Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-03-10
The Monroe Declaration-Ameri.
can Craftsmanship.

All WV ~ POhNN"' 'S""'AAS
"There is something Involved in series of
resolutions lately offered by Gen. Cass, and com
mened upon by yourself, which is either entire
" wrong, or not understood by me. refer to
the resolutions of Gen Cass, which professedly
design to prevent any E nopean nation from COL
onizng any portion of the North American con
;inen,. believe tina, any such attempt would
be gross usu,ptien by US. What right have
we in Mexico greater than England or any 9th
er nation? What right have we 10 prevent
Mexico from peaceably attaching herself to the
Crown Of England? | conceive that it might
be adverse to our particular interests; but the
principle that would forciby prevent it, would
prevent ar individual from selling his lot to an
other, without permission from his adjoining
neighbor conceive that if any Of the Repub.
lies Of Central America see proper to merge
their identity in that Of England, or any other
nation, they have perfect right to Go so, indie
pendenty Of any action on tho part Of the Uni
ted States.
"lt seems to mo that such all assumption of
power as those resolutions propose, is entirely
unwarranted by any principle OF International
law, and calculated 10 exert very pernicious
influence upon our foreign relations"
We do not favor the resolutions of Gen.
Cass, or any resolutions of similar kind
The policy of legislative resolutions, de.
clarng what the nation will not allow, in
certain contingencies, Is verK questionable.
The policy of the Monrd0 Declaration
that is, the expediency of preventing if pos
slble, future European colonization in the
krnr.h dc
self to our judgment and feeling. Ii is un-
necessary to discuss questions of abstract
right-whethtr for, example, England or
France has right to plant new colony in
North America, or whether Mexico or any
other North American State has right to
transfer itself to European Power, or
whether that Power has the right to accept
such transfer.
European Governments differ from Am.
erican Governments. The European sys.
tenn is one thing; the American system is
another. A certain theory in relation to a
balance of power is popular in Europe
none such exists in America. The Mon
archlcal Principle and corresponding Insti.
tutions prevail in Europe; the Democratic
Principle and corresponding Institutions
prev all in North America. There can be
no affinity, there must be perpetual conflict
between them.
In the order of events, which we believe
to be shaped by Divine Providence, the New
World belongs to Democracy, and il shonlt
be the great aim of American Statesman
ship to establish here thu, supremacy o.
Democratic institutions. Public Opinion
should require and sustain su CHI statesman
ship; auch an object should be the control
ing Idea Of every Administrat ion of this
Republic, which by its position and power
stands a, the head of the New World. But
not by bravado, not by jemagogical speech
es, not by menacing resolves, not BY pre-.
mature committals. Is it to be carried out
but by wise, consistent, inhexible dip 10
macy, embodying the fixed views and viii
of the People. Exis ing rights of possess
sion, ought not 10 be violated; the extern
sion OF such rights ought to be resisted !;
and whenever an honorable and peaceful
movement can help the working of natural
canses to loosen the ties of col NAL depen-
dence of any portion of the New World
upon the Old, it ought to be made 80.
1t may be said that Mexico has right to
transfer herself to European Power and
30 South Carolina would have a similar
right. But this Republic, as the guardian
Of Democratic Institutions, and the most
profoundly interested in the fortunes of
the North American continent, would have
rights, too, in such contingencies. Would
its own safety be endangered. would the
cause of Free Principles be put in jeopardy,
oy the transfer, in either case? Such
change would not be essential to any Euro
pean Power; its prevention might be es-
sentia to US.
We despise bravado; we have no sym.
pathy with the rawlings of that Young Am
erica which caricatutes all progress in the
columns ofthe Democratic Review; we hate
war, and love all things that make for peace:
put we go, heart, soul, mind, and strength,
tor the conservation of this North Ameri.
can continent, under the auspices of liz
greatest Republic, to the sacred cause q,
Democracy and Democratic Institutions. -
Nat Era
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