Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-30
DELAWARE GAZETTE AND STATE JOURNAL-WILNIIN,

John NJ. Clayton on the Monroe Doctrine.
In the course Of speech delivered in
the United States Senate on the Sth of
March, 1853, Hon. John NJ. Clayton,
Senator from Delaware, expressed his
opinion of the Monroe Doctrine, as fol-
lows:
This celebrated declaration, which is
often quoted as a pledge to go to war
with any European nation which shall
attempt to eolonize any part of this
hemisphere, is not declaration by the
President to a foreign country, but a
mere recommendation to Congress 10
declare. first, that we think any at.
tempt TO extend the European system,
that is, to make European colony in
this hemisphere, would be dangerous
TO our peace and safety and, secondly.
that any European interposition to
control the destiny of an established
American government would be viewed
by us as manifestation Of an un-
friendly disposition tow ards the United
States Congress utterly refused to
adopt the recommendation at the time,
and has ever since refused to make any
such declaration. Mr.. Monroe made no
declaration himself. But, in pursuance
OF the power given him by the Consti-
tuition to recommend to Congress such
measures as we should deem expedient,
he said in his message to the two
houses 1--WE owe il to ourselves to
| declare" Sc.; that is, he recon-
mended to Congress lin virtue of the
right to recommend given him by the
! Constitution to make this declaration
in some resolution or other proper form.
and lie was pledged by 1t to nothing
more than this That, IL Congress
shaped such resolution or made such
declaration, he would approve il.
There was no pledge in it to any power
on earth but his own countrymen in
Congress assembled. The American
government could be committed only
by tho vote of both houses of Congress,
approved by the President
The proposition recommended by Mr..
Monroe was warmly opposed by the
very Congress 10 which it was sub.
mitted. No such declaration was made,
or attempted to be made, by Congress,
but Mr.. Clay, who was an ardent sup
! porter of Mr.. Monrue's s administration,
did at the time propose resolution to
| the House of Representatives which
was intended to approach tho declara-
tion, but even that failed. His rcsolu-
ton was THAT the people Of these
| States would not see. without serious
inquietude, any forcibe interposition
by the allied powers Of Europe, in the
behalf of Spain, TO reduce to their
former subsection those parts of the
continent of America which have pro-
claimed and established FOR them.
selves, respectively, independent gov
ernments, and which have been sol.
emnly recognized by the United
States. " Even had this passed, it was
but poor response to the recommen-
dation. 1t did not ADOPT Mr.. Monroe's q
language or its equivalent, and il re-
stricted the "serious iuquietuCe" we
should feel to the case of forcible in
terposition by the allied powers to aid
Spain But Mr.. Clay's resolution, even
when thus diluted, backed by all the
influence which he and Mr.. Webster
exerted on the occasion. never passed
the House of Representatives
The perusal Of these remarks by Mr..
Clayton serves to recall the fact-one
that will doubtless prove surprising to a
great many reople--that the Congress
of the United States has never vet
made formal declaration of the fam.
Gus doctrine enunciated by President
Monroe. 1t is, in fact, the Monroe
Doctrine, nothing less, nothing more
Every attempt to induce Congress to
affirm President Monroes declaration
has been failure, save only the ap-
urova by implication embodied in the
recent action of Congress in appoint
ing the Venezuelan Commission, in ac
cordance with the recommendations
contained in the special message of
Mr.. Cleveland All previous attempts
10 bring about declaration by Con
gress upon the Monroe Doctrine were
defeated by the well settled conviction
that the doctrine was not 10 be ac.
crplcd as a general rule Of policy. but
only us applicable To situations wherein
the honor and safetyof the nation were
| involved; and that in this respect,
each condition was to he considered on
is merits. And in the pending issue,
the opinion Of the entire country is
fast settling down to the conclusion
that the Monroe Doctrine, even ii its
most liberal Interpretation, d1rs not
apply,