The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-29


to the ministers Of Russia, Denmark, add Sws
den, n the court of London, The principles o
the armed neutrality would abundantly cove
our neutral rights. II, therefore, the situation
Of things with respect to GrealBritain, shoult
dictate the necessity Of taking the precauti0n o
foreign cooperation upon this head, il no pros
pect Of accommodation should be thwarted b.
The danger Of such measure being known II
the British court, and an entire view OF all ou
political relations SHALL in your judgment, per
NIT the step. you ,oiH sound those ministers upon
The probability Of alliance Nth their nations I.
support those principles"
Thus it is seen that Mr. jays object was t.
obtain the recognition of certain principles but
it he should not succeed in this, what was hi
then to do? Await until they were assaulted anC
put in peril at our own doors? BY no means
lie was to proclaim them to the world under the
sanction of powers allied to enforce them, thai
it might be understood on what grounds Anne
rica would act, and would insist to be dealt with
There is another fact in the diplomatic his
tory OF that epoch which most strikingly illus
trates what opinions were entertained by the i'm.
mediate advisers of Washington with respect to
the course which it might be expedient for this
country to pursue, under circumstances arising
to be the policy Of this government
But before proceed to enter this branch of
the subject, let me place before you, Mr. Presi-
dent, fact that will speak out louder than any
words of mine could do, how far Washington
himself considered that his proclamation Of nsu-
trality constrained the American government
from interposing where the eternal right of ma
tons to provide for themselves suitable gov
eminent was interfered with by powers foreign
to them. On the 10th Of June, 1894, he directs
his Secretary of State to instruct Mr.. Monroe
then our minister to France--to the follow
ing effect:
"You will assure the French government that
the President has been IN early and decided
friend of the French revoution 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 for it's accomplish
interchangeable Of asserting TO The right of anu
foreign prince 10 medde 10Th It's Inferior arrange
mems"
Nor were these proceedings on the part ofthe
American government in contradiction with the
recommendations contained in the Farewell Ad-
dress, as ] shall hereafter most conclusivey
show.
Let me now remark that the address bears
date September IT, l796. We are 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
emissares were sending confidential agents in
all directions to promote the great object Of
their mission-the emancipation of the Espano-
American colonies. They had just agreed to
pryel which they had sent to England, to be
to the gigantic, though youthful, min
lister who then lorded it over the destines of
that country
Here is an extract from that pryet:
ARTICLE 4. A defensive alliance formed
between Great Britain, the United States, and
South America, is 80 recommended by the ma
ture Of things-by the geographical situation of
the three countries-by the productions, wants,
character habits, and manners Of the three ma
tions-that it is not possible that it should not
long continue, especially if care is used to con-
solidate it by an analogy in the 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 imne-
dately wrote to Mr.. Hamilton, asking his con-
currence and support. sit appears" says he in
one of his letters, shat the moment of our
emancipation is arriving, and that the establish
ment of liberty on the whole American contin-
ent is confided to OUR care by Providence.
Here was you will admit Mr. President, fair
opportunity for testing the principles of neutral
ity laid down in the proclamation, and the dec
trne of non interference, asserted in the Fare
well Address, as constituting the settled and
permanent policy of the country. Here is the
answer of Hamilton to General Miranda
"NEw York, Aug. 90, 1898.
aThe sentiments entertain in regard to chat
object, have been long since in your knowledge :;
uut Sou'u PCioOh"iiJ nave HO PtItlClPuliOH Ill
it, unless patronized by the government of this
country. 1t was my wish that matters had been
referred for 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
to be an instrument of so good 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. To
arrange the plan, competent authority to some
persons here from Great Britain, is the best expe
dent. Your presence here will in this case be
extremely essential. We are raising an army
of 10000 men. General Washington has re-
sumed his station at the head of the army. am
appointed second in command.
"With esteem and regard, Sc,
"a. HAMILTON"
Nor was this correspondence so mysterious as
not to allow its secret to be transferred to the
cabinet council of Mr.. Adams, and to the foreign
minister then representing this country at the
court Of England.