New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-06-07

meiietta Of $ Lend me Five Shillings.'' by the
Company. Admission SO cents.
C;tv Hali The farce Of : The Battle Of the
Inkstands.,, by lie Board Of Assistant Alder
men. Admission free.
7HE MONROE DOCTRINE.
We have an anxious desire that this part Of
public history, the declaration Of the President
in 1928 to the European powers, should stand in
its proper light We will recur to the impor-
tant political events which led to that deelara-
ton, Or nccompaniedit.
Now, what are the principles Of the celebra-
ted declaration Of Mr.. Monroe which has been
80 enormously interpreted, and about which
traordinary and mistaken Impressions. We
feel bound to vindicate the author Of that de-
claration, which we believe to have been as wise
as it was magnanimous, from the false and en-
tangling principles Of foreign policy, imputed
to him BY means Of spurious commentaries.
What, then, was that declaration, and what
were the circumstances under which it was
made It was a great crisis, in the conflict
between liberty and despotism, when the declar-
rope, who were parties to the holy alliance,
were projecting a combined movement against
the Spanish American Republics, with the view
to the extinguishment Of free principles and
revolutionary efforts. After the suppression Of
free governments in Piedmont, Naples and
Spain, on the principles proclaimed by the holy
allies, in the successive Congresses Of Troppau,
Laybach and Verona, our government pereeiy-
ed the Importance Of the crisis, not only as re-
CARDS destiny Of our sister Republics, but also
as it regards our own. This apprehension was
the most reasopa as the principles upon which
France had just acted in Spain, in the suppress
sion Of the constitution and the restoration of
the despot, Ferdinand, could with facility be
brought to justify an Intervention between
Spain and her revolted colonies-an interyen-
ton which the Spanish Monarch was Informally
the topic Of controversy and diplomatic arrange
ment in Paris. England, who had remained q
tranquil spectator Of the outrages committed by
organized and disciplined despotism in Italy and
Spain, had too deep an interest to remain silent
when America was in question,
In March, 1928, the French Government had
been distinctly given to understand, by Mr..
Canning, s that any attempt by France to
bring under her dominions any part of the
Spanish colonies would cell for the armed OPP
position Of Great Britain and in October of the
Game year it was again intimated to France
and the allies, e that the junction of any foreign
power with Spain, in an enterprise against her
colonies would not be permitted by this country.
This determination Of the English was we'll
known in Washington, in the fall Of 1898. 1t
had been communicated to Mr.. Adams, then
Secretary Of State, BY Mr. STAFFORD Canning,
and was no doubt the basis of Mr.. Munroe's
celebrated declaration.
Let us turn to the proposition Of Mr. Rush !;
it was that England and America should openly
and in concert, protest against any attempts Of
Spain to make transfer of her South American
possessions or against any effort Of third party
to did her in the recovery Of these possessions.
"a proceeding Of such q nature said Mr.. Can
ming to Mr.. Rush, g would be at once the most
eHeotual and the least offensive mote Of init
mating the just disapprobation Of Great Britain
and the United States, Of any project which
may be cherished, by any European power, Of
forcible enterprise for reducing the colonies to
subjugation, on the behalf or in the name of
Spain, or the acquisition Of any part of them to
itself by cession or by conquest" This was the
substance of the confidential communication.
s The answer of Mr.. Rush was such as might
have been anticipated. The nature Of his frnc-
tons gave him no pretence of authority, in the
absence Of Instructions, to enter into so nomen-
tous compact. When the proposition Of Mr..
Canning reached the United States, with the
explanatory letters, it engaged the immediate
and deepest attention Of the National Executive
Some idea Of the interest excited may be drawn
from the fact, that Mr.. Monroe the President
not content with the counsel Of his official adj
yisers. caused the whole matter to be submitted
to Mr.. Jefferson.
The memoirs and correspondence of Mr., JEFF
fferson contain o. long and interesting letter
which he addressed to Mr.. Monroe on the sub
ject. The letter will be found in the fourth
volume, 38l, and bears date oath Oct, 1928.
lie shys:
could honestly !" join in the declaration pro-
posed ethat is. Mr., Canning's proposition, that
We aim not at the acquisition of any of these pos.
sessions (the Spanish colonies). that We will not
stand in the way Of any amcable arrangement
z between them and the mother country but TINT
we will oppose, with all of our means, the for
chile interposition of any other power. as anxil-
larry, stipendiary, or under any other form or
prete1t, and most especially their trangfer to
any power by conquest, cession, or acquisition
in any other way
Now, what did the message Of 1923 assert J
g" That we should consider any attempt made
BY the European alliances, to extend their sys-
tenn to any portion of this hemisphere, US dan
gerous TO our peace and security 6 That We
could not view any interposition for the purpose
OF invading the Spanish American States, nc.
knowledged by US, g or controlling in any other
manner their actions, by any European power,
IN any other light than as the manifestation Of
an unfriendly disposition towards the United
States Z.
The effect Of this declaration was decisive
upon the Holy Alliance, and operated with al
most electrical power in every part Of Europe.
where freedom had an advocate To what sys
tenn does Mr. Monroe alluae II must be con
ceded that he has reference to the svstem NJ
arbitrary governments that he conslorel
the establishment Of such governments on
any part Of this hemisphere .as dangerous
4A