Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-16
Wurtester Daily Spy,
Origin of the Monroe Doctrine.

The Providence journal prints letter,
never before made pubic, from John Quincy
Adams to Rev. Dr. Claiming, in which is con-
tanned curious bit of secret history showing
the origin of what is called the "MOnrOe doe
trine." 1t will be seen by this letter that I'M
der the most trying circumstances and the Sc
Verest temptations the American government
acted with the most sincere faith towards a
friendly power-Spain-and with the most
open and frank courtesy towards two other
powers, who were at the time our rivals for
the possession o! Cuba. 1t will be seen, too,
that the agreement against European inter
venton in American affairs, which afterwards
took shape and was formally announced as a
policy by Mr.. Monroe in one of his annual
messages whence the name of "Monroe doe
trine"-had its origin in suggestion or prop
osition made by the British government to our
own; so that Englishmen may claim the cred
ii of originating the celebrated "Monroe doc
trine."
"QuINoY, Aug. IL, 1887.
''ReU William q. Charming, d. d., Nelc-
port, r. l. My Dear Sir: twas
in September, 1922, that the events to which
l alluded in my speech in the house of repre-
sentatives OF the 25th of May, 1868, took
place. 1t was the time when the Spanish gov
eminent of the Cortes WAS overthrown by the
French invasion under the Duke D'Angou-
leme. Great Britain became alarmed lest I'M
der the shelter of that revolution the island of
Cuba should pass into the possession of
France. The French government fabricated
or was imposed upon by report that the Brit
ish cabinet had determined to send squad
ron and take possession of the island The
people of the Havana, divided into parties be.
tween the COrtes and the king, were terri
fled by premonitory symptoms of negro
ipsa1 and
ton. There party for resorting to Great
Britain, a party for adhering to Spain, and
party for seeking admission to the North
American Union-the last of which was
the strongest. proposition was then made
to Il secret agent from them to Mr.. Monroe to
this etlect-that they, by a popular movement,
of the success of which they had no doubt,
would declare the island Independent of Spain
il the government of the United States would
promise them protection and admit them into
their union under a state constitution, on the
model of those of our southern states, and
with the understanding that as the population
of the island should increase they should be
at liberty to divide themselves into two states
and have that proportion of representation in
the congress of the United States. As the in
ducement to the American government to
pledge their protection, they were assured
that the alternative would probably be the
prevalence of the party in the island for the
colonial connection with Great Britain, and
resort to her for projection. While this prop
osition was under the consideration OF Mr.
Monroe and his cabinet, the French minister
at Washington, by verbal, irresponsible
communication, not the secretary of state, the
only medium OF official intercourse between
foreign ministers and the government of the
United States, but to Mr.. Crawford. the sec
rotary of the treasury, asserverted that the
French government had secret but positive
information that the British government had
deliberately doiArniira cd 80 tpiss I,ossrssIUn
Cuba.
1.-The answer of Mr.. Monroe TO the prop1-
sition from the Havana was that the friendly
relations existing between the United States
and Spain did not permit them to promise
cOuntenance or protection to any insurrec-
tionary movement against her authority.
Their advice to the people of Cuba was to
adhere as long as possible to their allegiance
to Span-that an attempt Of either Great
Britain or France to occupy the island would
present the proposal from Havana under a
different point of view, concerning which the
president was not authorized to pledge pro-
spectively the action of the United States, but
that the people of the Havana might be as
sured of the deep interest which, under all
the circumstances which might occur the
American government would take in their
welfare and their wishes.
sit was the opinion of at least one member
OF Mr.. Monr0e's administration that the 0c-
cupation of the island of Cuba by Great Brit
ain should be resisted even at the cost of war.
Their unanimous opinion was that a very ex-
pllCit though confidential communication
should be made to Mr.. Canning that the
United States could not see with indifference
the occupation of Cuba by any European
power other than Spain, and that rumors had
reached the American government that such
an intention was entertained by the British
cabinet, which made it necessary 10 ask an
explanation of their views.
MIR. Rush was instructed accordingly; Mr.
Canning disavowed emphatcally all intention
on the part of Great Britain to take possess
sion OF the island; but avOwed her intention
not to see with indifference its occupation, eli
ther by France or by the United States and
he told Mr.. Rush of the squadron dispatc ed
by King Louis XVIII to the West In
dies, without notifying him of the expedition,
and OF the schooling he had ordered the Brit
ish ambassador at Paris to give the French
cabinet for that sin of omission. Mr. Can
ming then proposed that, by mutual under
standing between the British, French and
American governments, without any formal
treaty or convention, Cuba should be left in
the quiet possession Of Spain, without inter-
ference in the government Of the island. This
was precisely the policy which Mr.. Monroe
believed to be best adapted to the interest and
the duties of the United States, and he cheer
fully assented to it. There was no further
communication between him and the French
government on the subject So far as France
was concerned, the arrangement was left to
be concerted between her and Great Britain.
The people of the island Of Cuba submitted to
the government of Ferdinand, restored by the
Duke d'Angouleme, and received viceroy
and captain general in the person OF General
Wives, who had been minister from Spain to
the United States; one Of the most upright
and honorable men with whom it has ever
been my fortune to hold political relations.
lie was precisely the man to tranQuize and
conclllate the submission OF the people of the
island to their old government, and he so eff
tectually accomplished that purpose that the
government of the United States heard moth
ing further of intended resurrection in Cuba
during the remainder of Mr. Monroe's admin.
istraton and the whole of mine,
''All these transactions were at the time
profoundly secret. =
81 am, OF course, your unalterabe friend
D. z. ADAMS"
THREE GRAND MISTAKES a long, extend.
ed, thin, discouraged, cold looking individual
was discovered this morning standing on the
stems of his hotel, looking as Woe-begonp .s