The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-23

had powers So much Is due TO the history of that
occasion TO show that the United States government
never invited the cooperation OF Enxan in the matter
that when the proposal assented TO IN the modified
form admitted by Mr. Rush. IT was assumed by HIM as his
act, and without authority from his government, and that
was never subsequently, confirmed by his government.
He. as matter OF course, communicated to his govern
ment immediately and fully all thai took place; and in
one OF his letters, from which quote extract he told
the Secretary OF State this:
Should the issue of things be different, and events
With landing, arise threatening the Of the United
States otherwise seriously affect their interest in
way, In consequence of such declaration by me, would
Ill remain for the wisdom OF my government TO dsavow
my conduct would mantesly have been without its
previous warrant"
Now, think have shown in the first place. that the
true line OF American policy of avoiding foreign ALI
ances departed from in that instance and second
y that the government of the United States not only
preceded England but preceded all other powers IN re
cognsng FIRST and alone, the Independence OF the South
American colonies These propositions may assume TO
be established.
come now to the question, To what issue was this
declaration OF Mr. Monroe directeds With very limit
ed knowedg of the practices OF governments IN their
relations towards each other, bat with some knowledge
of human affairs and human conduct in the relations OF
the world aPprehend hat no principle can se more I'M
portant 10 be mainaded that declarations made or
positions assumed by The powers OF the word 70 regulate
and define their intercourse with each other should not
be extended by loose Interpretation beyond their eg
mate scope and meaning. What, then, the state Of
things which this declaration by Mr. Monroe was dl
reced. Why, il this, and this alone II was the
of Europe enforce the continent OF America, in the
affairs OF Spain and her colonies, their continental sys
tem-"legmacy" 1t was directed to that, and confined
to that, as think show by very few historical
references
Was that intervention threatened The first piece OF
evidence shall advert TO on that point is declaration
made by Mr.. Brougham, in the House Of Commons in
1924 referring to the position OF this Spanish question in
the preceding year, as follows:
.Mr Brougham then proceeded to state, indispu-
table TACT that Ferdinand had been promised by the En-
Alexander Spain would
off the constitutional tssrs by which he trammeed
he would assist him in recovering his transatlantic do
minions.'"
Al that time Louis XVIII had been restored TO the
throne of France by the allied powers Ferdinand of
Spain, Of the same family of Bourbons, was upon his
throne il true; but he feered by the constitu
tional CoItes who bad attempted 10 ngraft upon the
spanish monarchy the free institutions OF representa-
tive government The King of France had marched
one hundred thousand men ino Spain to set him free
The King OF Spain calling upon his allies 20 come TO
his aid. Conferences were going on; notes were being
constantly exchanged as the diplomatic history OF the
and the ambassadors OF The other European powers
that court; the great end and object of which to
bring about congress of the allied powers, lake into
consideration the condition OF the Spanish throne, and
restore its legitimate rule both al home and in Spanish
America Mr.. Brougham says that this had been promised
OF SPAN would free himself from the constitutional gov
ernment at home. Mr. Canning told MIR Rush, as the
latter reports in the course OF The conversations which
took place between them the subject which have
alluded, that he had received Aoce OF measures being
projection by the powers OF Europe relative to the a
fairs OF Spanish America the French succeed
ed in their military movement against Spain"
England knew perfectly well that the occasion was
imminent. There every 10 believe that the
allied powers of Europe would rally around Spain, for
the purpose of her colonies England knew
only that she could unite them, but that she must
resist Them and whenever that resistance made she
would be involved in war with the whole continent OF
Europe.
This state OF things led to the invitation which Mr.
Canning gave TO Mr. Rush, The latter assened TO il.
but upon terms which Eng gland was not prepared
to adopt-a previous recognition of the independence of
the epublics-and the whole matter them a mat
ter of course communicated by MI Rush 10 his govern
mept
1t must be remembered that the interview spoken OF by
Mr. Rush took place in August 1898 In December,
1873, President Monroe made his annual
to Congress, which contained the famous protest which
has been often quoted What was the protest We
shall fnd on looking back 10 IT, that /. was made in the
most circumspec and guarded and confined
single purpose Every word seems TO have been weighed
and its expressions seduonsy guarded Here is his lam
guage.
1--WE owe IT, therefore, candor, and the amicab BILE
relations existing between the United States and those
powers, declare that should consider any
their part extend their system portion of this hem
isphere, as dangerous to our peace aud safety"
ITO extend their system TO any portion of this hemis'
phere" What system Why the system by which
those powers OF continental Europe had been banded
geher-,be system which recognised none but leg,ti-
mate throne and which bound The sovereigns 10 each
other protect each in his throne because 1t was
innate. That is the system, as shall have occasion pres
emily more fully to develop, against which Mr. Monroe
protested. Again. in further paragraph, the message
proceeds:
"With the existing colonies dependencies OF any Eu
ropean power have ntefered, and shall not inter
fere But with the governments who havs declared he
and med IT, and whose indie pendenct
have. great consideration aud on Just principles
acknowledged could not view pteposition Tor the
purpose OF depressing them, or controlling ~ any ohe
manner their destiny by any European power in any obe
light than the manifestation OF unfriendy disposition
/ towards the United States"
| He then went to speak of policy in regard tc
Europe ID OF disconnexon and alienation. Hs
referred TO The system of the allied powers the con
nent OF Europe and concludes as follows:
"But in regard these continents. circumstances are
cminenty and conspcuously different. IL is impossible
that the allied powers should extend their political system
any portion OF either continent without endangerng
peace and happiness any one believe that ou
southern brethren, le, TO themselves would adopt II OF
their own accord
hold such Interposition in any form with Indifference
As read this matter, the history OF the
was this There imminent to believe that The
powers of continental Europe would come TO the aid OF
Spain resubjugate her colonies IN South America then
independent, and admitted 10 be so by the United States
Eng land, conscious that when the time came necessity
would be imposed upon her to inerpose, had not yet IN
terposed The United States had acknowledged the in
dependence of the South American governments IN 1922
England had not yet done in August, is23 when the
conversation from which have read took place between
Mr. Rush and Mr.. Canning and when Mr. Rush
pressed upon England preliminary TO The proposed
union that England should recognise their Independence
the matter waived the part OF the British Secre
tary and the whole affair communicated 10 the gov
ernmen, of the United States by our minister.
What foIlowedi The government of the United
States took that step sngy which i had been proposed