The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-25

in that day in the House of Representatives,
[Mr. CLAYl He proclaimed that the Presl,
dent, in his anxiety to stand erect Leaned
against Freedom; and, abiding to SPAN ana
the Holy League us oppressors of South Amerl-
ca. he declared "he had no sympathy with
tyrants." The President dispatched commas
sioners to seek information of the condition ana
prospects Of the insurgents, just as President
| Taylor recently did in behalf of Hungary, ana
with the same object. But the great exponent
of American Republicanism was not satlshed'
and he thereupon moved in the House OF KEEP
resentatives an appropriation tor direct EN-
bassy to the Republic of the Rio de La Plata
In support of that motion, he demanded, Win
noble, sprit-stirring yehemence: Are we not
bound upon our own principles to acknowledge
the new Republic? If we do not, Who VIII
Are we to expect that Kings will set us the ex-
ample of acknowledging the only Republic on
earth except our own!'
A year later the President Monroe taking
holder ground intimated to Congress and to
the world quite distinctly the interest with
which the United States regarded the consult
atoms of the Holy League. After saying, in
the courtly language of diplomacy, that they
had undertaken to mediate between Spain and
her Colonies, he expressed very confident be-
lief that they would confne their interpostion
to the expression of their sentiments abstain
ing from force What was this, sir, but an ex-
preston of sympathy with the Republics and
a Protest against Armed Intervention by the
Holy League of Europe?
One more year ripened these sentiments into
action 1T is not in the power of vrtuous
People said the President, to behold a con-
flict so vitality important to their neighbors
without the sensiblity and sympathy naturally
belonging to such cauen And after an
nOuncing that he had tried to engage the CO.
operation of other Powers to influence Spain
he added certainly very much in the spirit OF
the present proceedings, that should it become
manifest to the world that the efforts of the
parent State to subdue the Colonies would be
truitess. it might be presumed that she would
/ relnquish them"
The House of Representatives, either think
ing that the probable issue was already mani
fest, or unwilling to wait for the permission o.
other Powers, at once replied to the President
| that they were even then ready to provide fol
| diplomatic relations with the new Republics
and they rendered to him their constitutions
support of recognition of them whenever he
} -ha,,H b. ',leos45 n r--Pntjt They markes
this decisive declaration by the unusual form
atty of sending committee to announce then
determinations to the President, at the head o
which was justly placed the now distinguished
Senator from Kentucky Mr.. CLAY. A media
concentrating the civic achievements of that
eminent Leader has been recently struck. One
of its inscriptions recites this great triumph in
behalf of Freedom in South America. Sir, in
my Judgment, it was the noblest of them all.
| Long after the recognition of the South
American Republics, the Holy League contin-
ued to entertain the appeal of Spain for their
Intervention. But the spirit of the American
People would no longer brook such an unlaw-
ful act In 1929 the President Monroe atom
| ed for all past hesitation by that decisive and
memorable protest in which, after urging the
napplicability of the principles before held by
our Government on the subject of Intervention
to the case of the South American States, he
avowed that it twas due to candor and to the
amicable relations existing between the United
States and the Allied Powers of Europe to de-
clare that we should consider any attempt on
their part to extend their system to any part
of this hemisphere as dangerous to our own
peace and safety. g. And that while we should
still remain neutral in the contest our position
would change if their intervention should rem
der it necessary
The Holy League, nevertheless kept on Sc
cretly consulting on mediation with the sword
for the good of the People of this Continent,
until John Quincy Adams President, not APP
preciating their benevOlence, nor having the
fear of force before his eyes, accepted for the
United States, with the support of Congress,
an invitation to attend meeting of the new
brotherhood of American Republics, called to
discuss measures for the common safety and
welfare. While explaining the reasons for that
measure, that incorruptible and indomitable
Magistrate thus renewed the protest of his
predecessor
To the question, Whether the Congress of Pana-
ma, and the principles which may be adjusted by it,
may not give umbrage to the Holy League of Euro
pean Powers or offence to Spain ii is a sufficient
answer that it can give no just of umbrage
offence to either, and that the United States will
stipuate nothing there which shall give such just
cause. Here the right of inquiry into our purposes
and measures must stop The fear Of giving umbrage
to the Holy League of Europe was urged as q motive
for denying to the American nations the acknowl
edgment of their independence. That it would be
viewed by Spain hostile to her not only urged
but directly declared by herself The Congress and
the Administration of that day consulted their rights
and duties, and not their fears. Neither the Repre-
sentation of the United States at Panama, nor any
to which their assent may be yielded there
will give to the Holy League, any of its members,
or to Spain, the right to take offence For the rest,
the United States must STILL heretofore, take
sci from their duties, not their fears.
And now, sir the scene changes once more
to Europe. Two thousand years ago, mercu-
rial vivacious, spiritual Greece, after continued
and restless activity, fell asleep, and during
her long slumber the False Prophet of the
Koran bound her limbs with hateful and cor
roding chains. Within our day she moved,
and awaked, and rose from the earth, and
seized and attempted to break the instruments
of her bondage 1t was the Spirit of the
American Revolution passing by that roused
her from that lethargy to that noble achieve
ment The Holy League of Europe, that had
trampled Freedom beneath their feet in France,
and menaced it so long in South America, con-
suited how to crush it in the Land of Homer
and Pericles and Alcibiades Greece confined
within her miniature islands and her narrow
peninsula, was to us stranger, a shadow of a
name known to us only by her primitive in
structions in all philosophy, by her perfection
in all ennobling arts and by her nursing care
of our Holy Religion. But for all that, we
were not Indifferent; and although Despotic
| Europe offered to league itself with Superst
tious and Despotic Asia for her subjugstion
we were encouraged by the humane sympathe,
of the world and did not quite fear to speak
out 1t is impossible said the President
Monroe, to look to the expressions of Greece
without being deeply affected A strong hope
is entertained that that People will secure
their independent name and their equal stand
ing among the nations of the earth. From
the facts which have come to our knowledge
there is good cause to believe that the enemy
has lost all dominion over them, and thai
Greece will become an independent nation
! That she may obtain that rank is the object o.
our wishes This expression of sympathy fol
Greece, and this protest against the cruelty
and oppression of her tyrant, was reiterated
every year until by the armed Intervention o