New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-07
a. tho President by and with the advice and
consent OF the sena.e. may send to any Govern

consent OF the Sena,e may send to any Govern
m,nt OF South America which has established
and Is maintaining its indei endency of Spain"
| ne supported II In two powerful speeches. but
was defeated by the close vote OF % TO ~ Moth
ing daunted. five days later that interchangeable
champion OF liberty again brought the subject
before the House In the form of resolution
expressing interest In the struggles OF the South
American peoples for independence and promis-
ing the constitutional support OF the House
| to the President whenever he might deem II
| expedient to recognize the sovereignty and inde-
pendence of any Of the said provinces
AZ TINS time; as may be seen from the dates
quoted at the beginning of this article the war
against spain had been in progress more than
ten years. Paraguay, La Plata and Venezuela
ana the insurgents elsewhere were I'm a hope
! full condition" The resolution, moreover was
most temporarily worded, and was calculated
| TO commit nobody to anything And there was
| no doubt that the Nation generally sympathzed
strongly with the struggling States Yet so con-
| servativc was the House that a motion to lay
Mr. Ciay's resolution on the table was defeated
| by only single vote-71 to ~. a long and anil
mated debate ensued Objection was made to
the resolution because II II had any object. II
| was an encroachment on the power Of the Execu-
| tive. and might produce a collision between the
| two departments Of Government" On the other
hand a member claimed for the House share
| or responsibility in the conduct Of foreign af-
fairs. and doubted whether the President could
| recognize the independence Of a foreign Power.
by receiving its Minister. without the consent Of
the House. Another objected that the resolu-
| ton attributed TO the President q power-that OF
| recognition-too important to be exercised by
any authority less than all three branches Of the
| Government together. and also that II proposed
10 make the House, incompatibly with the Con-
stitution. adviser Of the President Still an
| other proposed to add proviso declaring that
| the resolution was not to be construed as inter
| fering with the independent exercise If the
| treaty-makng power: which was negatived
Finally. the first clause of the resolution. ex-
pressing interest In the success of the insur-
| gents. adopted by vote Of ia To II. and
| the second clause. promising support to the
| President In recognizing their independence. at
| his discretion. was also adopted. by vote OF ~
| to GS. The resolution thereupon conveyed
! to the President by committee and the Presi
| dent declared that ne would take It into DELHI
| crate consideration, with the mos. perfect re-
spect for the distinguished body from which 1t
| had emanated
| Mr. MONROE'S RESPONSE.
| The sequel came a month later On March 2
| the President sent to Congress a special Mes
sage dealing with the general subject The cor
test In South America had reached such stage
he said. and had been attended with such success
on the part of the insurgents. that profound con-
| sideration must he given to the question whether
| the provinces had not attained complete right to
rank as independent nations. Buenos Ayres had
| assumed that rank and had enjoyed 1t for years
| free from invasion by Spain. Colombia Nnclud-
| inc VeneZuela) had declared its independence
| and had actually defeated and driven out or
| captured all Spanish forces excepting one incon'
| siderable sbody. which was blockaded IN TWO
| strong fortresses. Chill had enjoyed actual and
| undisturbed independence since 1918. and Peru
| was attaining the same condition. Mexico had
| declared its independence. and there was no OPP
| position to II nor force to make any. For three
years Spain had sent no troops to thar part OF
| the world. and there was no reason TO expect sN
| ever would send any more. So the new states
| had in fact achieved their independence. and
! were not In the remotest danger OF being de-
prived Of it. What Spain thought about IT, the
President did not know. nor did he seem srea,ly
| to care. but he supposed she realized that ner
| colonies were lost to her forever.
| The new Governments had therefore. claim
| tn recognition by other Powers which ought not
| 70 he resisted Such were the sentiments of the
| Executive. and they were communicated to Con
| gress in order that should the latter BODY agree
| with them there might be such cooperation be-
tween the two departments OF Government AS
| their respective rights and duties might require
| In proposing such recognition. II was not IN
tended TO change thereby. In the slightest man.
| ner, the friendly relations Of the United states
with either of the parties. bur the mos perfect
| neutrality between them would he observed a.
| il had been observed from the beginning OF the
war Assurance Of this friendly disposition
would be given to Spain. and II was expected TO
| prove satisfactory. The measure was proposen
| under a thorough conviction that II was IN strict
accord with the law Of nations. that II was JUST
and right and that this country owed IT. to ts
station and character In the world ana 10 l's
| own interests. TO adopt IT, Should Congress
! concluded Mr.. Monroe. concur IN the view here
| in presented. they will doubtless see the pro-
| priety Of making the necessary appropriations
| for carving II into effect
| DEFINITE ACTION AT LAST
| 1-pon this the House was first to act The Mes
| sage was referred to its Committee on Foreign
Relations. and that committee. a few days later
on March H. made a report strongly and com
pletely agreeing with the Presidents views. The
| Spanish colonies in South America had suffered
mach and were fully justified in revolving. They
had. as a matter Of fact. won their independence.
and Spain was utterly unable to deprive them Of
| hIa m themselves
take worthy rank among the nations Of the
earth. 1t was only just them. and would he
70 the interest Of the United States. to grant full
recognition of their unconditional independence
| Therefore the committee reported TWO resolu-
tions one concurring in the PRESIDENTS opinion
| that the American colonies OF Spain which had
declared their independence and were in enjoy.
ment of il ought TO be recognized by the united
| States as Independent nations. and one instruct
| ing the Ways and Means Committee to report
| bill appropriating sum not exceeding Hloohp
70 enable the President to give due effect 70 such
| recognition. After considerable talk all on one
| side this report was adopted. the first resolution
unanimously. with the exception OF single neg
alive vote. and the second resolution unani-
mously This appropriation bill was car
ried to the Senate. and there, after some
debate. was adopted on May by an
overwhelming majority. The measure promptly
| received Executive approval and thus be-
came law. and thus the lndepend Den, OF the
recognized by the Government Of the United
| States ~
few weeks later. June ~. ISL. the Presi-
| dent received Mr.. Manuel Torres as Charge
| dAffaires from the Republic of Colombia. thus
for the first time establishing diplomatic rela-
| lions with one of the new States There was some
| delay in sending Ministers from this country to
those States on account of some disagreement ~
| 10 the grade Of their missions In recognition OF
| his zeal in advocating the cause Of South Amer
| lean independence, Mr.. Adams suggested the APP
| pointm ent Of Mr.. Clay to the Colombian mission
| and the President was inclined TO accept the sug
| gestion. though neither supposed Mr. Clay would
| accept it. During the second session Of the
| XVIIth Congress. 1S2S-2 Ministers were sent
! To Colombo and Buenos Ayres (Argentina). and
| in the following fail others were sent to Chill and
| to Mexico while all the States. except Colombia
| which had already sent representative. were
4hat Ministers such diplnmafic