The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-14

from sailing within the neighborhood OF her Amer
lean colonies and about the right of the Pope To partition
the continent among the powers OF the old have no
had time advert TO the historical authorities, but am
strongly impressed with the conviction, that when the
Portuguese government had been transferred TO Brazil
the permanent condition of the countries became the
subject OF consideration in Europe, ii contended
and, believe, admitted, that the Two nations must be
eventually separated II the government remained in
Brazil the principle could not be admitted that Eu
ropean nations might become the colonial establishments
OF the American powers This was assumed as kind
of family law belonging TO the nations of that hemis
phere, necessarily arising out OF their condition,
When this continent frs'setied, It's true destiny
never to have occurred even to the most sagacous
statesman. The colonial establishments were formed
and settled for the purpose OF commerce and profit and
held only for the benefit of the metropolitan govern
ments The memory of this condition of things
in the word plantations, yet retained the name OF
of States, and indicating the object OF Its early estab
lishment; and in the term general court the appeaton
of the legislature OF several members OF the confede
racy Identical with the of the directing power OF large
corporations in Engandsuch as the East India Company
and the Hudson's Bay Company-and which belonged to
the corporations whose powers transferred to New
England but without the slightest apparent conception OF
the true consequences that were to follow This uar,a
principle is manifest in the whole of English legis
States, then colonies of that country Why, sir, it has
been saidraher suppose in illustration and reproach
than literal fact. but still true enough to great ex
tentthat horses shoe nail could not by law, be
made America, but must be manufactured IN England
Every in Europe was war upon this continent
Governments, comparatively mbece, like those OF SPAN
and Portugal and the last stages of political decrep
tude, owned and controlled hall the world Magnificent
regions destined by God to be inhabited by millions of
human beings penetrated by great arteries divided BY
| lofty mountains, where were emboweed the riches OF
the earthpaires and pampas and forests as boundeSs
extent they might be rendered fertile in their produc
tons-all these gifts of to locked up,
rendered useless by the wetched policy the little mis-
cradle inrgues of the courts of Madrid and of Lisbon
Such was the condition of this continent, when we
upon the scene of political action OF the
dependent powers of the world. New interests then
arose, and party to assert and protect them. With
the change in situation, came changes IN our rights
and duties Ii obvious that many old things must
pass ayay The first link in the chain of serve con-
nexon between Europe and America was broken. When
The whole connexlon should be dissolved became thence
forth only question of time For while, however,
had too much to do with the present, to take any
rate survey of the future. Emerging from terrible
our first object was to repair ITS ravases and recover
government and TO accommodate our institutions, state
and general to the circumstances OF our position
and while doing this, that tremendous storm
arose in Europe, which swept the Old World, and,
during its progress involved all the nations of the EARTH
directly indirectly, either in its operation its effects
Until this passed away the government OF the United
States had opportunity to investigate and assert the
new principles arising out of their independence and their
connection with the other communities of the American
continent But the revolution OF the Spanish colonies gave
them this opportunty and their increased power gave to
the EXecuiye-- il did not give 10 Congress-he conf
dence necessary for decisive action There was an Amer
can interest this hemisphere, separate from the Euro
pean interest The powers nhabtng IT. besides their more
general relation with the nations Of The earth, had poll
peculiarly t0ef own. ne queSuOnS ledulHI 10
war in Europe were almost endless many OF them
were futile They of succession, OF interest,
OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF resentment and Of almos every
other passion which sways the human breast Mnions
and avores and mistresses acted upon mbecie
egns and corrupt cabinets, and the peace OF the world
was sacrificed to the most desplcabe motives. ltwould
really appear in of the wars of modern times as
though power sometimes placed in unworthy hands,
10 show how far human orbearance can be carried and
the dignity of human nature degraded. We desired TO
live out of the sphere of such operations, and could
not do so if they brought into close contact with
u.s. Political propagandsm has no place in our policy
We prefer own form OF government, from convc-
ton that it is best calculated to promote our happiness;
and rejoice when other nations are willing and pre-
pared to adopt it, from an equal conviction that it will
promote theirs But with determination to Judge for
ourselves leave to them the same right Certainly it
is interesting to that the States OF this continent
should be republican as well as independent We can
assimilae more readily with them, and We believe
their condition viii be safer and more permanent
But whatever form of government they might choose to
adopt for their interest and ours that they should
dvance in all the elements of improvement, moral and
material that their powers should be developed, and
their industry opened to the world and that of the
world 10 them Connected with the uncertain and
changing fate OF European soverelgns, their condition
would not only be precarous continually exposed to
war but the Of their prosperity would be locked
up, as the mser locks up his treasures, which be
viii neither use himself suffer to be used by others
The honorable senator from Connecticut has put the
argnentu ad homtnem, and has said that are incon
ssient In our principles because do not interfere with
France and England in their operations in the La Plata;
Certainly the which has been wagng there is one OF
the most unjust in modern times; but still open pub
c-avowed warot it is said for the purposes OF aggran
dizement but with the professed view to terminate the
hostties which had long been going between the in
dependent States on that river The honorable gentleman
as before sad has msconceved the nature of the prnc-
pie We do not deny the right of the powers OF Europe
to 90 TO war with the American States when they have
cause to do so; and of this they must Judge for them
selves When these wars, however, are undertaken for
the purpose of recoonlzng any portion OF this continent
or hen that consequence obviously TO flow from them,
then will come the time to test the true principles of
action.
Beside these considerations, arising out OF the material
and intellectual progress of the American Sates there
was another more Immediately affecting us, and which
we could not neglect One of these States, and the
most important among them, cotermlnous with us
along the whole extent of southern frontier. Any
convusion internal external affecting her, could not
fail to engage our attention, II could not fail to affect
our interest Continually attached to European sove-
eignty she would be continually exposed to the vlcssl-
udes which such state OF things must necessarily bring
with it and upon the and the land would
pose our borders to everenewlng dangers. And she,
too is intimately connected by position and character
with the States south of her. and their dangers would be
hers.
But it is objected that this principle is with the
salutary rule of non intervention LAID down by Mr. Jeer
son. and regarded one OF the received maxims OF
our policy Sir, this is not These declarations on
the subject OF European recoonlzaton not Tor the
purpose of interfering with other powers, but to prevent
other powers from interfering with us. No man Will
carry this doctrine of nOnntervenon so TAR as to say
that prohibits from preventing the action, united or
SINGLE of other nations, who seek the adoption OF meas
ues affecting our int rest and safety. If league were
forming among the great powers OF Europe, which, un.
der whatever pretence, seeking the establishment OF
principle which would give TO England the control of
the of the world must sit still and calmly