The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-25

in that day in the House of Representatives,
Mr.. CLAY. He proclaimed that the Presl,
dent, in his anxiety to stand erect Leaned
against Freedom; and, abiding to Spain and
the Holy League as oppressors of South Amerl-
ca, he declared "he had no sympathy with
tyrants." The President dispatched commits
sioners to seek information of the condition and
prospects of the insurgents, Just as President
Taylor recently did in behalf of Hungary, and
with the same object But the great exponent
of American Republicanism was not satisfied,
and he thereupon moved in the House OF Rep
resentatives an appropriation for direct EN-
bassy to the Republic of the Rio de La Plata.
In support of that motion he demanded with
noble, spirit-stirring vehemence: Are we not
bound upon our own principles to acknowledge
the new Republic? If IRE do not, who will
Are we to expect that Kings will set us the ex-
ample of acknowledging the only Republic on
earth except our owns"
A year later, the President Monroe, taking
holder ground, intimated to Congress and to
the world quite distinctly the interest with
which the United States regarded the consult
atoms OF the Holy League. After saying, IN
the courtly language of diplomacy that they
had undertaken to mediate between Spain and
her Colonies, he expressed very confident be-
lief that they would confne their interpOsition
to the expression of their sentiments, abstain
ing from force. What was this, sir, but an ex-
preston of sympathy with the Republics, and
a Protest against Armed Intervention by the
Holy League of Europe?
One more year ripened these sentiments into
action. 1T is not in the power of a virtuous
People," said the President to behold a con.
filct so vitality important to their neighbOrs
without the sensibility and sympathy naturally
belonging to such a cGusen And after an
nouncng that he had tried to engage the CO.
operation of other Powers to influence Spain
he added, certainly very much in the spirit OF
the present proceedings, that should it become
manifest to the world that the efforts of the
parent State to subdue the Colonies would be
fruitless, it might be presumed that she would
relinquish them"
The House of Representatives, either think
ing that the probable issue was already mani
fest, or unwilling to wait for the permission Of
other Powers, at once replied to the President
| that they were even then ready to provide for
| diplomatic relations with the new Republics
and they rendered to him their constitutions
support of a recognition of them whenever he
should be pleased to grant it. They marked
| this decisive declaration by the unusual form
| atty of sending committee to announce theil
determinations to the President, at the head o.
which was justly placed the now distinguished
Senator from Kentucky, Mr.. Clay A media
concentrating the civic achievements of thai
eminent Leader has been recently struck One
of its inscriptions rectes this great triumph in
behalf of Freedom in South America. Sir, in
my judgment, it was the noblest of them all
Long after the recognition of the South
| American Republics the Holy League contin-
ued to entertain the appeal of Spain for their
intervention. But the spirit of the American
People would no longer brook such an unlaw.
full act. In 1923, the President Monroe atom
| ed for all past hesitation by that decisive and
memorable protest, in which, after urging the
napplicability of the principles before held by
our Government on the subject of Intervention
to the case of the South American States, he
avowed that it "was due to candor and to the
amicable relations existing between the United
States and the Allied Powers of Europe to de-
clare that we should consider any attempt on
their part to extend their system to any part
of this hemisphere as dangerous to our own
peace and safety And that, while we should
still remain neutral in the contest, our position
would change IF their Intervention should rem
der it necessary
The Holy League, nevertheless, kept on Sc
cretly consulting on mediation with the sword
for the good of the People of this Continent,
until John Quincy Adams, President, not APP
preciating their benevolence nor having the
fear of force before his eyes, accepted for the
United States with the support of Congress,
an invitation to attend meeting of the new
brotherhood of American Republics called to
discuss measures for the common safety and
welfare. While explaining the reasons for that
measure, that incorruptible and indomitable
Magistrate thus renewed the protest of his
predecessor
To the question, Whether the Congress of Pana-
ma, and the principles which may be dusted by it,
may not give unbrage to the Holy League of Euro
pcan Powers, or offence to Spain. il is a sufficient
answer that it can give no just cause of umbrage
offence to either, and that the United States will
stipulate nothing there which shall give such just
cause Here the right of inquiry into purposes
and measures must stop The fear of giving umbrage
to the Holy League of Europe urged a motive
for denying to the American nations the acknowl-
edgment of their independence. That it would be
viewed by Spain hostile to her not only urged
but directly declared by herself The Congress and
the Administration of that day consulted their rights
and duties and not their fears. Neither the Repre-
sentation of the United States at Panama, nor any
measure to which their assent may be yielded there
will give to the Holy League any of it, members
to Spain, the right to take offence. For the rest
the United States must still, heretofore, take
sci from their duties, not their fears
And now sir the scene changes once more
to Europe. Two thousand years ago, mercu-
rial, vivacious spiritual Greece, after continued
and restless activity, fell asleep and during
her long siumber the False Prophet of the
Koran bound her limbs with hateful and cor
roding chains. Within our day she moved,
and awaked, and rose from the earth, and
seized and attempted to break the instruments
of her bondage. 1t was the Spirit of the
American Revolution passing by that reused
her from that lethargy to that noble achieve
ment. The Holy League of Europe. that had
trampled Freedom beneath their feet in France,
and menaced it so long in South America, con-
suited how to crush it in the Land of Homer
and Pericles and Alcibiades. Greece, confined
within her miniature islands and her narrow
peninsula, was to us a stranger, a shadow of a
name, known to us only by her primitive in
structions in all philosophy by her perfection
in all ennobing arts, and by her nursing care
of our Holy Religion. But for all that we
were not Indifferent; and although Despotic
Europe offered to league itself with Supersti-
tious and Despotc Asia for her subjugation,
we were encouraged by the humane sympathies
of the world, and did not quite fear to speak
out. {" 1t is impossible" said the President,
Monroe, " to look to the expressions Of Greece
without being deeply affected. A strong hope
is entertained that that People will secure
their independent name and their equal stand
ing among the nations Of the earth. From
the facts which have come to our knowledge,
there is good cause to believe that the enemy
has lost all dominion over them. and that
Greece will become an independent nation.
That she may obtain that rank, is the object Of
our wishes This expression of sympathy for
Greece, and this protest against the cruelty
and oppression of her tyrant was reiterated
every year until, by the armed Intervention of