The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-27
In CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES
TUESDAY, JANUARY IS, 1883.
[Is CONTINUATION
THE MONROE DOCTRINE


The Senate proceeded, as in committee of the whole
TO consider the Joint resolution decaraory OF the
OF the United States respecting colonization the North
American continent by European powers and respecting
The island oil Cuba; which IS as follows
ssopsd by The Snats and House of R,pr,se.att,, of
me D"tfed States Of dnsrca Ia Congress asibisd That
The United States do hereby declare that the American
continents, by the ree and Independent condition which
they have assumed AID man,an not 10 be
as subjects for future colonization by any Euro
pean power i; and while "existing rights should be
spected and will be by the United States they owe il TO
Their own safety and ineress 10 announce, they
90, that no lnlure European colony dominion shall
WIN their consent be planted established any part
me Noh american continent " and should the be
made. they thus deliberately declare that will be viewed
as an act originating IN motives regardless
ess and their safety, and which will leave free
adop, such measures as an independent may justly
adoP ,n defence OF It's rights aud It's honor
discaim any designs upon the island Of Cuba
with The laws OF nations and with their duties 10 Spain
TO make Known Ia this solemn manner, that they should
view all efforts on the part Of othe, procure
winch, US naval or military position must, under cir
easy to be ioreseen become dangerous
the Mssisspp as unrendly directed against them
TO be resisted by all the means in their power
| The question pending the following amend
ment offered by Nh. HALE:
"Aad be further resoiped That while the United States
in like manner disclam any designs upon Canada
sistent with the laws OF nations and with their duties
Great Britain, they consider due the
OF the subject 10 make known, in this solemn manner
they should view all 'hons on the part OF anv other power
10 procure possesslon either peaceaby torcby Of that
provinces (Which. naval or military position, must
der circumstances be foreseen become dangerous
10 their norhern boundary and to the lakes unrendy
acts directed against the 10 be resisted by all the
| in their power"
AR. SOULE addressed the Senate about two hours
| His speech will be published hereafter
| Mr.. CASS. MIR Presid dent, should be unwilling TO
address the Senate upon the general subject this time,
when we have just listened to the eloquent remarks of
the honorable senator [Mr. SoULEl who has but now
resumed his sea-remarks which have not heard sur
passed in this body, either in power beauty do moi,
intend TO commit the folly OF provoking contrast under
such circumstances but have prepared several extracts
from several documents touching the question which has
been raised OF the extent and duration Of the Monroe
doctrine and desire accompany them with some brief
| observations, which will now submit TO the Senate if
can be favored with lis attention for few minues
For thirty years the word--at any rate the American
| portion OF II, and good deal Of the EuIopean-has
talked OF the MONROE DOCTRINE, and every school-boy
thought he understood and that il founded upon
great principle that the destiny Of this hemisphere should
be controlled by the people nhabtng it, and that Euro
pean influence should be excluded from IL far and as
last existing rights would permit Mr. Monroe in 1923
presented in message Congress, his general views OF
the relations of the powers Of Europe 10 this continent
as well With respect TO their interference with its indie
pendent States as TO projects OF new colonization To be
sure. as has been remarked these topics are to be
found in different parts OF the message, but merely
because each connected itself more directly with different
practical measures; hut both together formed his
TRISE, which was founded the great principle ad-
vanced by Mr. Jefferson, that America North and
South, has set of interests distinct from those OF Eu.
rope, aud peculiarly her own She should therefore
oil Europe" And by Mr. Polk, 'hat the people of this
continent have right to decide their own destiny"
| Mr.. Polk in ls4s, when the "Holy Alliance" was a
matter OF almost remote history, in message to Con
gress the subject of the application of the govern
ment OF Yucaian for aid against the Indians, reahrmed
the Monroe doctrine, and observed:
According 10 our established policy we could not con-
transfer This dominion and sovereignty either
spain, Great Britain or any other European power: In
cember 1928 I'VE should consider any attempt on their
part extend their system to any portion OF this hems
cury requires that the established policy thus
should guide conduct aud this applies with force
TO the peninsula OF focstau."
IL would be a mere waste OF time 10 comment upon
these views OF Mr. Polk. They speak Tor themselves
with equal force and clearness, and they avowed
more than quarter of century after Mr.. Monroe had
promu gated bis doctrine thus considered by Mr.. Polk
as the permanent American policy. The principles IL
perpetual in their obligation, and the policy IL
sell challenges our attention and enforcement, all tme
present and TO come
is now said that this Monroe doctrine SO far as re-
specs the independent States OF the continent embamed
as II and IN the hearts oil the American people, in
stead OF being great system of policy enduring
political condition, but temporary measure, appca
bic only 10 the anticipated design OF the "'Holy ALI
ance, as il unoty called, TO restore the recently
emancpaed American States TO the dominion OF Spain
Instead OF being great principle OF action worthy Of
this republic, itssould thus become mere expedent.
passing away with the occasion that called II into being
Whether this be so not is question which does not
touch The subject before the Senale for that be de-
tem'ned upon It's own merits and not upon The authority
4
touches the fame OF Mr.. Monroe practical and en-
lgh,ened sman for such he truly was; butupon this
construction Of his views he did not comprehend the
sequence OF his positions, and could not that
the grounds of his policy extended beyond the single
case then more Immediately before him. His principles
unquesonaby called out by the peculiar danger of
the South American States, and by the claims of Russia
on our northern coast. These circumstances led him to
this invesgs into the principles of position with
respect 10 this continent, and the result we have in this
ar-ismed message.
And generally il happens in the policy Of nations ,ha,
particular exgencles call forth the discussion and
ton OF great principles but while the former disappear
in the march OF events the latter remain 10 be reasseed
and maintained, under all circumstances TO which they
applicable As the foundation OF his doctrine he
ssmed the then existing status condition OF the con
nent dsclaning all intention OF interfering with exist
ing rights but maintaining principles which denied
The powers OF Europe the assumption interfere with
any independent State at any time thereafter or ever
plant establish new colonies. Upon these general
principles European influence might decrease in this
hemisphere but could not increase; for independence
once obtained then and thereafter the States obtain
ing passed from the danger OF European subjugaon
and would be beyond the reach, not OF Spain merely but
OF France, England, any other transatlantic power
And may remark here, as n proof that Mr. Monroe
considered both of the topics in his message but parts o
one plan OF policy, that in the ancoonization pas age
he makes no reservation OF existing colonial rights, bu
declares that these would be respected IN that part Oh lhe
where he protests against the subIngaon OF the
Spanish States thus showing the intimate reaon OF tne
whole subject in his mind This inquiry INTO lhe origin
OF this doctrine belongs, in truth, To the domain OF his
,orv and moi 10 that of our permanent policy; for the
name of The doctrine whether Monroe, or Polk JEFF
/ matters littlp-the trne