across this country, it was impossible that any thing could escape their occasional visits, not excepting those who had embarked their property in speculations, or extracting from the soil the precious metals. This was altogether an artificial state of society. One of its results was that the outlay of English cupital had produced most satisfactory results, the Rio Grande mine having returned more silver yearly than all the rest put together. The progress of these States has been accompanied by the increase of British interests, which, in the event of an invasion, would necessarily lead British subjects into arms against a Power with whom Great Britain was on terms of peace and amity. In vain-it was impossible-any other result could be anticipated; and this Government well knew that the point should and ought to be settled as soon as possible, to protect those interests of ours, which had grown up under such peculiar circumstances.

of that name; see it bounded to the north by the dominions of Jonathan, just as Middlesex is by Hertfordshire; see the mouths of the Mississippi, Jonathan's only outlet from his Western States; see the Floridas (now in his possession) coming round to the east of those mouths; see the great island of Cuba commanding (with Florida) by the north side of it, the entrance of the Gulf, and by the southern side of it, the West India Sea. Look at all this, my friends; recollect, that that NEW ORLEANS, whence that very General JACKSON, who is now President, had to drive into the sea those "conquerors" (under Cochrane and Packenham) whom his volunteers did not leave dead on the plain; recollect, that that New Orleans is on the Mississippi, not far from the mouth; and when you have thus looked and thus recollected, believe, if you can, that Jonathan will,

BARING says nothing of the Bonds here! But he says quite enough to convince every man of only bare common sense, that JONATHAN, long Jonathan, with his deadly "long tom," with which he did so belabour the "conquerors of purely for the love that he must, of France" and the all-conquering "Blue and Buff"; quite enough to convince every man of the least portion of common sense, that JONATHAN will never suffer us to interfere in the manner that the "merchants" of Liverpool pray for! Lest, however, this should be insufficient to produce such conviction, a city-sage put in his declaration as to the value of Mexico to this country; and, having great respect for that abstemious corporation, we will hear, and so shall Jonathan, what the statesman THOMPSON said upon this interesting occasion.

Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said, that if the merchants of London did not interfere in the question with regard to Mexico, it was not because they thought less of its importance, but because they had the strongest reliance on the promises held out by his Majesty's Government, that they would use every means to prevent the aggressions of Spain. In fact, there were not fewer than twenty-six millions of British capital embarked in various ways by our engagements with South America; and there was no country in the world better suited to British enterprise. He was, therefore, most happy to hear, and he was sure so would every commercial man in the kingdom, that it was the intention of Government to interfere with Spain for the prevention of such harassing attacks. He knew that large shipments had been stopped in consequence of the former aggression, but he hoped that many months would not elapse before our relations with that country were placed upon a better footing. He could not conclude without offering his thanks to the right honourable Gentleman for the able manner in which he had introduced a subject so interesting to this country, and to the world at large?

Now, my friends, look at the map: see Mexico, lying half round the Gulf

course, bear towards those who impressed his seamen, and who, after they had been compelled to serve them, shut them up, as prisoners of war, on Dartmoor, where many of them were SHOT for attempting to escape; believe, if you can, that he will, purely out of affection for these people, suffer them to nestle themselves into Mexico, draw away the contents of the mines, and establish there a power in alliance with us, to enable us, at any time, to ruin all his Western States by the absolute command, which such power and such alliance would give us, over the mouths of the Mississippi: believe this, if you can, my friends; and believe, further, that Jonathan will be the more disposed to suffer us to do this, when he finds, from the statement of BARING, that Mexico may be made such a great market for OUR goods, and so profitable to US as the great source of silver; when he finds, from the statement of THOMPSON, that WE have twenty-six millions of capital embarked with the Mexicans and others, in that part of America, and that there is no country in the world better suited to BRITISH enterprise: believe, if you can, that these statements (and others of nearly the same sort, that we shall see by-and-by) will add to Jonathan's eagerness to suffer US to creep into and get the mastership of the power of Mexico.

