Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-31
PANAMA DOCUMENTS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
CONCLUDED.

roPeaD fo%ers who discovered 1t, they could
urnong themselves To the limits Of their respective
territories, there no American State to opppee
or whose rights could be affected Ivy the establish
ruent of new colonies But now the case is entirely
altered. from the Northeastern limits of the United
States, in North America, to Cape Horn, in South
America, the Atlantic Ocean, with one or two in
considerable exceptions; and from the same Cane to
the 51st degree ct North latitude ,n North America
on the Pacific Ocean, without any exception the
whoc coast 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
lang the territorial rights of some American State
An attempt to establish sucha colony, and by its e
adjustment to atquire sovereign rights for any Euro
Fran POWER, must be regarded as an inadmissibe en-
cgoachment. lfauy portou of the people of Enrope.
driven by oppression from their native country or ac-
tnated by the desire of improving the condition of
themselves or their postcrity, wish to migrate A
nIerFca, twill no doubt be the policy of all the new
Sfatcs, Us it has been ours, to afford them an
asylum and, by natura lzaon, to extend TO such of
them US Dire worthy tire political privileges which
are enjoyed by the native citizen. But this faculty
oemigration cannot be allowed to draw after it the
right OF the European State, of which such emf
grants shall have been natives to acquire SOVEREIGN
powers IN Anerica The rule is good by which one
IN Judging OF anohers conduct pretensiOls is All,
y5sei to reverse positions. What would Europe
think OF an American attempt to plant there an a
ntercan colony! If its pride would be provoked aud
Slnptuous act, it is high time that it should be rero
lfeted and felt, that Americans, themselves descen
ded from E1rupeaIs, have also their sensibilities
and their rights.
TO warn Europe beforehand that thew are MOI here.
after to be admitted the President wishes you to pro-
p9see Joint declaration of the several American
States, each however, acting for and bndino onl,.
ITSELF that, within the limits Of their respective terri
tories, no new European colony will hereafter be al
lowed to DC established. It is not intended 70
commit the parties wfo may concur in that declara-
tron, to the support of the particular boundaries
which MAY be claimed by any one of them; nor is it
pruposed to commit them to joint resistance against
any, future attempt to plant European COLONY
u is believed that the moral effect alone OF a Joint
declaration, emanating from the authority of ali the
AMERICAN nations, Will etectually serve to prevent
t@ eiIr to establish any such uew colony, but if it
SHOULD not, dd the attept should actually be nude
II 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 themselves
as well as 70 Europe, requires THAT thuv should
rest IN confidence that declaration, this solemnlv
lut forth, will command Universal Difference 1t will
not be necessary to give to the declaration now pro-
posed, tire form of Preaty. 1t NAV be signed nv
the several Ministers ofthe Congress- und DromnI
gated to the World evidence of the sense Of all the
American Powers.
Among the subjects which must engage the cor
sderatfon OF the Congress, scarcely any has an in
teret So powerful, and commanding az that which be-
longs to Cuba and Porto Rico, the former especially
Cuba, from its position, the present amount and the
Sustaining, its vast, though almost latent resources
Is at present the great object oattract6n both to E
rope and America. No power, not even Spain i.snlr.
has, IN snch variety Of forms, so deep anntercst
IN Its fitllre fortunes, whatever they NAV IapDen To
he, as the United States. Cur policy in recrd to it.
is fully and frankly disclosed in the
note to Mr.. Middleton II IL there stated that for
ourselves we desire change in the possession or
political condition of that island; and that we could
not, with Indifference, see it transferred from Spain
10 dny other European power. We are unwilling 20
see It's transfer OF annexation tD either Of the new
american States 1fthe present war should much
longer continue, there are three condons into some
one ofwhfch, that island may fall durnh It's further
progress, and all of them deserve the most particular
and serious consideration. The first is, It's indepe
dehce, resting at the CLOSE Of the var upon its own
uIiassised resources to maintain that Independence
IDLY. Its independence with the guaranty of other
powers, either of Europe of America, or both.
Apd, 3dly. It's conquest and attachment to the do
nlinidns of the republic Of Colombia or Mexico.
WE will now examine each Of these prpdicaments of
the island, in the order In which they have been sta
ted.
/. If Cuba had the ability, within itself Of min
tanning an independent government against all as
saults from without or within, We should prefer to
see 1T liz that state; because desire the happiness
ofotheYs well ourselves anu we believe that is in
the general most likely to be secured by local GOV
eminent springng directly from and identified in feel
ing, interest, sympathy, With the people to be COVER
ned Buta mere glance at the limited extent moral con.
dtion and dScordant character Gifts population must
CONVINCE all OF its incompetency, at present sustain
seif-guverIlment, unaided by other Powers. And if
at this premature period an attempt independence
should be SO far attended, with succcssas to break the
CgDneEIon With Spain, portion Of the inha btanfs
Of the island, Us well as their aeigh6ors III the United
States, and in other directions would live in
continual dread Of those tragic scenes which were
ilrInery exhibited in negIhoring island, the 1ouu-
lton Of which would be tempted by the very feet of
that Independence, to employ all the means which
yclnity, similarity of origin and sympathy could sup
ply to fourent and stimulate lnsureCon in order TO
In ,risf,, ..efrf 81
,. guaranteed independence Of Cuba although
it might relieve the island from the dangers which
Lave been just noticed, would substitute others NOT
less formidable and which, it is believed are almost
insnperabFc. who shall be tire guarantyng Powers
Shall they be exclusively American, or mixed partly
American and partly European, What shall be tho