The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-03
OUR FOREIGN POLICY.

writers have pointed 10 this fact AZ evidence OF
the superior tact and governing power of
shareholders 1t is u matter of history that
the high Executive Offices have been filled by
them or by their nominees; that our princi
pal foreign ministers have been dictated by
them and that the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations in the Senate has nearly always been
under their control.
/ In connection with this fact, we make an
other averinent--the action of the Govern
ment has been directed generally towards the
acquisition of territory which it was believed
would extend the area and augment the politi-
cal power of Slavery and, when the spirit of
Nationality clearly required the care of terri
tory not fit for such purposes, its action has
been vacillating, timid, and compromising.
All its territorial acquisitions have been on
our Southern and Southwestern borders; and,
| if in some of them it has failed to accomplish
its great object, the cause Of such failure is
to be sought, not in the relaxation Of its pur
pose but in the Intervention Of cirumcstan-
oes unlocked for apd beyond it's control All
its territorial concessions have been on our
Northern and Northwestern borders, and have
been the result not Of causes beyond its con-
troll, but of the influence of Slavery, which,
unwilling to hazard its security for what, if
obtained, would but strengthen power ad-
verse to itself compelled the Government to
yield 1t sold American territory on our North
eastern boundary, to Foreign Power which
it msnaces for the occupation of miserable
little colony in Central America and it ceded
to the same Power more than five degrees of
Northwestern territory to which it asserted
and demonstrated a title "clear and inCsspu-
table"
In the last war, too, when it was in the
power of this country to conquer the Canadas
and destroy forever, on this Continent, the
empire of our great commercial rival, military
operations we're suffered to languish, supplies
were tardiiy furnished, our officers and soldiers
were disabled by want of means, if not by in
structions, from efficient advances upon the
enemy. Had such imbeoility been betrayed
in our late Mexican campaigns, we should
have been the scorn of the world.
The majority of Northern people are really
progressive Their motto is Excelsior" They
love the Union, they are proud of their free
institutions they seek their extension. They
are for progress, both rs it regards the cutiva-
ton and improvement of present possessions,
and as it regards further acquisitions Terri
torial expansion, they believe, is not only con-
sistent with, but favorable to, internal growth
and development But they believe that the
Constitution of the United States was formed
to protect and extend Liberty the common in
terest, not only of all the States of this Union,
but of all mankind The progress they aim
at is not the growth of q Class Interest, the
development Of Sectionalsm, but the improve
mcnt of all the States, the expansion of the
whole Union. and the establishment of free in
situations wherever American power shall plant
its standard
Have they had their just weight in the
Councils of the Government Have their
ideas been impressed upon its foreign policy?
Have their views or interests been at all con-
suited Let the brief review we have made
Of the action Of our Government in respect to
territorial acquisition and territoria accession
answer
This, however, touches but a few points
There are others of equal significance. The
annexation of the Canadas ought to have con-
stituted part of the fixed policy of this Gov
eminent. They belong to the same great geo.
graphical system which embraces the States
bordering on the Northern Lakes The same
waters float the commerce of both the same
great river is the natural highway Of both, as
much as the Mississippi is the natural high
way of the States bordering its banks. They
are inhabited by people kindred in parentage,
speaking the same language, devoted to SINH
lar social and political institutions having
common interests The line of division be-
tween them is arbitrary, unnatural The
right Of Great Britain to hold the Canadas as
dependencies, 80 long as they shall assent is
not questioned but it is easy to see that this
connection brings her into position imposing
restraints upon our progress in peace and Sc
curing her advantages against us in war,
which no other position on the continent or in
the islands ad jaoent could impose or secure 1t
letters the trade between countries whose in.
tercourse should be absolutely free, and bur-
dens us with heavy charges for naval and
military defences Great Britain in possession
of Cuba would certainly add to the advantages
she now enjoys through her possessions in the
West Indies; but by her empire in the Cana
das she overlooks directly our whole country,
and is in the most formidable position at any
time for offensive operations.
How happens it then, that the Government
while intent on excluding her from occupation
and influence in States and islands adjacent
to our Southern border, has uniformly evinced
the utmost indifference to her powerful empire
lying right on our Northern border, Surely,
had the non shareholders Of the Union con-
trolled the Government while laboring to
counterfeit European influence in any part of
the Continent its wisdom and energy would
have been specially exerted in bringing about
peacefully and honorably a political union
with countries already intimately connected
with us geographically, Is there any evidence
that such has ever been the desire Of this
Government, Certainly nothing in its diplo-
matte action, nothing in the legislation of the
country has ever favored such policy. We
speak Of the Government and its action under
the Federal Constitution. During the Revolu-
ton the union Of the Canadas with the States
was generally desired, and express provision
was made for their admission into the Confed-
eracy at any time, as follows:
CART. XI Canada accedng to this Confed-
GRAFTON, and joining in the measures of the
United States, shall be admitted to, and emit
| tied In all tina advants ues of this Iyr;o, h.,t