Now, my friends, put Spain out of the question; for, all the talk about interfering to prevent Spain from disturbing our interests in No- is sheer nonsense,

To be sure, it does require impudence mit them to have any more territory than and ignorance unparalleled to propose It was quite clear that the United States they now possessed on the Gulf of Mexico? to Spain not to arm against the Mexi- eagerly looked to the ports of Mexico, and if cans, not to endeavour to reduce them they were seized upon, then the independence to obedience, lest WE should not get of what would remain of Mexico would be paid the interest of the money that we little better than that of those Indian nations who were at the mercy of the United States. lent them to enable them to rebel! This Though England and the North American does demand a stock of impudence and States were now on friendly terms, still no insolence and ignorance, such as is to be man could calculate how long they might found no where but amongst under- continue so; and however desirable it was that nothing should interrupt the existing restrappers of Boroughmongers; but lations of amity, it was still right that we Spain is nothing in this question; no- should be always prepared for such an occurthing at all; the dispute is between US rence. If this principle held good in the old (the Borough and Bank people) and world, there was nothing in the democratic States of the new, to show that they were not JONATHAN; and this you are now as desirous of aggrandisement as the most going to see; and sec it you will with military despotism in Europe could possibly be. interest and with delight; for here is, The right honourable Gentleman then took a in all probability, preparing for the historical retrospect of the negotiations carBorough THING, a blow such as it has ried on between the United States aud Spain, for the navigation of the Mississippi, and connot received for many and many a day; tended that the late Mr. Jefferson had invaria blow, the mere wind of which is more ably shown, both in and out of office, the to be dreaded by them than all the most anxious wish to extend the territories of bawlings of all the BIG O's and all the the Union, in the direction of Mexico. His despatches on the subject were written at a OLD GLORIES and all the SANCHOS that time when Great Britain was about to go to ever existed, or that ever will exist. war with Spain; however, they ended in noI am now, before I proceed to further thing, for the two Powers contrived to reconremarks of my own, about to insert the cile their differences. When the French Revolution broke out, Spain took part with latter part of HUSKISSON's speech; also France, and Louisiana being ceded to the those parts of the speeches of PEEL, SIR latter country, was purchased for a sum of BOBBY, BARING and BRIGHT, which re- money by the United States in the year 1803. late to the views of long Jonathan, with In the year 1806 Mr. Jefferson, still full of his favourite scheme of Mexican aggrandisehis unmerciful "long tom and those ment, wrote to Mr. Monroe in these terms:cruel rifles with which he gave the "We begin to consider the whole gulf-stream conquerors of France" such "imperial in our waters." In 1819 the United States got "weight and measure" at NEW OR- the whole of the Floridas. In 1823, when the LEANS, of the battle at which place question of Cuba was under discussion, what was the language of Mr. Jefferson? In writ"His Majesty's government" never, ing to the then President, he said, "I canfrom first to last, gave us any account" didly confess that I look upon Cuba as the whatever! From those speeches you will "most interesting accession to our system of "States. The control which it would give us clearly discover, my friends, that it is "over the Gulf, would fill up the measure of Jonathan, and Jonathan only, whose our political well-being." He (Mr. Husconduct and views puzzle the THING kisson) now contended, that we must either here; that it is he who has got the ring maintain our rights in that Gulf, or cease to in the THING'S nose; that it is he who the views of the House and of the country have any connexion with the New World. If stands frowning at it with a club in his should be in unison with those of the petitionhand, just as a clodpole stands at a gap ers upon this question, the impression might to keep hungry cattle out of a rich field go forth beneficially, and cause an end to be of corn. Read, I pray you, all those speeches, or parts, with great attention; notice particularly the passages in italics; and when you have done this, be so good as to hear me. I from the report copy in the MORNING HERALD of 23d of May. suffered materially from the deficiency of the supply, in consequence of the wretched system HUSKISSON :-Among the other consider- of warfare that was carried on. The only hope ations which should make us anxiously wish of relief was, from the produce of the mines to see the independence of Mexico fully esta- of that country. In the name, then, of sufferblished, was the formidable power which the ing Europe his Majesty's Ministers ought to United States already possessed in that quarter. appeal to Spain, and say to her, "We conThe United States asserted, that they would jure you not to delay taking those steps not allow Cuba to be transferred to any other "which shall render the mines as productive maritime power than Spain; had we not, then," as possible." From all these considerations, a right to say to them, that we would not per- he implored his Majesty's Ministers to inter

66

put to all further hostilities between Spain and her late colonies; colonies over which she can never hope to re-establish her power. It should be remembered that Mexico was the great source from which the precious metals were derived; and at present the whole world

MEXICO.

