Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-03


It's most enlightened citizens, and under which have
joyed unexamped felicity, this whole nation devoted We
IT. therefore, TO candor and TO the amcabe relations
isng between the United States and those Powers declare
that we should consider any attempt their part to extend
their system TO any portion OF this hemisphere dangerous
peace and safety With the existing colonies and depen-
denotes of any European Power have ntereed and
shall not interfere But with the Governments who have de-
caed their independence and maintained and whose indie
pendence we have great consideration and just principles
acknowledged could view any inerposon for the
purpose of expressing hem controlling any other manner
their destiny by any European Power any other than
the manifestation OF unfendly disposition towards the
United States In the between those Governments and
Span declared neutrality the time of their recogni-
ton and to this have adhered and shall continue adhere
provided change shall which, in the judgment of the
competent authorities of this Government shall make cor
responding change the part Of the United States ndpen
sable to their security.
"The late events in Spain and Portugal show that Europe
still unsettled O this important fact stronger proof
be aduced than that the Allied Powers should have thought
proper any principle satisfactory themselves, have
nterposed by force in the internal of Spain To
what extent such interposton may be carried the
principle question in which all independent Powers whose
Governments differ from theirs nteresed those
remote, and surely than the United States Our
policy in regard TO Europe, which adopted at early
stage OF the which have long ataed that quarter of
the globe nevertheless remains the same which not to
eriere in the internal of any of Powers
slider the de acto the legitimate for
to cultivate friendly relations with and preserve those
by nIfn, manly policy meeting, IN all
instances the just claims of every Power, submitting
ues from But in regard those continents
stances are eminenty conspcuousy different 1t is impos
bic that the Allied Powers should extend their political system
to any portion of either continent without endangeng
peace and happiness any believe that South
brethren if left to themselves would adopt of their
accord II is equally impossible, therefore, that should
behold such inteposon in any form with indifference. If
look to the comparative Strength and of Spain
and those Governments, and their distance from each
other il must be obvious that she subdue them. II
is still the policy the United the parties
to themselves in the hope that other Powers will the
same course"
In another part of the same Message occurs the
following claim, founded upon the same general idea
of not allowing any European monarchy to get fur
Their footing upon this continent. We need scarce
ly say that was an extravaganza and untenable ex-
tension of the doctrine of European non-interven-
ton upon this continents and that it was speedily
confessed to be by the terms on our part accept
ed IN The very controversy for which the assump-
ton was raised. For we yielded, by treaty, to
Russia Immediately afterwards her claim down to
So 40 of latitude on the northwest coast; and
with Great Britain entered again into that con-
venton of joint occupancy in Oregon which re-
manned in force for near thirty years, and was at
last terminated by Mr.. Polk himself (afer feint
to set up again this very doctrine) in concession
of the British claim down to latitude 1872 So that
the action of our own Government has entirely in
validated the following assumption IN the only cases
where that assumption attempted, while
its silence has further nvalidated the claim in other
cases where the assumption not attempted and
it must therefore pass for nothing but pretension
set up IN aid Of a disputed tile and subsequently,
abandoned. The claim" the principle as it calls
itself-is found in the following paragraph of the
Message already cited:
sAt the proposal Of the Russian Imperial Government,
made through the Minister Of the Emperor residing here
full power and instructions have been transmitted the Min
lister of the United States ST. Petersbugh arrange by
amcabe negotiation the respective rights and interests of the
two nations the northwest of this continent SINH
lar proposal had been made by his Imperial Majesty of the
Government of Great Britain which has likewise acced
ed The Government of the United States has been de
srous, by this friendly proceeding, of manesng the great
value which they have invariably attached the friendship of
the Emperor and their soctude cultivate the best under
standing with his Government In the discussions which
this has RISE and in the arrangements by which
they terminate the occasion has been judged proper for
asserting, principle in which the rights and interests of
the United States involved that the American continents
by the and Independent condition which they
ed and maintain henceforh be considered as sub
jects for future coonzationb by any European Power"
We have already disposed of this last claim as
a fact brief examination will equally dispose of
it as principle; and thus leave US to survey I'M
embarrassed and to analyze the other propositions
of Mr.. MoNRoE-the really serious and legitimate
ones first cited.
Either the doctrine " that the American CONT
nents, by the free and Independent condition which
they have assumed and maintained are henceforth
from 1923 not to be considered as subjects for
future colonization by any European Power" is
true, it is false if true, is so either as rule
of right, only dictate Of policy: and, if true
either, was to be observed at least on the occa
sion when first preached, and by the Administra-
ton which first preached il. If not tenable as
rule of right even the personal authority of the
Monroe Cabinet can give it no weight but, as they
and all others since asserted only waive il, it is
unsustained by any personal authority, and must
hang for its responsibility upon its business a rule
or its fitness as policy only.
Mr.. MONROE certainly propounded it as The rule
ofhe occasion 0he1, he reSorted 10 IL and yet il
was abandoned Immediately afterwards, by our
treaty of 1924 with Russia, concedng to her per-
petua right of soil in tracts where she had not colo