The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-09
AFFAIRS In SOUTH AMERICA.

,sb and French interference in the affairs Of the
9th American republics, on the shores Of the
-, IA Plata In the "Union" Of Wednesday last,
,s vaye, on authority which we consider reliable,
.,ms further details in relation to the proceeding;
and to-day we publish (below) translation Of the
oGc,l note on the natter of the English and French
ministers, as we find it in the official journal Of the
r.Dubic of Uruguay, published at Montevdeo.
The transactions referred TO in these papers well de-
serve the serious attention of the people of the Uni
ted States
onr commercial relations with the territories on
IN. La Plata, in the southern temperate zone-the
Argentine republic, of which Buenos Ayres is the
c,ni,a; and the Oriental republic of Uruguay, Of
yhieb Montevideo is the chief seaport-are by no
means unimportant The trade between the United
States and Buenos Ayres alone amounts annually
"a tor or five millions of dollars, and, in undis-
,prbed condition of that country, would be constant
10 on the increase. Our trade with Uruguay is
n,obsby somewhat less, but still very considerable.
These states we're formerly associated in federal
union. They have been substantially independent
renpblics since 1916. Since 1926, their ndepend-
ence has been recognised, at our instance, by Eng
land and France Since 1888, these states have
been prey at once to civil discussions and to inter-
national hostility. But it is not pretended that any
rights or any just claims of any European state en-
,sr in the smallest measure into these hostilites.
European interference in their affairs, then, is TO
saw the very least Of it, entirely gratuitous, and
without any the slightest warrant Of public law.
On the contrary such interference has only pro-
longed disastrous and savage war. For, as long
since as IS4l, Oribe, the former President of
Uruguay, at that time refugee in the Argentine
republic, had, in the name of that republic, taken
after decisive battle, the whole of Uru
euav, excep, its capital Montevideo, and was sub
iectng tina, port to a rigorous blockade. At this
time the whole aspect Of events promised to Uru-
quay, and to the Argentine republic the best and
fmest confederate government, under the presiden
CIV of Oribe, which those regions had ever en-
joyed
In this favorable and promising state of things,
the armed and forcibIe interference of France and
England began These nations, through their am
bassadors, backed by large naval force, commanded
the Argentine admiral TO break up the blockade Of
Montevideo The admiral refused TO obey arbilra-
ry and insulting order addressed to him without the
fantest color of rightful authority For this dis
obedience the English and French squadron--appea-
ing, so far see, to no other right than the
right of the strongest-sezed his feet, and held his
crews for some time prisoners. The only effect of
this high-handed act to prevent the garrison of
froy nd
end 10 the war.
In April last, the Argentine republic being still
in quiet possession of the whole of Uruguay, except
Monteyideo, again attempted TO blockade and re-
duce that city. Again the European allied squad
ron has ventured upon forcible interference and has
proceeded to make renewed seizure of the whole
Argentine fleet, sent off its officers and crews to
Bnenos Ayres, and manned the vessels with French
and English sailors. All this has been done under
the solemn protest of the independent Argentine
republic, and without the slightest right or reason.
The only explanation given Of it by the foreign
ministers themselves is reference to former treaty
between the Argentine republic and Uruguay, which
treaty. England and France, it is said, aided to
gotate;n but which it is not pretended that these
powers called to guaranty This explanation,
in our view, amounts to nothing. The treaty was
made between two republics, entirely independent
|of France and England. These nations may have
aided directly or indirectly in forming it; but not
being its guarantors land there is not their own
showing, any claim that they are SOY they have
clearyno right under it, prevent its infraction, by
forcible interference. Their act, then, is clearly
naked, undisguised attempt to make and unmake
nations and states on this continent, after that
fashion cfproceeding which England has learned SO
well, and practsed SO extensively, in building up
her enormous and blood-cemented East Indian en-
pre
behooves the people of the United States to take
these things into seasonable and serious consdera-
on Shall the people of the United States stand by
md see unmoved the British-Asiatic policy acted
again among the independent republics of South
america Is Buenos Ayres to become as Madras,
hnd Uruguay as Tanjore' Ifnot, then at what point
It's progress should this armed European interfe.
fsnce In American affairs be made to encounter the
deliberate and solemn protest Of the people of the
United Sates' 1t is impossible for them to behold
such spectacle without emotion. Its of high con-
cerhmeht to our most practical national interests,
mat British and French influence and predomnance
on the banks Of the La Plata should find an antago-
nist and counterpoise in the public sentiment Of
h's country Our commercial stake in the region OF
mat river is too great to permit us to see it sacri.
need 1t is of yet more vital concern to our avowed
nauonal policy, to keep this continent safe and sa-
cred from aggressive foreign dictation. We have
not seen ht-neither we nor our South American
'elghbors--,o come into that somewhat too famous
Oaance-of-power system, which in Europe has
Dorne such fruits as the Holy Alliance and the
congress Of sovereigns at Leybach. While Eng
ana Is protesting that she will regard the abo-
uoh oil slavery all over the world, as a cardinal
on' Of her foreign policy to be never forgotten, and
ways insisted on-whle France, through her Min
'er OF Foreign Affairs, is already announcing her
sn' II not her intention, to trim the "baance of
o~ef among the nations Of the American CONT
en'-n IS full time for us to open our eyes to the
'ec' Of such policy in regions where it has already
." reduced to practice. The subject is not new
10 Inc diplomacy IF tho T,;,od Sfatno tbnugb ~