790

pose, in conjunction with their Allies, and tical interests, our safety, and national indetell Spain that the hopeless warfare in which pendence. she had so long been engaged ought no longer to continue. (Hear, hear.)

but,

I should like to stop here to laugh BRIGHT's and HUSKISSON's wanting to with you for half an hour, especially at secure the silver for "the relief of suffering Europe," and for causing 66 a rise will not swear! Why, surely, the of prices!" Oh! God Alworld will burst with laughter! However, we must have, before I proceed to my remarks, another little bit from the more grave and solemn man of three millions, who, kind soul, was unable to keep his tongue within his teeth, when there was such a nice piece of intelligence to give us, as will be found at the beginning of this extract.

BARING. He was glad to hear the matter had attracted the attention of Ministers; for, in his mind, the sooner, in a case of this nature, we endeavoured to render stable the Government of the Mexican State, the better," as it might provide us with a seasonable secu- I rity for our trade in those seas against that universal Power, which, by its rapid strides, threatened our interests not only in this, but other quarters of the globe, as a rival people. The natural disposition of that nation to establish itself in advantageous situations, and to go on creeping silently with their settlements, would baffle all the adroitness of our Government, despite of the assurances offered by the American Government to the contrary, unless the present highly-favourable opportunity for settling the question, as far as respected our commercial interests in that part of the globe, was followed up aud improved.

Mr. BRIGHT also complimented the right honourable Gentleman (Mr. Huskisson) on the statesmanlike manner in which he had explained the course of policy this country was bound to follow with reference to the South American States, and expressed his conviction that if remonstrance failed, we were bound to go to war to prevent the continuance of that system which Spain and America were pursuing. He was convinced, indeed, that if the States of North America were not stopped in their course of aggrandizement, they would soon absorb the whole of South America. Mexico, it should be recollected, was of the greatest importance to this country. It was the great fountain of mineral wealth; and when it was remembered how materially the supply of the precious metals affected the prices of all commodities, he thought the advantage of preserving that country could not be too highly

estimated.

Sir ROB. WILSON.-With the occupation of the province of Texas, comprising a coast of 250 leagues in extent, the Government of Mexico disclaimed any privity or participation. It now appeared that it had been taken posse ssion of by the Squatters of North America, to the number of 6,000 individuals, who, bringing their slaves with them, refused to comply with the Spanish laws for the emancipation of all persons in their condition, and indeed disclaimed all allegiance, or submission to any but their own newly-created Government. Should any attempt be made (as it was rumoured might very possibly be expected) by America to possess itself of Cuba, the position of our trade would be singular indeed, for it must be carried on through the Gulf stream, under the guns of a potent naval rival, leaving the island of Cuba on the one side, and this rising colony on the main. It was worth our while duly to weigh how far interference was possible or agreeable to our avowed principles. No one could look on the cloud which was collecting in that quarter without feeling apprehensions that we should be involved in the consequences of its breaking, whenever that event took place. It was the duty of this Government to direct its undivided attention to a subject of such consequence to our poli

States of America interfered, and advised the In the latter end of the year 1825 the United provinces of Mexico and Colombia to abstain from making a hostile aggression until the result of an application to Russia for upon Cuba her mediation with Spain should be known. This was in the latter end of 1825. On the 20th of December, in that year, Mr. Clay, who was then Secretary of State to the United States, wrote a letter to the Minister for Colombia resident at Washington, in which he informed him of the application to the Court of Russia for its mediation, and recommended a suspension for a limited time of the expeditions against Cuba and Porto Rico, or of any hostile preparations which were in progress at Carthagena or Mexico, and pointed out that this course would have a very salutary influence on the peace. He requested the Minister to communicate these views to his Government, who, he hoped, would see the expediency of forbearing to attack the islands before the result of the pacific efforts which had been adopted representations * should be known. Colombia yielded to these world was interested in the maintenance of **. The whole tranquillity there. He should, for his own part, deeply regret any event that would subvert the independence of any of those Colonies, or obstruct their progressive advance to prosperity. There had never been a period, in the history of our relations with Spain, at which it was more incumbent upon us to counsel Spain not to waste her great energies in any measures which would interrupt the tranquillity of the South American provinces, but to consent to some course by which, if their independence were not immediately recognised, there might at last be a termination put to hostilities, which would have no other effect than that of mutual injury. England, in common with every maritime country, and every country which felt an interest in the prosperity and happiness of other nations, had a deep concern in the settlement of this question. What was the consequence of the present state of things in those seas? It encouraged acts of violence and robbery on the high seas, which obstructed commerce, and were attended with the most distressing evils. Spain had also an interest in preserving the tranquillity and prosperity of those magnificent possessions. There was no possibility of Spain

