The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-30

Inc armed neutrality would. auunuhnliy cover
our neutral rights. Ii, Therefore, the situation
of things, with spect to Great Britain should
dictate the necessity of taking tie precaution OF
foreign cooperation upon this head, if no pros.
pect of accommodation shouldbe thwarted by
The danger of such measure being known to
the British court, and an entire view Of all oul
political relations shall, in your judgment, per.
NIT the step, you noiA sound hos ministers upon
me probability Of an alliance Via heir nations "a
support those principles"
Thus it is seen that Mr. jays object was Ia
obtain the recognition of certaiaprinciples but
IT he should not succeed in this, what was he
then to do! Await until they we're assaulted and
pat in peril at our own doorsl BY no means
He was TO proclaim them to the world under the
sanction of powers allied to Enforce them, that
it might be understood on wha grounds Anne
rica would act, and would insstto be dealt with.
There is another fact in tn, diplomatic his
tory of that epoch which mos, strikingy illus.
trates what opinions We're entertained by the i'm
mediate advisers of Washington with respect to
the course which it might be txpedient for this
country to pursue, under circumstances arising
put OF the neutrality which was then professed
% be the policy Of this government.
But before proceed to enter this branch of
the subject, let me place before you, Mr.. Presi.
dsnt, a fact that will speak out louder than any
w,rds of mine could do, how far Washington
himself considered that his proclamation of neu
tr'ty constrained the American government
from interposing where the eternal right of ma
tins to provide for themselves suitable gov.
eriment was interfered with BY powers foreign
to hem. On the 10th of June, 1894 he directs
his Secretary of State to instinct Mr.. Monroe
then our minister to France--to the follow.
ing effect:
J"You will assure the French government that
the President has been an early and decided
friend of the French revolution; and whatever
reason there may have been, under our igno-
rance of facts and policy, to suspend an opinion
upon some Of its important transactions, yet
is he immutable in his wishes forts accomplish,
interchangeable Of dissenting TO The right of ana
foreign prince 10 NEEDLE ,oh lis inferior arrange,
mems"
Nor were these proceedings on the part of the
American government in contradiction with the
contained in the Farewell AID.
dress, as | shall hereafter most conclusively
show.
Let me now remark that the address bears
date September II, 1876. We are-I mean in
1897, at most critical epoch of
our history, when painful difficulties were on
the eve of breaking out between us and France.
Washington had been recalled to the command
of the army Alexander Hamilton was to be
his second in that command. Such was the con
fidence which Washington reposed in him that
he made the appointment Of Hamilton to this
high rank the condition of his acceptance of the
trust rendered him by President Adams
The Spanish colonies were in great ferment
The example which the British colonies had set
them had reused their spirit, and moved them
into an active search of assistance to shake off
the authority Of the mother country They
had sent to Europe emissaries who were now
holding council in Paris. From that place these
emissaries were sending confidential agents in
all directions to promote the great object of
their mission--the emancipation of the Espane-
American colonies. They had just agreed TO
prlJet which they had cent 10 England, to be
to the gigantic, though youthful, min
ster who then lorded il ovci the destinies of
Lhat county.
Here is an extract from that pr.jet
: "ARTIcLE a. A defensive alliance formed
between Great Britain, tie United States, and
South America, is so recommended by the m
ture If things-by the geographical situation of
the three countries--by the productions, wants,
character, habits, and manners Of the three ma
it is not possible that il should not
long continue, especially IL care is used to con-
soidate it by an analogy in he political form
of the three governments-that is to say, by
the enjoyment of civil liberty wisely conceived"
&c, &c.
General Miranda-who, up TO this moment
had been opposed to any such movement on the
part of the Spanish colonies-was, however,
persuaded TO Join in this scheme; and he imme-
diately wrote to Mr.. Hamilton, asking his con-
currence and support. ut appears" says he in
one of his letters, shat the moment Of opr
emancipation is arriving, and that the establish
ment Of liberty on the whole American eontin-
ent is confided to OUR care by Providence"
Here was, you will admit, Mr.. President, a fair
opportunity for testing the principles of neutral.
ity laid down in the proclamation, and the dec.
trine Of non interference, asserted in the Fare
well Address, as constituting the settled and
permanent policy of the county. Here is the
answer of Hamilton to General Miranda
"NEw York, Ang. %, 1898.
"The sentiments entertain in regard to that
object, have been long since In your knowledge
but could personally have no participation in
il, unless patronzed by the government Of this
country. IL was my wish that matters had been
referred for n cooperation in the course of this
fall on the part Of this country; but that can
now be scarcely the case. The winter, however
may mature the project, and an actual co.opera-
ton by the United States may take place. In
this case shall be happy in my official station
10 be an instrument Of so good a work.
"The plan, in my opinion, ought to be, after
that Of Great Britain, an army Of the United
States--a government for the liberated terrific.
ries agreeable TO both co operators, but about
which there probably will be no difficulty TIC
arrange the plan, competent authority 10 some
persons here from Great Britain, j. the best expe
dent Your presence here viii in this case be
extremely essential We are raising an army
Of $4,000 men. General Washington has re-
sumed his station at the head Of the army. an
appointed second in command.
with esteem and regard, &c,
"a HAMILTON"
Nor was this correspondence so mysterious as
not 10 allow its secret TO be transferred 10 the
cabinet council Of Mr.. Adams, and TO the foreign
minister then representing this country nj the
court Of England.
Mr.. Hamilton encoses his answer 10 Miranda