Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-28
PANAMA DOCUMENTS.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
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probably first settled with civilized men, By the Eu-
ropesn Powers who discovered it. ifthey could agree
among themselves tothe limits of their respective
territories, there American State TO oppose.
or whose rights could be effected by, the establish
ment Of new colonies But now the is entirely
altered from the Northeastern limits Of the United
States, in North America, to Cape Horn, in South
America on the Atlantic Ocean, with or two in
considerable exceptions; and from the Cape to
the 51st degree ofNorth latitude in North America
on the Pacific Ocean, without any exception, the
whole coasts and countries belong TO sovereign resi-
dent American Powers There is, therefore, no
chasm within the described limits in which new Eu-
ropean colony could be now introduced, without vio-
Ia ting the territorial rights ofsome American State
An attempt to establish such colony, and by its es-
adjustment to acquire sovereign rights for any Euro
pean Power, must be regarded as an nadnis libe
croachment Ifany portion Of the people of Europe,
driven by oppression from their native country,
tuated by the desire of improving the condition Of
themselves their posterity, wish to migrate to A
merica, it will no doubt be the policy of all thu
States as il ever has been ours, to afford them
asylum, and, by Naturalization to extend to such of
them worthy the political privileges which
enjoyed by the native citizen. But this faculty
ofemigration cannot be allowed to draw after il the
right of the European State, of which such emf
grants shall have been natives to acquire sovereign
powers in America The rule is good by which one,
in judging of another's conduct pretensons is ad
vised to reverse positions. What would Europe
think OF an American attempt to plant there an a
merican colony! II its pride would be provoked and
its power exerted, TO repress and punish such pre-
sumptuous act it is high time that it should be recol-
lected and felt, that Americans, themselves descen-
ded from Europeans, have also their sensbilitics
and their rights.
To prevent any such now European Colonies and
to warn Europe beforehand that they are not here
after to be admitted the President wishes YOU to pro
pose Joint declaration of the several American
States, each however, acting for, and binding only
itself, thnt within the limits of their respective terri
tories, no new European colony will hereafter be al
lowed to be established. 1t Is intended to
commit the parties who may concur in that decara-
ton, to the support of the particular boundaries
which may be claimed by any of them; nor is il
proposed to commit them to joint resistance against
any future attempt to plaut European COLONY
1t IS believed that the moral effect alone of Joint
declaration emanating from the authority of all the
American nations will efectually serve to prevent
the effort to establish such COLONY, but if
should not, and the attempt should actually be made
1t will then be time enough for the American powers
to consider the propriety of negotiating between
themselves and, if necessary of adopting in concert
the measures which may be necessary to check and
prevent it. The respect which is due to themselves
as well as TO Europe requires that they should
rest in confidence that declaration, thus soemnly
put forth, will command universal Difference. IL will
not be necessary to give the declaration now pro-
posed, the form Of Treaty. II NAV be SIGNED Inv
the several Minister'S ofthe Congress- and promul.
gated to the world as evidence Of the sense oa the
American Powers.
Among the subjects which must enpauc tho con-
sderation of the Congress, scarcely any has an in
terest so powerful and commanding as that which be-
10 rorlo hlcO, the former especially.
Cuba, from its position, the present amount and the
Character Off population, that which il is capable of
sustaining, it's vast though almost latent resources
at present the great object ofattraction both TO Eu
rope and America. No power, not even Spain itself
has, III such variety of forms, deep an interest
IN Its future fortunes whatever they may happen TO
be, as the United States. Our policy in regard TO IT,
fully and frankly disclosed Ill the before mentioned
note to Mr. Middleton. Ii is there stated, that for
ourselves, desire change in the possession or
political condition of that island and that we could
not, with indifference, it transferred from Spain
70 any other European power. We are UNWILLING TO
see It's transfer annexation TO either of the new
American States. the present war should much
longer continue, there three conditions into some
one OF which, that island may fall during its further
progress, and all of them deserve the most particular
and serious consideration. The first is it's ndepen-
dence, resting at the close of the war upon it's own
unassisted resources to maintain that independence
2dly Its Independence, with the guaranty of other
powers, either of Europe of America, or both
And, 3dly. Its conquest and attachment to the do
minions of the republic of Colombia or Mexico
We will now examine each of these Predicamepts of
the island, IN the order In which they have be- sta
ted
1. If Cuba had the ability, within ITSELF of main.
tanning an independent self government against all
saults from without or within, should prefer to
1t IN that state because desire the happiness
ofothcrs well ourselves, and believe that is in
the general, most likely to be secured by local gov
eminent sprDging directly from and identified in feel
ing, interesting sympathy, with the people to be COVER
ned Buta glance at the limited extent moral con
dition, and discordant character Gifts population mt
convince all OF its ncompeency, at present to sustain
seIf-govornment, unaidcd by other Powers. And If
ut this premature period an attempt at independence
should be far attended with as to break the
connexon with Spain, portion of the inhabitants
of the island, well their neghbors i'm the United
States, and IN some other directions, would live in
continual dread Of those tragic scenes which were
formerly exhibited in a neighborng isund, the popu
lation of which would he tempted, by the very fact of
mat independence, to employ all the means which
vicinity similarity Of ORIGIN md sympathy could sun
ply to tomcnt and stimulate nsfIecton in order 10
gain ultimate strength 20 their own cause
q guaranteed independence Of Cuba although
have been just noticed wogld substitute others not
less formidable, and which, il is believed are almost
lnsuPerable Who slGli he the guarantying Powers
small they be exclusively American or mixed partly
American and piriJ European? Whit shall be tho
amount OF their respective contributions to the pro-