The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-05-04

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question, and it came upon him like
torch thrown into magazine. 1t
opened his eyes in an instant, as it
would seem, to the prospect of obtain
ing an ally upon this continent, upon
the very embarrassing question which
was about to separate, his country
from her allies upon the European
continent. Mr.. Canning answered
the question so far as it went, as to
the probable effect Of the late news
from Spniu; but showing an interest
in it, he pursued the subject in Sc
rics Of unofficial or private notes, for
several subsequent days, with a view
to learn from Mr.. Rush whether the
government of the United States
would join England in concerted
declaration. So that the proposition
for the joint action Of the t 30 govern
ments came from the British minister
to Mr.. Rush, and not from MIR.
Rush to the British minister. That
interview took place August 10Th,
1928. Tho United States had re,
cognized the independence of the
South American republics in the
preceding year. Thus, the relations
between this country and the South
American republics were established;
those between England and those re.
pnblics were not. Nor does it ap.
pear that Mr.. Rush was authorized
to negotiate with the British govern
mcnt to any extent, as to the princi-
pies on WHICH that recognition, by
either gnvtrnme't, or by both gov
crnments, if made'by England, should
be vindicated. Because, Of her 'cn.
tangling alliances on tlh continent
Of Europe, the policy flEhgland iii
references to the$,ys ,sn;l} American.
colonies had rot yet Beer maturca.
The British cab,hot 12w that the
time was approaching wtlrn England
must stand committed Interference to
thnse colonies; and lhtjr saw, that
the very first decided sHrp England
took in recognizing the Independence
Of the colonies, would be followed by
a declaration of war against her Oh
the part Of the allied powers of I1u
rope.
The government Of Spain was
then in q most unsettled condition.
Spain had passed succcssively in
revolution, through every form Of
government; from 4 prc"incial junta
to 4 central junta, then to rcgcn-
cv, then cortes with a constitutions
al monarch, from which the king,
held in state Of rupilage by the
cortes, was appealing to his allies for
aiI. England was one Of those ALI
cs, and England was placed in . po-
stion in which she must either aban.
don the whole policy Of her people in
reference to the Spanish question, or
provoke a war with her continental
allies. The fear was-ana there
was great reason for the ica- that
the allied powers Of Europe would go
to the aid of Spain. The govern
lncnt of France, one of the allied
powers, had marched an army Of one
hundred thousand men into Spain to
rescue Ferdinand, who vas one of
the Bourbons. Military occupation
was thus taken Of Spain by France.
The other powers Of Europe were at
the back Of France, sustaining her in
that movement; and England saw
that critical moment had come, in
which she must dclinitivcly announce
her position on these embarrassing
questions. 1t was at that very juno
ture that the question was put to Mr..
Rush by the British minister. wheth-
or England would find an ally in
America, if she took the decided
step of recognizing the independence
Of the South American colonies.
Mr.. Rush, who conducted himself
with degree Of ability which fully
iuslilies the deserved cnco3liuu,s
which have been passed upon him by
the Senator from Louisiana, was
placed in the delicate and responsible
position Of acting OH so mCmcntous an
occasion, without autl9ity from his
government.
The American minister, however,
availcd himself of the occasion to
press upon Mr.. Canning the decisive
step on the part Of England, to re.
ccgnizc the independence Of those
colonies. Not because he had any
instructions from his government to
do so, but because Mr.. Canning had
opened the door to it, and because
he knew how important it was to
those colonies, and how grateful it
would be to his own country, that
her example in this respect should be
followed by SO important power as
the British government.
But he cXplicitly declared that ho