Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-05
By the President:
William II Seward, Secretary Of State.


Argument LOT me IecCEGlflOn OF the Coined
crate States by foreign nations, as contained in
= speech Of Sir Jsmes Mcintosh, 10 the House Of
Commons, 18Th jane, 1924, in. supporting the
recognition Of the Spanish American States
And fTst, cir. with respect 10 the term "recOg-
n%ition,' the Introduction Of which into these
discussions has proved the principal occasion
for darkness and error. 1t is q term which is
used in two senses so different from each other
IS to have nothing very important in common.
The first, which is tho true and legitimate sense
Of the word recognition as \ technical term
Of International Law, is that in which il denotes
tho explicit acknowledgment Of the independ-
ence of a country by a S,ato which formerly eK-
ereised sovereignty over il. Spain has been
doomed to exhibit more examples Of this species
Of recognition than any other European State,
Of which the most memorable cases are her ac-
acknowledgement Of the independence OF Portugal
and Holland. This country also paid the pom
atty Of evil councils in that hour Of folly and
infRlUstiOn which led to q hostile separation be
tween Tho American colonies and their mother
country. Such recognitiOns are renuneiations
Of sovereignty-surTenders Of the power or Of
the claim to govern.
Bat we, who are as foreign te the Spanish
Sslss n America IS we are 20 Spain herself.
who never bad any more authority over them
than over her, have in this case no claims to re.
nouaes, no power to sbdieGte, no sovereignty
to resign, no legal rights to confer. What we
have to de, is not, therefore, recognition in its
Grst and most strictly proper sensc. Il is not
by formal Btipulali0ns or solemn declarations
that we are 20 recognise the Americau States.
bat by measures Impractical policy, which imply
that we acknowledge thor Independence. Our
recognition is Virtual. Tho most conspicuous
part of such = reception, is the act OF sending
and receiving diplomatic SCENTS. IL implies 10
guarantee, no alliance, no aid, no appreciation
Of the successful revolt, no intimation of an
opinion concerning the Justice or Injustice of
the means BY which it has been accomplished
These are matters beyond our Jurisdiction. 1t
would be an usurpaten in us to sit in iudg-
ment upon them.
Asa State, we can Mother condemn nor Justify
revolutions which do not affect our safety and
are not anonable to our laws. We deal with
tho authorities Of new States on the Same prin-
eipies and for the same objects as with those Of
old. We consider them IS governments sct0-
ally exercising authority over the people of 4
country, with whom We are called upon to
msintaia q regular intercourse by diplomatic
agents for the interests Of Great Britain, and
for the security OF British subjects. Antiquity
affords a presumption Of stability, which, like
all other ~preSumptiOns, may and does fail in
peculiar instances; but in itself II is nothing,
and when il ceases to indicate stability, it
ought to be regarded by a foreign country as of
HI nIGIuLt. 4Lo e@CAh AcIDEUA-ll4 VI y lew /
State, with which alone / am now concerned,
not being a judgment for the new government,
or against the old, is not O deviation from per
feet neutrality, or 3 cause of just ofsnss to the
disposseesed ruler.
When Great Britain recognized the United
States, it was a concession by tho recognizing
power, the object Of which was the advantage
and security of the Government recognized.
But when Great Britain Il hope very so0n) re-
e0gnizss the States of Spanish America, it viii
not be ss 3 concession tOthem, for they need no
such recognition; but It will be for her own
sAke-to promote her own inteTsSis-to protect
the trade and navigation of her own subjects
and to acquire the best means OF cultivSting
friendly relations with important countries, and
of composing, by immediate negotiation, those 9
which might otherwise Tminst IN g
war. Are these new docIrinesf Quits the con =
trary. They are founded on the ancient Prse- )
of Europe. They have been acted upon for n
moro than two centuries By England, a. wei Z
rs other nations. r.
Although the attention Of the House Is chiefly 4
l;rected 10 the acts Of our own Government, It
! mot foreign from the purpose Of my argument
\ solicit them for a few minutes to consider the .
message sent, on the ID OF December, :
9l3. by the President Of the United States to
Ia Congress Of that great republic. / heartily :
sioice in the perfect agreement Of thst message ! =
nth the principles professed BY US to the