Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-02-01
THE MONRoE DOCTRINE.

/ Joint resolution Te.athrmlng the monroe 00C-
Etfine.
Mr.. MASON said that it might become his duty
before this resolution came TO vote, to speak at
length upon the merits of the subject but he now
simply desired to speak upon one point, which
ne thought was misinterpTeted by the Senator
from Michigan. He desired TO speak OF Mr.
Monroe's message as asserting principle in-
tended to be applied to the affairs of Spanish
America alone. He desired to show that it was
directed to the affairs of Spanish America, and
being asserted for specific object, did effect the
object intended, and had not laid idle in the ar
chlves of the nation; and that the principle as
serted by Mr.. Monroe could not be resuscitated
by the American Government unless the same
contingencies should arise. He understood the
Senator from Michigan, yesterday,as understand
ing that the declaration o! Mr. Monroe was IN
some manner complicated with like movement
on the part of Great Britain.
The message of MIR. Monroe was his annual
message to Congress of December, 1928, in
which he, of course, reviewed the whole of our
foreign relations. And in speaking of the condi'
ton of the South American independent repub-
lies he, in that connexion, and in that cOnnexion
alone, made that celebrated declaration. In
March, 1922, Mr.. Monroe had, in a special mes
sage 10 Congress, invoked its attention, in the
most solemn manner, to recognise the independ-
ence OF these South American republics. ltwas
of the President, and provision was made for the
appointment of diplomatic representatives to
them. At that time the government of Spain
was held in sort of tutelage by the COrtes, who
had prescribed certain constitutional provisions
respecting the king. The United States acted
as. the pioneer in the recognition OF those Span.
sh republics, and in respect to this doctrine act
ed alone, and in no way iE cOnneXiOn with Great
Britain.
Mr.. Rush had several interviews with Mr.
Canning upon matters contained in his instruc.
tions, and after they had been disposed Of, he
transiently remarked to Mr.. Canning upon the
state of affairs in Spain. This remark led to
further conversations, but which were wholly
foreign to the subjects treated Of in the instruC-
tinns of Mr.. Rush. During them, Mr.. Canning
asked Mr.. Rush, if it was not time for the two
governments to make concerted declaration
with respect to Spanish America, against the in
tention of the Holy Alliance to restore the domin
ion of Spain. He read from Mr.. Rush's book,
and from an English work by MIR. StaPleton,
showing that Mr.. Canning originated and invited
this concerted action by the two governments
Mr.. Rush answered that he bad no authority in
the matter, but would venture to unite in such
an arrangement on the condition that England
would Immediately recognize the independence
of the South American republics. The position
of England was delicate one, Spain was urg-
ing her.aies on the continent TO aid her in re-
subiugatiDg these colonies. Commercial Tela.
tions had sprung up between these republics and
Great Britain, which forbade her joining with
the alliance, while at the same time recOgni-
tion of their independence by England would
lead to a war between her and the allies. Mr..
Canning could not recognize their independence
under these circumstances, and the subject i'm.
medi4tely dropped. This, he thought, sufficient
ly proved that the United States had never de-
parted from the established policy of forming no
entangng alliances with European powers
Mr.. Rush stated that he made the offer TO assent
to the proposed arrangements with the express
understanding that his Government was Tree 10
dsavow his act.
From limited knowledge ofdiplomatic affairs,
but some knowledge of human transactions, he
had come to the conclusion that if there be any
principle more important to be observed than
another, it was, that in making declarations 10
be observed and maintained at future day, such
declarations ought to be made with great delibe-
ration, CircumspeCtiOn, and care; and no man or
body of men should take the important step ofeX.
tending such declarations beyond their legiti.
mate scope.
This declaration, made by Mr.. Monroe, was
made with great care and deliberation in language
as we'll as manner, and was intended to apply 10
the contemplated Intervention by the Holy Ali-
ance in the affairs of Spanish America, and to that
specific object alone. He read from debate in
the English House of Commons that Lord BrOug-
ham stated that the Emperor of Russia had pro.
missed that, if the King of Spain would throw off
the constitution which was imposed on him by
the Cortes, he would aid him in recovering the
possession of his transatlantic colonies. Louis
XVIII, was then on the throne of France, and
Spain was calling upon her allies to restore the
monarchy to its American possessions. Mr.. Rush
communicated the result of his interviews with
Mr. Canning to the United Slates in August,
1928 In the December following Mr.. Monroe
made his declaration in clear, careful, and cir
cumspeCt language and manner.
He read the portion of the message to show
that it protested against the restoration by the
European powers oitheir system of government
system which recognised no free institutions,
nor any form of government but legitimacy, and
which required them all as band TO uphold legl-
innate monarchy in all its functions. 1t was
against this system that Mr.. Monroe protested.
There was then imminent danger that Europe
would aid Spain in the recovery of the republics
whose independence had been recognised by the
United States. England knew ifit were attempt
ed to carried out she would have to resist it but,
as yet, had not moved. The United States took |
the initiative step, and look it singly. II was
aimed at that Intervention proposed by the allied
powers, and at that alone. In 1928, in DeCem-
ber, Spain made formal application to Russia
and Austria to aid her to do this very thing,
against which the Government of the United
States had protested. She asked their aid to up
hold good order and legitimacy, endangered by
the progress OF Tree institutions IN America
This application was based upon the principle
that these powers were pledged to uphold and
support each other.
The message of Mr.. Monroe effected the OBJ
ject it was intended to accomplish. 1t averted
the Intervention BY the Holy Alliance, and the
invitation of Spain was declined. In 1924 Lord
Brougham said that the affairs of South America
had been settled by the firm and decisive declara.
ton of the President of the United States. He
quoted other authorities, showing that the decla-
ration of MIR. Monroe was confined to this specific
point.
He objected that injustice should be done TO
the memory of Mr.. Monroe by extending his doc
trine to embrace other principles He admitted,
however, that MIR. Monroe, in another part of his
message, but directed to very different matter,
and in a different manner, said that no re-cOlon-
zaton of any part this continent should be per-
mitted.
Mr.. CAss said that he never heard till yester-
day that it was doubted that Mr.. Monroe had pro.
tested against the re-colonization of any part of
this continent by any European power. The
reason given, that the peculiar interests OF this
continent were distinct from those of Europe, was
no more true then than now.
He read from Mr. MonrOe's message to show
L.