pres
ent day; and what, from the very words o.
Washington then, would be his counsels tC
his countrymen nowf Europe has still hel
set of primary Interests, with which we have
little, or a remote relation. Our dist ant ant
detached situation with reference to Eu
rope remains the same. But, we were the
the only Independent Nation of this hem
isphere; and we were surrounded by Euro
pean Colonies, with the greater part c
which we had no more intercourse, tina
with the inhabitants Of another plane
These Colonies have now been transfnrme
into Indepdenent Nations, extending to on
very borders Seven of them Republic
like ourselves; with whom we have An i'm
mensely growing commerci Al and must EHv'
and have already importaa i political CO..
nexions. With reference to whom our sitt
alton is neither distant no" detached, Who's
political principles and systems of govern
mrt,t. cenHcnial with our own, must and Wi
have an action and couDteraetion unon l
and ours, to which we cannot be inaflere'
if we would. The rapiAity Of our growt'
and the constq qaent increase Of orr Strengt'
has more than realized tie antclPatioas
this admirable politiaal legacy. Thirty yet
have nearly elapsed since it was WRITE
and in the interval, our population, o.
wealth, our territorial extension OUT DOVE
physical and moral, has nearly treble
Reasoning upon this state of things fro
the sound and judicious principles of Wasl
ington, and must we not say, that the perlt
which he predicted then not far off, has =
rived! That America has set of primal
interests which have none or remote +
lation to Europe. That the interference
Europe therefore in those concerns shou
be spontaneously withheld by her on Il
same principles, that we have never inte
fered with herS and that, if she should i
terfere, as she may, By measures which m;
have IA great and dangerous recoil upon on
selves. we might be called in defence of o
own affairs and firesides, to take an attitu
which would cause our neutrality to he r
spected, and choose peace or war, as our
terest, guided by justice shall counsel.
The acceptance of this invitation ther
fore, far from conflicting with the counsel
the Dolcy of WASHINGTON is directly died