The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-05-04
POLITICAj5L..
SPEECHE
q VI. t.|1I| OF THE
HON. JAMES VI. MASON,
~. ~ OF VIRGINIA,


The Senate Of tie United States,
Aprl 6, 1862.
as"It is a natural policy for a nation
that studies to be neutral, to consult
with those nations engaged in the
same studies and pursuits. At the
same time that measures ought to
be pursued with this view, our
treaties with Prussia and Sweden,
one Of which is expired, and the
other expiring, might be renewed"
This recommendation was speedily
followed up by the nomination Of
his son, John Quincy Adams, after
wards President of the United States,
as minister to PRUSSIA, having first by
his message suggested the idea that
it was important to institute mis-
sion to Prussia, for the purpose of
consultation with other nations, en-
gagged in the "same studies and pur-
suits" to Wit, the study of ncutrali-
ty, and the pursuit of peace. When
the nomination came in, it was
strongly and sternly resisted by the
Republican party; those we're the
days, Republicans, and Fcdcralis,s.
Al motion was made in executive ses-
sion-th injunction of secrecy has
been removed, and the journals have
been published--that Sin the opinion
Of the, Senate, no present occasion
exists thatSE minister should be
sent to Pa" The debate that
followed, ID that the question
divraaSeosss was, whether, by in
stituAng q mie@aon to Prussia, under
tbs auspices Of The message, there
w.4Sd Not hsgSgEssSi7J'5F Of farmug an
alliasce ~$th as. ..a even ivr the
purpose 4 neu.ra SsssstfETIhe yeas
and nays were l.4ssed. up6n that
motion, and stood-yeas II, nays
18; and amongst the yeas and |
call the attention of my friend. the
distinguished Senator from Michigan
(Mr. Cass to the fact---wcre all the
Republican members Of the body.
| come now to the next epoch, the
next starting point in the history of
the country, which affected our for
cign relations. 1t was the Spanish
American question. Where were
we then? Upon our own continent
The colonies Of Spain we're in revolt
against the mother country; and the
relations of your government with
the mother country were those of
peace. Notwithstanding every cf-
fort was made to induce the country
to change those relations, that peace
was preserved, aud never departed
from. 1t was for long time a
matter of doubt whether the pro.
vinces Of South America would be
able to establish their independence;
but this government refraincd from
interfering in the slightest degree,
and in any form whatever, until we
were satisfied that the dominion of
Spain was gone forever; then, as
we had not only right, but as it
was our duty to do, III the year
1922 we recognized the indepcn-
dence of the col6aics. 70 show the
of tie country at that day, |
nuye taken an extract from a
letter of the Secretary Of Statc,-.Mr.
Adams--to the minister Of Spain,
who complained of what had just
then taken place, namely; the re-
cognization on the part OF our gov
ernment Of the independence of Ger
tain Of the South American colonies.
The Secretary says, under date OF
, the 9th of April, 1922:
B SIN the conflicts which have
attended these revolutions, the Uni
ted States have carefully abstaincd
from taking any part, respecting
the right of the nations concerned
in them, to maintain, or new or.
ganize, their own political const;tu.
tions, by observing, wherever it was
q contest by arms, the most impartial
neutrality. But the civil war in
which Spain was for years involved
with the inhabitants of her colonies
in america, has, i'll substance,
ceased to exist.
a"This recognition is neither in
tended to invalidatc any right of
SPAN, nor to affect the employment
OF fany means which she may yet be
disposed or enabled to use, with the
} view of rcuniting those provinces to
tue rest of her dominions. 1t is the
mere acknowledgement of existing
facts. with the view to the regular
establishment with the nations newly
formed, Of those relations, political
aud commercial, whichit is the NOR,
al obligation of civilized and Chris