The Nevada Democrat., 1858-11-10
Gen. Cass on sl.e Monroe Doe,rlne.

We And in late Eastern papers the instruc-
tons Of Gen. Cass to Gen. Lamar, Minister to
Nicaragua aud Costa Rica, In which the
policy Of our government in relation TO the af7
fairs Of Central America is clearly set forth,
aud the Monroe doctrine vigorously asserted.
On this point Mr.. Cass says:
But the establishment Of q political protoc-
torate by any Of the Powers Of Europe over
any of the independent States Of this continent,
or IN other words. the introduction of scheme
of policy which would carry with il a right to
interfere In their concerns, is q measure TO
which the United States have long since avow-
ed their opposition, and which, should the at
tempt be made, they will resist by all the
means in their power The reasons for the
attitude they have assumed have been fully
promulgated and every where we'll known.
They are founded on the political circumstances
OF the American continent, which has interests
Of its own, and ought to have policy Of its
own, disconnected from many of the questions
which are continually presenting themselves in
Europe concerning the balance Of power and
other subjects of controversy arising out of
the condition of its States, and which often find
their solution or their postponement in war. 1t
is OF paramount importance to the States of
this hemisphere that hey should have no en-
tangi!ag union with the Powers Of the Old
World-a connection which would almost nc
cessarily make them parties to wars having
no interest for them, and which would ofte
involve them 10 hostilties with other American
States, contiguous or remote. The years which
have passed by since this principle of separa-
tion was first announced by the United States
have served still more to satisfy the people Of
this country of its wisdom, and to fortify their
resolution to maintain it, happen what may.
The progress Of events has rendered the inter-
oceanic routes, the narrow portions Of Central
America, vastly important to the commercial
world, and especially to the United States,
whose possessions extending along the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts, demand the speedest and
the easiest modes of communication. While
the just rights of sovereignty of the States oc-
cupying this region should always be respected,
we shall expect that these rights will be exer-
cised in spirit BETTING the occasion and the
wants and circumstances that have arisen,
Sovereignty has its duties as we'll as its rights,
and none of these local governments, even if
administered with more regard to the just de-
mands Of other nations than they have been,
would be permitted in a spirit Of eastern isola-
tion to close these gates Of intercourse on the
great highways OF the world, and justify the
act by the pretension that these avenues of
trade and travel belong to them, and that they
choose to shut them. or, what is almost equiva-
lent, to cucumber them with such unjust regu-
lations as would prevent their general use.
The United States do not seek either the con-
troll or the exclusive use of these routes They
desire that the advantages should be equally
common to all nations. Nor do they claim to
interfere with the local governments in the de-
termination of the questions connected with
opening of the routes. and with the persons with
whom contracts may be made for that purpose.
What they do desire-and mean to accomplish
is that the great interests involved In this
subject should not be sacrificed to any unwor-
thy motive, but should be guarded from abuse;
and that when contracts are fairly entered into
with American citizens they should not be wan
tonly violated. Other nations will no doubt
pursue the same course in relation to their cit-
zcns or subjects who may have similar inter-
ests.