re-establishing her authority in the South session for him? Well said, JONATHAN! American colonies; but, even if she could And he begins to think the whole of the succeed in recovering her power in some mea

sure by a military force, what would be her Gulf of Mexico "in his waters?" To condition? He believed that Spain could not be sure he does, and, thirteen years ago, possibly inflict upon herself a greater curse I, as I shall show by-and-by, told you than that temporary success would be, which that he would, if you did not hasten to would give her possession of three or four fortifications, and enable her to flatter herself anticipate him. How came you not to with the expectation of final success. It was foresee this as well as I! You were contrary to all experience in such cases that paid enough for foreseeing: I was not the mother country should ever regain the paid: I was in exile, to escape SIDdominion which she had once lost; and the MOUTH's dungeons; and yet I foresaw influence of Spain in Europe would be paralysed if she endeavoured by force to regain her and foretold, and in print too, this very former possessions now, when their independ-state of things: such is the consequence ence was fully recognised. For the interest of Spain herself, therefore, he deprecated the continuance of such policy; and he hoped that Spain would listen to the earnest and friendly advice which she was daily receiving from this country-of whose friendship he believed she was assured; and put an end to a state of things which only served to interrupt the commerce of the world and to impede her own prosperity. She was only weakening and impairing her own resources, and diminishing the good-will of other Powers, which it ought to be her study to conciliate. He hoped he had said enough to rescue himself and his Majesty's Government from the imputation of being indifferent as to

this matter.

of having a head upon one's shoulders: to extort taxes, to build jails and madhouses. to keep standing armies, to get pensions and seats in parliament, and tithes, there need only place and power, and shoulders and knob at top; but to foresee and foretel events like this require a head upon the shoulders.

BARING, Sir BOBBY and BRIGHT, Seem to be in a terrible rage with JONATHAN. Baring calls him the "Universal Power," and says that he is making rapid strides against OUR interests in more quarters Ah, Baring! of the globe than one.

He would now allude to another point, and a very delicate point, touched upon by his right What! you hear of him in the Mediterhon. friend, as to the probability of the United ranean, do you? I said you would. And States making encroachments upon the terri- he is "creeping on," is he? Well, but, tories of this country. The United States were Baring, let us look at home a little; a great and powerful nation; its institutions amongst the freest in the world, and he hoped and while SIR BOBBY is complaining they had too much generosity and good sense that JONATHAN is squatting here and to profit by the weakness of Mexico for the there, he does not complain that YOU purpose of taking possession of any of those are squatting about in England! Jonaprovinces. He trusted the people of the United States would feel that it would be contradic- than chooses good spots; and do not tory to their own general principle of independ- YOU do the same? I go scarcely into ence to take advantage of a State which had any county, in which I do not find YOU not the power of defending itself. At the same squatting, and always in good spots. time, he was bound to state, with regard to the United States, that he placed implicit conCome, then, this being all right, you fidence in the declarations of the honourable know, why is not poor JONATHAN to get persons by whom the Government of that nation a little bit here and there? Aye, but you was conducted, and of the Minister of the purchase your land, or your reversions. United States, whom he believed to be as ho- And does not JONATHAN purchase his, nourable man as ever breathed, and he was convinced that there was no intention by or get them in some such way? YOU force or fraud to get possession of any of those know better than almost any body, that important provinces: but he trusted that the he purchased Louisiana from France, Government of the United States would pre-after France had got it a free gift from vent those modes of acquiring possession, he meant by unauthorised acts of settlement, by Spain! It was high treason for Englishwhich in remote and unoccupied countries, men to make a loan to France during possession might be obtained. It would be as the war; but it was not high treason just and generous on the part of the United for a loan-monger to raise money in EngStates to discourage acquiring possession by land to lend to JONATHAN for him to pay these means, as to prevent the acquisition by force. to France! So, you know, JONATHAN What, Huskisson! JONATHAN as-purchased the Mississippi and all its terserted, did he, " that he would not suffer "Cuba to belong to any other maritime power than Spain?" That is to say, he asserted, did he, that WE should not have Cuba! And he has since said, that Cuba would be a most interesting_pos

