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- <text id=93AT0025>
- <title>
- The Monroe Doctrine
- </title>
- <history>
- Compact ALMANAC--United States Federal Directory
- Documents Of American History
- </history>
- <article>
- <source> </source>
- <hdr>
- The Monroe Doctrine
- December 2, 1823
- </hdr>
- <body>
- <p>Extracts from President Monroe's Seventh Annual Message
- to Congress
- </p>
- <p> ...At the proposal of the Russian Imperial Government, made
- through the minister of the Emperor residing here, a full power
- and instructions have been transmitted to the minister of the
- United States at St. Petersburg to arrange by amicable
- negotiation the respective rights and interests of the two
- nations on the northwest coast of this continent. A similar
- proposal had been made by His Imperial Majesty to the Government
- of Grest Britain, which has likewise been acceded to. The
- Government of the United States has been desirous by this
- friendly proceeding of manifesting the great value which they
- have invariably attached to the friendship of the Emperor and
- their solicitude to cultivate the best understanding with his
- Government. In the discussions to which this interest has given
- rise and in the arrangements by which they may terminate the
- occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in
- which rights and interests of the United States are involved,
- that the American continents, by the free and independent
- condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth
- not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any
- European powers....
- </p>
- <p> It was stated at the commencement of the last session that a
- great effort was then making in Spain and Portugal to improve the
- condition of the people of those countries, and that it appeared
- to be conducted with extraordinary moderation. It need scarcely
- be remarked that the result has been so far very different from
- what was then anticipated. Of events in that quarter of the
- globe, with which we have so much intercourse and from which we
- derive our origin, we have always been anxious and interested
- spectators. The citizens of the United States cherish sentiments
- the most friendly in favor of the liberty and happiness of their
- fellow-men on that side of the Atlantic. In the wars of the
- European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never
- taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do. It
- is only when our rights are invaded or seriously menaced that we
- resent injuries or make preparation for our defense. With the
- movements in this hemisphere we are of necessity more immediately
- connected, and by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened
- and impartial observers. The political system of the allied
- powers is essentially different in this respect from that of
- America. This difference proceeds from that which exists in
- their respective Governments; and to the defense of our own,
- which has been achieved by the loss of so much blood and
- treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their most enlightened
- citizens, and under which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity,
- this whole nation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candor
- and to the amicable relations existing between the United States
- and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt
- on their part to extend their system to any portion of this
- hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the
- existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have
- not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the Governments
- who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose
- independence we have, on great consideration and on just
- principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for
- the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other
- manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light
- than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the
- United States. In the war between those new Governments and
- Spain we declared our neutrality at the time of their
- recognition, and to this we have adhered, and shall continue to
- adhere, provided no change shall occur which, in the judgment of
- the competent authorities of this Government, shall make a
- corresponding change on the part of the United States
- indispensable to their security.
- </p>
- <p> The late events in Spain and Portugal shew that Europe is
- still unsettled. Of this important fact no stronger proof can be
- adduced than that the allied powers should have thought it
- proper, on any principle satisfactory to themselves, to have
- interposed by force in the internal concerns of Spain. To what
- extent such interposition may be carried, on the same principle,
- is a question in which all independent powers whose governments
- differ from theirs are interested, even those most remote, and
- surely none more so than the United States. Our policy in regard
- to Europe, which was adopted at an early stage of the wars which
- have so long agitated that quarter of the globe, nevertheless
- remains the same, which is, not to interfere in the internal
- concerns of any of its powers; to consider the government de
- facto as the legitimate government for us; to cultivate friendly
- relations with it, and to preserve those relations by a frank,
- firm, and manly policy, meeting in all instances the just claims
- of every power, submitting to injuries from none. But in regard
- to those continents circumstances are eminently and conspicuously
- different. It is impossible that the allied powers should extend
- their political system to any portion of either continent
- without endangering our peace and happiness; nor can anyone
- believe that our southern brethren, if left to themselves, would
- adopt it of their own accord. It is equally impossible,
- therefore, that we should behold such interposition in any form
- with indifference. If we look to the comparative strength and
- resources of Spain and those new Governments, and their distance
- from each other, it must be obvious that she can never subdue
- them. It is still the true policy of the United States to leave
- the parties to themselves, in the hope that other powers will
- pursue the same course....
- </p>
-
- </body>
- </article>
- </text>
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