ich the present proposition might engage us, should that be its
consequence, is not her war, but ours. Its object is to introduce and
establish the American system, of keeping out of our land all foreign
powers, of never permitting those of Europe to intermeddle with the
affairs of our nations. It is to maintain our own principle, not to
depart from it. And if, to facilitate this, we can effect a division
in the body of the European powers, and draw over to our side its
most powerful member, surely we should do it. But I am clearly of Mr.
Canning's opinion, that it will prevent instead of provoking war. With
Great Britain withdrawn from their scale, and shifted into that of our
two continents, all Europe combined would not undertake such a war. For
how would they propose to get at either enemy without superior fleets?
Nor is the occasion to be slighted which this proposition offers, of
declaring our protest against the atrocious violations of the rights
of nations, by the interference of any one in the internal affairs of
another, so flagitiously begun by Bonaparte, and now continued by the
equally lawless Alliance, calling itself Holy.

But we have first to ask ourselves a question. Do we wish to acquire to
our own confederacy any one or more of the Spanish provinces? I candidly
confess, that I have ever looked on Cuba as the most interesting
addition which could ever be made to our system of States. The control
which, with Florida Point, this island would give us over the Gulf of
Mexico, and the countries and isthmus bordering on it, as well as
all those whose waters flow into it, would fill up the measure of our
political well-being. Yet, as I am sensible that this can never be
obtained, even with her own consent, but by war; and its independence,
which is our second interest (and especially its independence of
England), can be secured without it, I have no hesitation in abandoning
my first wish to future chances, and accepting its independence, with
peace and the friendship of England, rather than its association, at the
expense of war and her enmity.

I could honestly, therefore, join in the declaration proposed, that we
aim not at the acquisition of any of those possessions, that we will not
stand in the way of any amicable arrangement between them and the mother
country; but that we will oppose, with all our means, the forcible
interposition of any other power, as auxiliary, stipendiary, or under
any other form