The southern press., 1852-04-17


before he could procure them the progress o
events might have rendered any such proceeding
nugatory and the being engaged in a communca
ton with the United States, in which consider
able time must have been consumed before It woult
have been possible to have arrived at conclusiv
understanding with them, would have embarras
sed any other mode OF procaiming our views
pedient to adopt.
"Mr. Canning, therefore, allowed the matter L
drop ; but what was done in it was far from prov
ing wholly useless, as will be seen hereafter"
think, then, if this were to prove anything
whatever, it would prove, in the first place, tina
the proposition came from the British govern
ment to this government to unite with her il
this important act in reference to the Soutl
American republics; and, in the next place, tina
this government declined to do it. None doub
at this day, that the allied powers of Europe
had it in serious contemplation to lend their aiC
to Spain to enable her TO reduce to submis
sion her revolted colonies in America. Great
Britain knew it. Our government knew 1t. i,
was communicated to our government, as vel
by Mr. Rush as by our charge at Paris. Great
Britain, as | have said felt that whenever that
was done, she must take step which would
implicate her in war, and break off her cont
mental alliance. Mr.. Canning, the secretary OF
foreign affairs, and one Of the abest statesmen
of his day, looked at once to the avenue which
he thought had been opened by Dir. Rush, to
obtain new alley on this continent; but his
proposition was not met The American gov
eminent took the lead without any communica
ton with England, or with any foreign powe-
whatsoever. The President Of the United States.
in recommending to Congress such measures
az he thought the condition Of the country
required, made the declaration to which have
referred, and based it altogether upon his opin;
ion that the peace and safely of our people RI
qured it. Ii was not because we sympathized
with those colonies in their revolt; not because
any speculative philanthropy required Of us to
go to their aid but it was beauso this foreign
Intervention would endanger the safety of our
people, that he put forth that celebrated declara
ton. To prove that such apprehension was
not without foundation, | have taken an extract
from the diplomatic records of that day, showing
that after King Ferdinand was restored to his
throne, by the armed Intervention of France, he
solicited his allies to come to the aid Of Spain,
in suppressing the revolt of the South American
colonies.
It is taken from despatch addressed by the
Condo de O'Falia, as prime minister Of the
King, to his Majesty's ministers at Paris, st.
Petersburgh, and Vienna, dated the 26th Deem
ber 1928, and communicated by the Condo, to
Sir William Court the British ambassador
at Madrid:
:" The King, our sovereign, being restored to
the throne of his ancestors, in the enjoyment of
his hereditary rights, has seriously turned his
thoughts to the fate Of his American dominions,
distracted by civil war, and brought to the brink
of the most dangerous precipce. These refec-
tons powerfully animate hts majesty to hope
that the justice of his cause will meet with a
firm support in the influence of the powers of
Europe, Accordingly, the King has resolved
upon inviting the cabinets of his dear and init.
mate allies TO establish conference at Paris, to
the end that their plenipotentiaries, assembled
there, along with those of his Catholic Majesty,
may aid Spain in adjusting the affairs of the
revolted countries of America.
" His Majesty, con6ding in the sentiments Of
his allies, hopes that they will assist him in &C.
complishing the worthy object of upholding the
principles of order and legitimacy, the subver-
sion of which, once commenced in America
would presently communicate to Europe; and
that they will aid him, at the same time in re-
establishing peace between this division Of the
globe and its colonies"
When this paper came TO the knowledge of
Mr.. Canning, he answered forthwith, on the
part Of his government, that the first step taken
by the allied powers towards this intervention,
would be followed, on the part Of England, by
the immediate recognition of the independence
of the South American colonies. We have the
very high authority of Mr.. Brougham, then a
member of the British House of Commons, that
the declaration Of Mr. Monroe, made thus in the
same year, had the effect of lettering the allied
powers of Europe from the threatened interven.
ton. i read, from the Parliamentary Debates.
an extract from the speech OF Mr. Brougham, in
the House Of Commons, in 1924:
The question with regard to South Amer.
ca" said Mr. Brougham, "was now, he believed,
disposed Of, or nearly so for an event had re-.
Gently happened, than which no event had ever
dispersed greater JOY, exultation, and gratitude
over all the freemen Of Europe; that event
which was decisive on the subject, was the Ian.
guage held with respect TO Spanish America in
the speech, or message, Of the President Of the
United States 10 Congress"
Mr.. Brougham then proceeded to state, as an
indsputable fact, that Ferdinand had been
promised by the Emperor Alexander, that, if the
King of Spain would throw off the constitutional
Ieters by which he was tramelled, he would
assist him in recovering his transatlantic do.
minions.n
Il is thus seen that this threatened interuen.
ton by President Monroe was placed distinctly
on the ground that il was necessary, and due to
the interests and safety of our own reople
That declaration had its effect an effect~ecog.
nized by the statesmen Of England, and best
proved by the fact that, although Spain de-
handed the assistance Of her allies, she never
received t."
II will be scen, Mr.. President, that the term
used by President Monroe, in this potential
protest, Is the same that il found in the resolu.
ton Of the honorable Senator from New York,
that the United States cannot see, &c, "with
indifference" But how was il construed in the
British Parliament? Why, il was construed ne
a determination, that If the declaration should
be dsregarded, the United States would sustain
IL by force. The declaration had It's effect, and
warded off the threatened intervention.
But the honorable Senator from Michigan, for
whose opinions upon all subjects, and more
especially upon those connected with the foreign
relations Of the country, have the most pro-
found respect, has cited a number Of instances
rom the modern history Of Europe, tending to
show that these protests are not unusual things
H.. L.. -. l.