The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Seventeenth Congress, First Session, [Volume 2] Page: 1,387
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1387
HISTORY OF CONGRESS.
H. or R.
South American Owemments.
March, 1822.
first appearance struck the despots with dismay.
Our Revolution gave it birth. Its nativity was
cast among these States. It grows with their
growth, and strengthens with'their strength. The
impulse of the age accelerates its motion. Noth-
ing can impede its march, because it moves in the
majesty of national opinion, and public opinion
is a power that cannot be resisted. Prom every
zone we hear of Congresses, elected by the people,
assembled and assembling to establish written con-
stitutions. The system spreads like light—its rays
fall every where. The nations hail it as the har-
binger of peace and happiness. They aet wisely
in laboring to adopt it, seeing that the people of
this Union have prospered under it beyond all
former parallel. He said that the tendency of the
American system was manifest to every states-
man. That its political progress and extension
could be seen by every observer, and time would
develope its maritime results. A single instance
would explain its commercial operation. The
Continent is free: not so, the Islands. Europe, as
to them, will continue its system of colonial mon-
opoly—its system of interdictions, prohibitions,
and restrictions. These will act and re-act upon
all the Americas, but more especially upon Co-
lombia, Mexico, and the United States. Those
Powers will retaliate, and unite in their retalia-
tion. The common injury will find a common
remedy. They will adopt the counter-check of
navigation laws, and, by simultaneously protect-
ing regulations, exclude all foreign tonnage from
their ports and harbors. A blow like that, he
said, would be decisive. It would forever pros-
trate the colonial system and open a free trade to
all the Islands. The measure, when adopted,
would finish the commercial revolution. It would
subvert the whole system of maritime domination,
and restore the freedom of the seas. And thus the
Americas, by the re-action of internal laws and
regulations, well concerted and well directed, may
enforce their system of free trade. Thus, without
the waste of blood or treasure, they may sustain
the general system, and vindicate the rights and
honor of the continent. Hitherto, he said, the
American system of free trade had been strug-
gling, single'handed, with the European system
of colonial monopoly, and had maintained itself
against the fearful odds. Hereafter, all the Amer-
icas will co-operate. The subject ought to have
their prompt attention. It required a careful ex-
amination, because the course of policy to be
adopted by them would settle, finally and forever,
whether the American system shall prevail, or
that of Europe triumph over it.
Mr. T. was anxious to show, for various rea-
sons, that the great interests of the West India
Islands were in unison with the interests of the
Continent, and for that purpose went at some
length into an explanation of their present condi-
tion, and their future prospects. It was his opin-
ion that they would soon throw off the yoke of
Europe, and declare their independence. Perhaps
they would form a league, and Cuba, in that event,
would be the head. Perhaps they would claim a
guarantee, and become dependencies of the Ameri-
can nations. In any event, he said, they would
adopt the American system, because their inter-
ests are all American, and their moral feelings
and social habits are acclimating themselves, and
every day becoming anti-European.
It was his impression that the nations of Amer-r
ica would derive as many advantages from trea-
ties, placing their commerce on a footing of equal-
ity, as they would from a recognition of their in-
dependence. In that respect the United States
could do them double favors. In doing which,
she would herself receive an equivalent of benefits.
Geography, he said, had been considered as the
mistress of political and comercial policy. AH
experience had proven that near neighbors would
be warm friends, or open, active enemies. This
was true of men and nations; and, if true, would,
furnish solid reasons to justify the prompt estab-
lishment of friendly intercourse. It was his deci-
ded opinion that treaties of amity, commerce, and;
navigation, should be made with all the Americas
as soon as possible, but especially with Colombia
and Mexico. The existing interests of the Con-
tinent, as well as its future peace and harmony,
require it. That our ambassadors, when sent,
ought to be instructed to negotiate such treaties.
That those treaties ought to be discussed aad
formed upon the basis of exact equality—of perfect
reciprocity. That nothing should be asked on any
side, or granted, that would become onerous to the:
others. Let all, he said, start fairly in the race of
emulation, and each would lend a helping hand
in times of need. Nations rarely change their,
course, and, therefore, should be careful at the out-
set. He hoped that the great elementary princir
pies of political and moral justice would be con-^
suited by the Americas, at the commencement of
their diplomatic intercourse. The nations of Amer-
ica, he said, by acting as they ought to do, would
have the honor of establishing three new systems—r
a system of free government, a system of free trade,
and a system of honest, fair diplomacy. That, in j us-r
tice to themselves, they ought to disabuse the repu-
tation of Republics, by an abjuration of all diplomat-
ic chicanery and treacherous overreachings. Thai
each nation ought to do every thing within its power
for the preservation and prosperity of all, and that:
none should strive to strengthen or enrich them-
selves at the expense of each other. That each
ought to be left in the free enjoyment of all its na-
tural advantages, and none be made the victims of
clandestine treachery or odious extortion. That all
advantages gained by false pretences or dexterous
circumvention, would terminate in jealousy, and
discord, and disruption. That it is the sacred duty
of nations to preserve equality in treaties, and that
the Americas are called upon, in an especial man-
ner, to give the world examples of disinterested
justice and magnanimous forbearance. That their
prosperity and happiness would be best promoted
by adopting a liberal policy, in which the various
interests of all shall be equally consulted. That it
was the peculiar good fortune of the nations of
America to have the power of affording equal pro-
tection to the rights and interests of each other,
without any violations of neutrality. That if, in
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Gales and Seaton. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Seventeenth Congress, First Session, [Volume 2], book, 1855; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30366/m1/72/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.