The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-16


the British minister. That interview took place
August 10Th, 1898 The United States had
recognized the independence of the South Amer
lean republics in the preceding year. Thus. the
; relations between this country and the Sbuth
American republics were established those
between England and those republics were not
, Nor does it appear that Mr.. Rush was author
lied to negotiate with the British government
to any extent, rs to the principles on which that
recognition, by either government, or by both
governments, If made by England, should be
vindicated. Because, Of her "entangling ALI
ances" on the continent of Europe, the policy
of England in reference to the South American
colonies had not yet been matured. The
British cabinet saw that the time was approach.
ing when England must stand committed in
reference to those colonies; and they saw, OF
thought they saw, that the very first decided
step England took in recognizing the independ.
ence of the colonies, would be followed by q
declaration of war against her on the part of the
allied powers of Europe
The government Of Spain was then in most
unsettled condition. Spain had passed success
sively in revolution, through every form of gov
eminent; from provincial junta to a central
junta, then to regency, then a cortes with a
constitutional monarch, from which the king,
held in a state Of pupilage by the cortss, was
4 appealing to his allies for aid. England YVES one
of those allies, and England was placed in a
position in which she must either abandon the
whole policy Of her people in reference to the
Spanish question, or provoke war with her
continental allies. The fear was--and there
was greet reason fcf the fear-that the allied
powers of Europe would go to the aid Of Spain.
The government of France, one Of the allied
powers, had marched an army of one hundred
nd ;uto IN Cd; md
who was one of the Bourbons. Military occu-
patton was thus taken of Spain by France The
other powers of Europe were at the back of
France, sustaining her in that movement; and
4 England saw that a critical moment had come,
in which she must dcfnitively announce her
position on these embarra cling questions. 1t
was at that very juncture that the question was
put to Mr. Rush by the British minister, whether
ENGLAND would find an ally in America, if she
took the decided step of recognizing the inde-
pendence of the South American colonies. Mr..
Rush, who conducted himself with degree of
ability which fully justiies the deserved encom.
iums which have been passed upon him by the
Senator from Louisiana, was placed in the deli
cate and responsible position of acting on so
momentous an occasion, without authority from
his government.
i The American minister, however, availed
HltnoeIi VI tuo oCCuSiOl W press upoH NAI. Sdu-
ming the decisive step on the part of England,
to recognize 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 fol-
lowed by so important power as the British
government.
But he explicitly declared that he had no
power from his government to express its views,
fer less to commit it to the proposal of Mr..
Canning, that THE TWO GOVERNMENTS SHOULD
UNITE IN A JOINT PROTEST. AGhINT ALL FOREIGN
INTERVENTION.
This conference Yves continued by correspond
ence for several days, until eventually, Mr.. Rush,
in the absence of all instructions, boldly %
sumed the responsibility of asserting to Mr..
Canning's proposal for declaration Of the two
governments, proOided Great Brtan, as pre-,
liminary, would recognize the independence OF
those colonies
In his letter to the Secretary of State com
municating the determination thus formed, he
said that he had been led to it, on being dis
tinctly informed by Mr.. Coming that
"l1e he'd received notice of measures berc
, in projection by the powers of Europe, relative
to the affairs of Spanish America, soon as .he
French succeeded in their military movement
against Spain"
But he :old the Secretary further, that
"Should the issue of things be different, and
events notwithstanding arise, threatening the
peace of the United States, or otherwise seri-
ously to affect their interest in any way, in con
sequence of such declaration by me, it would
still remain for the wisdom of my government
to disavow my conduct, as it would manifestly
have been without its previous warrant"
Eventually Mr.. Canning Uithdrew his PROPOSE
ton, on the ground of Mr. Rush's ,odm u
po,oer To commit his government. OF course
the whole matter was Immediately commuui
Gated by Mr.. Rush to his government.
AS Mr.. Canning had withdrawn his PROPOSE
ton, il became unnecessary for the governments
of the United States to disavow what he had
done. But the fact remains, that no such power
was thereafter given. And as the best evidence
that our government determined to keep itself
free from all connection with England in the
matter, the President availed himself Of the
meeting OF Congress, then near at hand, to
make that declaration separately, on the part OF
the United States, which Mr.. Canning had pro-
posed should be made Jointly with England.*
/ NoTE.-lt may not be unnteresting to hear the
English account of this conference between Mr.
Rush and Mr.. Canning it conforms entirely to
that given Dy Mr H., ana VIII be round In 1.-The
Political Life Of Canning" by Stapleton.
| EXTRACT
cit was with this view that, towards the latter
end of August, 1898, Mr.. Canning sounded Mr.
Rush, the then Minister of the United States in
| this country, as to whether, in his opinion, the
moment were not arrived when the two govern
ments Of Great Britain and the United States
might net come to some understanding with each
other, on the subject of the Spanish American
colonies; and whether, if they could arrive at
such understanding, it would not be expedient
for themselves, and beneficial for the world, that
the principles of it should be clearly settled and
plainly avowed.'
1.-THE English government said Mr.. Canning had
nothing to disguise on the subject
l. !" 1T conceived the recovery of the colonies
by Spain to be hopeless.
2."'lt conceived the question Of the recogni-
ton Of them to be one Of time and circumstances.
3. 1t was, however, by no means disposed
to throw any impeachment in the way Of on ~
rangement between them and the mother country
by amicable negotiations.
A nj, tba 80