The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-19

IN The reach OF the action Of connunites rendered
enemies by the disputes, too often frivolous, and al
most always indifferent Of nations on the other side
Of the Atlantic.
Such state Of things, bringing wars to our coast
70 our inland boundaries even and interruptng the
peaceful and profitable avocatiOns of whole CONT
nent to crafty the pride or jealousy, or some other
equally unworthy passion, Of ministers mstresses
where these are the repositories Of power, would BE-
dangerous to our peaceand safety"
But do not know that the general principle of
this claim of exemption is contested Certainly, it
cannot be upon any just grounds. Our executive gov
eminent has assumed it upon full consideration,
and the history of negotiations with England to
be found in the interesting account given by Mr..
Rush our able and faithful American representative,
of his mission to that country proves, beyond doubt,
that although the British ministry were opposed to
antico0nizat0n doctrine, lest it might interfere
with Interior projects of aggandizement on their
part, yet they entirely cOncurred in the application
OF the principle to the recently emancpated Spanish
colonies which, in fact, conceded the right OF the
United States to extend the same policy to any por
ton of the continent not then actually possessed by
an European power; and Mr.. Monroe distinctly an
nounced this fact, saying 1T is gratifying to know
that some OF the powers, with whom we enjoy
very friendly intercourse, and to whom these views
Concerning the condition Of the Spanish American
States) have been communicated, have appeared to
acquissce in thenl." When Mr.. Canning announced
to Mr.. Rush that England could not see the trans
fer OF any portion Of them Cthese same States) to
any other power with Indifference" she acted
upon considerations much more applicable to our
with this continent There is great force in the re-
mark OF that eminent British statesman, upon our
situation and political duties--"It concerned the
United States under aspects and interests imme
date and commanding as it did or could any OF the
States OF Europe They were the first power on that
continent, and now confessedly the leading power.
They were connected with Spanish America by their
position as with Europe by their relations and they
QIc ofSN foI v,,
cal relations. Was it possible they could with in
difference theirfate decided only by Europe? Could
Europe expect this indifference !! Had not a nc,u
egoch arrived e the reIatice position Of the United
ledge! Were the great political and commercial IN
terests, which hung upon the dcstimies of the nep
continent, to be eancdsscd and adjusted in this
hemisphere (Europe) without the cooperation or
even knowledge Of the United States ~
These words of wisdom, of one Of the most en-
lghtened men OF England commend themselves, by
their justice and liberaty, to the consideration Of
every true Americana and they are not the less Just
and liberal because they were urged with a view to
induce our government to become party to Euro
pean Congress for the arrangement Of American
affairs Il was wise to reject the proposal; it is not
esswise to acquesce in the doctrine which led to it.
and to make ours, by its practical enforcement in our
own way as a question of American policy, beyond
the just sphere Of European interposition
When such statesmen as Mr.. Monroe Mr. Polk, and
MrCannng, unite in their general views Of our rights
and our duties, those OF who believe in this saut
~ doctrne and in the expediency OF enforcing it, may
well bear the censures, and sncers and ridcule and
reprOach which our efforts encounter from some be-
cause we do not go far enough, while the cautious
and the tmid see in every assertion OF national rights
and honor fearful cloud impending over our cOun-
try ready to burst upon and sweep away our pros
perity, If not our existence.
One third OF century has passed away since these
diplomatic discussions; and If our position and cir
cumstances, being the Oldest of the family of nations
IN the western hemisphere, conferred upon u.s. at that
time such rights, accompanied by such duties, how
much stronger is the appeal OF this policy of contnen
tai independence to our earnest attention now when
time has developed our strength and danger, and
when our American interests are primary, and those
which connect us with Europe but secondary in I'M
portance, and when, from day to day this disparity
is increasing?
This, then being our settled plan of policy, and
having been so announced to the world by two chief
magistrates OF our country, why, it may be asked,
does it become necessary for Congress to nterposc,
and, bya legislative declaration, reafirm it? The
nature OF our government furnishes a satisfactory
answer to this question. Though there is no doubt
but that these executive declarations were beneficial
in their operation, and aided in checking schemes
of ACKNOWLEDGMENT, which, had they gone on,
would have changed the political aspect of
our injury, still they have not been wholly
regarded, as events upon the La Plata, and in
other regions, practically have demonstrated; and
occurrences now going on in Central America,
and which, from day to day, occupy the earnest at
tention OF tue Senate, showing the steps by which
the merest shadow of possession becomes claim, and
claim title which carries with it dominion and So
vereignty, treaty or no treaty. These occurrences
announce that our declared policy of exclusion will
be still further disregarded unless authortatvely re-
affirmed in the name Of the American people. An
experiment is making upon forbearance or rather
upon our apprehension, and as it is resisted or sub
mted to, it will be abandoned pushed to results
which no nation now ventures openly TO avOw.
II is but few years since that o principle looking
TO an American balance of power was announced by
her of Deputies in relation to occurrences ut Bucnos
Ayres utterly inconsistent with the true American
doctrine. And no doubt our own negligence or
rather our timidty has encouraged this spirit Of
presumption, and led to the belief that do not in
tend to carry out principles, and that therefore
they may be safely disregarded by other nations.
repeat, that the nature OF government furnishes
satisfactory solution of this course Of foreign policy
This annunciatiOn OF our views upon this subject was
intended to warn the powers of Europe Of our policy
and thus to prevent the violation of its principle
But upon this, rs upon many other occasions, we
halted in our course, and did not come up to our
work. We did not keep on the hae of political EaoW
ledge, as Mr.. Canning said We should have added
the soemnty and the force OF legislative concur
renee to these executive declarations. Such annun
Citations, when made by the head of European State
are made authoritatively because he who issues them
has the power to enforce them. They become settled
maxims of policy, and other nations are aware that
they cannot be nteered with, except at the hazard
Of war. But IL is far different here. Great principles
OF national conduct depend essentially upon public
sentiment and only he enforced in the last resort
by the action OF Congress. Public sentiment has l
believe, with almost unexanpled unanimty approved
this principle but Congress has never. by action or
declaration, given it the sanction OF its authority
That decisive measure should have been taken when
the executive first promulgated the doctrine. The
claim therefore, hasrcsed barren among our archives
only to bear certain fruit when the legislature OF the
republic adopted it as its own. An able and distn-
guished Senator from Ohio, (Nr Allen) now no
lonIer among MS, seeing the Importance Of this pO-
licy,and fOresecng the necessity Of making it our
own, and respected as such, by more signal pub
lie ACT attempted, some six or seven years since
to pres, the subject on the consideration OF Con
\ gress; Int his exertons, which deserved a better
tate, WEI, fiuitess, and we compromised alike
| our honor and our interests by shrinking from
| a responsibility not less noble, in my opinion
than 1t wa important. The Senate, if | recollect
right. relustl even tO consider the subject We
would not daonnce interference because that would