Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-04-07
No. lOI.

views which have had with him, you will per-
ceve that the appeal to Russia has not been with
out effect and that the late emperor, sensible Of
the necessity Of peace, prior to his death probably
employed his good Offices to bring it about. HIS
successor has formally announced his intention to
tread in the path of hs Industrious predecessor, and
it is. therefore, most likely that he will also direct
the influence of that government to the conclusion
Of peace satisfactory to both parties. It's psssi-
be that these Efforts may not be effectual, and that
the pride and obstinacy Of Spain may be unconquer-
able. There is, however, much reason to hope that
she may either consent to peace, upon the basis
of the independence Of the coiones or it she feels
that too humiliating, that she will agiee to sus.
pension of hostili,ies, formerly done Ill the
case Of the Low Cour tries. which would in the end,
inevitably lead to formal acknowledgment of the
actual independence Of the new republics. What
may be the future course OF Spa'D the tavora-
bic reception which the emperor of Russia has Civ
en- to the Of the United States, to say moth
ing Of the known inclination Of France aud other
powers of the European continent, to follow the ex-
ample of the United States and Great Britain. fully
authorize the conclusion that the Holy Alliance will
not engage in the on the side OF Spain but will
persevere in their actual neutrality. The danger.
therefore, from that quarter having disappeared,
there be necessity, at this time, tor an often
sive and defensive alliance between the American
powers, which could only find justification, at any
period, in the existence continuation OF such
danger. Such an alliance. under present crcun,-
stances, would be worse than useless since it
might tend to excite feelings in the emperor OF Rus
STA and his allies which should not be needlessly
touched or provoked
The republic of Col onbia has recently requested
the riendly interpostion of This government To pre-
vail upon Spain to agree to an armlstice, upon the
conditions mentioned in Mr. Salazar's note, OF
which copy, together with copy ot mine in reply,
| urn
instructions have been accordingly given to the
ministers Of the United States at Madrid and st.
Petersburg.
Other reasons concur to dssuade the United
States from entering into such an alliance. From
the first establishment Of their present constitution,
their llust statesmen have inculcaed the avo
dance Of foreign alliances as a leading maxim OF
their foreign policy. 1t is true, that, in lis adop-
ton, their attention was directed to Europe, which
having a system Of connexions and OF interests re-
mote and different IRON ours, 1t was thought most
advisable that we should not mix ourselves up with
them. And it is also true, that long since the or
gin of the maxim, the new American powers have
arisen to which, if at all, it IS less applicable
Without therefore, asserting that an exgency may
not occur in which an alliance Of the most intimate
kind, between the United States and the other Ame-
rican republics, would be highly proper and expe-
dent. it may be safely said that the OCCASION which
would warrant departure from that established
maxim ought TO be one Of great urgency, and that
none such is believed now to exist. Among the
objections to such alliances, those which at all times
have great weight are, first, the difficulty Of just
and equal arrangement of the contributions OF force
and OF other means, between the respective parties,
4, the attainment Of the common object and, sec
ondly that of providing beforehand, and determin-
ing with perfect precision when the casus tPders
arises and thereby guarding against all controver-
sizes about it. There is less necessity for any such
alliance at this cOnuncture, on the part OF the Un
ted States, because compact, by whatever solcm-
mites it might be attended, or whatever name or
character it might assume, could be more obligatory
upon them than the irresistible motive of seltpres-
eryation, which would be instantly called into OPP
Grafton and stimulate them to the utmost exertion
in the supposed contingency Of all European attack
upon the liberties of America.
The considerations to which have adverted, to-
;. gether with such others as may present themselves
- Ia YOU will it is hoped, satisfy the representatives
of the other American States that an alliance, often
> siye and defensive, between them aud the United
States for the object which has been stated, is un
> necessary, ii not mschieyious. Should you, how
:, ever, he unable to bring that conviction home Il
~ them, aud should you have reason to believe thai
the positive rejection OF such an alliance would be
= regarded in an unfriendy light, and have PERM
cous effect on your other negotiations, you will IN
yite them to reduce their proposals OF the terms oil
;, such an alliance they may conceive proper TO
. written precise form. Il state that you will take then
;. al referendum. That will afford to the government
g there the opportunity Of reconsideration, with the
advantage Of all the information that be eyove'
. in the Intervening period The alliance, it ever
" admissible, having been aqueston OF t'me,t the delay
= incident to the reference home, by further demon.
stratins its inexpedency, will better prepare the
Congress at Panama for the final rejection which II
is most probable this government will give to the
e project. -,
H. Ia treating of those subjects in which all the
. nations Of America, whether at war or IN peace
}. may be supposed to have common interest you
n viii, on all suitable occasions, 'nculcate the