Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22

political duties
1t concerned the United States under aspects and interests
immediate and commanding it did could any of the
States Of Europe They the first Power on that con
nent and conessedly the leading Power They were
connected with Spanish America by their position as with
Europe by their relations And they also stood connected
with these States by political relations Was possible
they could with indifference their fate decided only by
Europe? Could Europe expect this indifference Had not
epoch arrved IN the reatoe position Of the United States
toWards Europe whch Europe must Acknowledge We're the
great political and commercial interests hch hang upon the
destns Of The Continent TO be canvassed and adjusted
this Hemisphere (Europe) hou the cooperation kaop
ledge Of the United States - 4.
These words Of wisdom Of Of the most enlightened
men of England commend themselves by their justice
and beraty to the consideration of every true Amer
can and they are not the less just and liberal because
they were urged with view to induce Government
to become party toaa European Congress for the
arrangement Of American affairs 1t was wise to re-
deeasins which led 70 Il Aa4 & sss ~ ps.4
6Gl& ss9questibu Of AmericaA
policy beyond the bust sphere Of European interpostion
Whsn suon statesmen = Mr: Monros az. ro Mr, Can
those of us who believe in this salutary doctrine, and in
the expedency Of enforcing it, may well bear the censures
and sneers and rdicule and reproach which efforts
encounter from some because go too far and from
others because do not far enough while the eau
ous and the timd in every assertion of national
rights and honor fearful cloud impending
country ready to burst upon US, and sweep away
prosperity if not our existence
plomatc discussions and if position and crcumstan
ces being the oldest of the family of nations in the west
ern hemisphere conferred upon at that time such
rights accompanied by such duties how much stronger
the appeal of this policy of continental independence to
earnest attention now when time has developed
strength and danger and when American interests
are primary, and those which connect with Europe
but secondary in Importance and when from day to day.
this disparity is increasing. .
This then being our settled plan of policy and having
been announced to the world by two Chief Magistrates
of country why may be asked does it become ne
cessary for Congress to nterpose and by Legislative de-
caration reafirm it! The nature of our Government
furnishes satisfactory to this question Though
there is doubt but that these Executive declarations
beneficial in their operations and aided in checking
schemes ofaggrandzement which, had they gone would
have changed the political aspect of the country south of
and greatly to injury, still they have not been
whey regarded events upon the La Plata and in other
regions have practically demonstrated and occurrences
going in Central America and which from day to
day occupy the earnest attention of the Senate, showing
the steps by which the merest shadow Of possession be-
comes claim, and claim title, which carries with it
dominion and sovereignty, treaty treaty. These
announce that declared policy OF excu
sion win be still further disregarded unless authoritative
rearmed in the Of the American people An ex-
pertinent is making upon forbearance rather upon
apprehension and it resisted submitted to- 1t
will be abandoned pushed to results which no nation
now ventures openly to avow 1t is but few years since
that principle looking to American balance of power
was announced by the French Prime Minister Mr. Guizot
in the Chamber of Deputies in relation to at
Busnos Ayres utterly inconsistent with the true Amer-
can doctrne and doubt negligence, or rather
midity has encouraged this spirit of presumption,
and led to the belief do not intend to carry out
principles and that thcreforc they be safe
ly disregsrded by other nations
repeat that the nature of Government furnishes
satisfactory solution of this Of foreign policy The
of views upon this subject intended
the Powers of Europe Of policy and thus to
prevent the violation of its principle But upon this as
many other occasions we halted in our course and
did not up to work We did moi keep on the tfe
Of political knowledge We should have added the solem-
nifty and the force Of legislative concurrence TO these
Executive declarations Such annunciatons, when made
by the head of European State, made authoritative
ly because he who uses them has the power to en-
force them They become settled maxims Of policy and
other nations that they cannot be inerfered
with except at the hazard Of But it is far different
here Great principles Of national conduct depend essen
TALLY upon public sentiment and only be enforced in
the last resort by the action of Congress Public sent
ment has, believe with almost unexamped unanimiy,
approved this principles but Congress has never by action
declaration, given to it the sanction Of its authority
That decisive should have been taken when the
Executive first promulgated the doctrine. The claim,
therefore, has rested barren among archives only TO
bear certain fruit when the Legislature Of the Republic
adopt il as its own.
An able and distinguished Senator from Ohio now
longer among u.s. Mr ALLEN seeing the Importance of
this policy, and foreseeing the necessity of making II
own and respected such by signal public act at
tempted six since subject on
the consideration Of Congress- but his exerons which de-
served better fate were frutess and compromised
alike our honor and interests by shrinking from re-
sponsbity not less noble in my opinion than 1t was i'm
portant The Senate, if recoect Alright refused even
to consider the subject We would not denounce inter-
ference, because that would be to interfere. And
should thus be led, but how know not, into entangng
alliances the bngbar Of American politics. which raises
its spectral front whenever is proposed TO take de-
cded step in our foreign intercourse. This national
mid ~ po0d nd upv will are
positions in the progress Of people when rmness s not
only wisdom but safety and one Of these we have now
reached.
Mr. Monroe, when he first announced this p.icy con-
sdered e proper for the assertion Of prnci
pie in which the rights and interests Of the United States
are involved" IL the circumstances to which he refer
redjushed this great and unried at that day.
much more do the circumstances in which we are now
placed justify the most solemn declaration Of adher
ence TO it. Some OF the independent States of Spanish
origin seem to be fastening dissolution, and almost all
Of them are weak unquie agated, and with elements
Of destruction in more or less active operation.
The most important in extent in population, and In
natural resources and the which, from its cotermn-
GUS position has the most intimate relations with our
peace and interests is precisely the Power whose fate
appears to be doubtful Its internal agitations
Of those caastrophes whose consequences
are beyond the reach Of human sagacty.
II is impossible but that this state Of things should
have attracted the attention Of European statesmen and
have given rise to schemes less matured, for
turning the the advantage Of the two
great Powers likely to interfere because most in
terested and capable Of making their interference
felt We cannot disguise from ourselves that pro-
gress and prospects, while they reproach TO many
Of the Governments Of the Old World have excited their
enmty by the contrasts they exhibit and by the danger
Gus example they offer the oppressed masses inviting
them to do as have done and to become Free we
are free He who does not know that there is not Go
vernment in Europe which is friend to institutions
has much to learn Of the impressions that past and
and futu them.