Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.

VI lhe Mohroe Doctrine, pelng tne Teprouuouon
Of an article originally contributed to the Nep
Eaglandr Magazine by JOSHUA LEAvITT, Esq.
The article is reproduced 10 this shape, as we are
informed by printed sill accompanying 1t, be-
cause lit is considered to be very important mat
ter, just now, to have right direction given to
the public mind in regard to the Monroe Doc
trine,'" and "this pamphlet contains useful in
formation as to its origin, its import, and its
value"
We do not know how useful the information
which il contains may be to those who know mo-
thing whatever of the historical topic on which it
such persons may derive many valuable sugges-
tions from Mr. Leavitts memoranda, but those who
have carefully gone over the same field which he
Processes to survey will be more surprised at the
omissions than the contents of his paper
writer on the Monroe Doctrine" WHO
ignores the name and place of John Quincy
Adams in its exposition, is one whose researches,
II they have not been very partial and imperfect,
have certainly been conducted with part pyis
which only serves to confirm the truth and point
the pertinency Of the old saw that there none
90 blind as those who will not see"
1t is common for men to bring the proposes
sons of personal and political opinion to the inves-
tgation of purely historical subjects 1t is not
alone with regard to the heavenly bodies that we
have to calculate the paralax which represents the
cnange Of position in such bodies as seen from the
surface Of the earth and as seen from its centre.
The .uravGc;al v;aur &c b;,tor;oal ,banopona &c
foes for the injurious or the uncritcal, as
Conscious SWANS, rejoicing in the sight,
Eye the blue vault and bless the useful light"
without seeing in the heavens any Of the problems
which tasked the intellect and pqued the curiosity
Of Keplsr and Newton. But it is not usual, we
believe, for astronomers to sweep the heavens with
binder on the mouth Of their telescope, or when
they are in search Of nebule to point their "optc
glass" at the moon.
And yet it seems to us that Mr.. Leavitt, whe-
ther consciously or unconsciously we may not pre-
sumo to say, has initiated in his inquiry respecting
the Monroe doctrine, "its origin, its import, and
its value" the ineptitude of the astronomer who
should thus waste or msdirect his zeal in the pur-
suit Of knowledge II is hard to conceive that in
retracing the steps which led to the PRONUNCIATION
Of the declarations made by Mr.. Monroe in his an.
nusl message Of December, 1928, the part which
John Qaincy Adams had in expounding them
a. we'll ss in preparing the way for not the
least important part Of these declarations, could
have entirely escaped his notice. 1t is known
to all our readers that Mr. Adams was at that time
Secretary Of State, and that he first propounded
the doctrine with regard TO the non-colonizaton OF
the American continents in despatch to our Min
lister Ut St. Pctersburgh, written in the month of
July preceding the annual message Of the Presi-
dent. He IL was who first. formulated the princi-
pie (of course he did so with the appreciation of
President Monroc) that "the American continents,
by the free and Independent position they have
assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be
considered ss subjects for future colonization by
any Europcan Power" As member of the ad-
ministrssion Of Mr. Monroe, he equally concurred
In the motive and purport Of that other declaration
contained In the same message Of December 1928,
whom the President entered bis cavcat against the
imputed design Of the Holy Alliance in Europe to
extend their theory Of repression TO the extinction
Of republcso institutions In the New World a.
we'll as In the Old. This, as Mr.. Monroe well
slid, could not be done without eudangering our
peace and hsppinessj" for, AZ the offspring of a
revolution, the United States could not look With
s,mplscepcy on o political system which affirmed
the diviae right Of kings to rule, and which stu.
diously strOve 10 tread out the sparks Of liberty
wherever they appeared. II was seen that IL the
Holy Alliance inierfered 20 suppress the revolt oil
the Spanish American colonies II would be blow
aimed II POI uls rights on this continent, and q.
such menscing % well as insulting 10 the United
States.
Three years after Mr. Monroe had proclaimed
his doctrine on these points 10 the world, and
., time when the Secretary Of State, no had
originated is most os ntisl feature, vas nj. sac
SCISSOR 10 the Prcsidsptisl chair, the whole i'm
port and value q this doctrine" came M 70,
consideration snd review Ia I. known that IN,
spsnish-American States misunderstood the pur
port cf Mr. Mosros's declaration BY conceiving /
10 mean very much vhst Mr. Lssviu pow sur
pcses u wss isscnded 10 signify, when Nc calls Il
In the words o. Mr. Edward Livlsg.son, q a pIeds,
10 The vorla" Hence those States, 10 Is25, In
vi,ed the Upised States 10 psrIcipsis 10 the AZ
libsrssi~as a . Congrcss 10 be hid q, Psnssn.
for the purpose, smoag others, 81 atskIpg int