ritory, just as you purchase your lands in England. And, as to the Floridas (which, by-the-by, once were OURS), he got them from Spain in payment of a debt: and do not people get estates in England in the same way? O, fie! Mr.

Baring: be not so hard on poor "Jotty!" this: Jonathan had then, and long beLet him have a little share in the good fore, resolved upon having Cuba, which things of the earth. While WE, disin- he will have in spite of our teeth, partly terested WE, were "delivering Europe," drawn and partly broken by our debt, we squatted down upon Demerara and dead weight, standing army, pensions Essequibo and Ceylon and the Cape, be- and sinecures. Having resolved on this, longing to our friends, the Dutch; we he forbade Canning's "new world" to squatted down upon TRINIDADA, belong-meddle with Cuba, and he had before ing to our friend, the king of SPAIN ; We "asserted" that WE should not have it. squatted down up the Mauritius and And in order to keep US off, he told us, Pondicherry and other places, belonging that he would apply to Russia for to our friends, the BOURBONS; we her mediation with Spain! That was squatted down upon the Ionian Isles and enough! We, though we had an “imMalta, belonging to our friends, the perial" yard, did not attempt to mete KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM; Jonathan with it; but became as quiet we squatted down on Heligoland, be- as "Blue and Buff" were, when they longing to our friends, the DANES; and returned home, after the battles on Lakes we continue to squat in all those places, Erie and Champlain. How often have though our friends are all now "deli- I told you, my staunch and sensible vered." Pray, then, be not so hard, Sir friends, that RUSSIA and JONATHAN Will BOBBY, on poor Jorry, if he make a always pull together against our allsquat or two in Mexico, while he is". delivering" THING! delivering" the Mexicans.

:

After this, having this clear view of But I shall be told that we get no- the designs of Jonathan, do look, if your thing by our squattings; and that is stomachs will let you, at the speech of very true; but what is that to Jonathan ? We, indeed, lose by them; we are, as poor PEEL: look at "the whole world the great PRINCE OF WATERLOO says, being interested" in preventing Spain compelled to pay for our squattings; from harassing Mexico: look at "our our squattings drain us of our money and " counselling Spain not to waste her plunge us into distress; but Jonathan" energies :" look at "the happiness of cannot help that! Let him go on "other nations deeply concerned in the squatting, and, may be, he will get into "settlement of the independence of distress too. Ah, no! Jonathan has no "Mexico:" look at Peel's anxiety, lest nice, good, grand and noble aristocracy" Spain should paralyse herself” by atto keep upon his squattings: his squat-tempts to bring Mexico to obedience: tings will not make his taxes four times look at the "friendly advice that Spain as great as they were before, but will" is DAILY receiving from this country, make them less. But we have no right "of whose friendship she is assured:' to find fault with this every one to his look at his earnest desire, to "put an taste: we cannot live without life-guards" end to a state of things that interrupts and a fine, noble aristocracy, and we "the commerce of THE WORLD." must pay for them, of course. JOTTY's Look at all this, and, remembering that taste is different, more humble, and less he is a minister, and speaks in the name costly. He does not like his millions to of the THING, which has an "imperial live on hog-potatoes, while his hundreds" yard and bushel;" look at all this, and eat strawberries at a guinea an ounce; and if we do, Jonathan cannot help that. PEEL tells us, that, in 1825, when it was supposed that Mexico and Colombia were about to capture Cuba, JONATHAN "interfered," and advised them not to attempt an attack upon Cuba, until the result was known of an application to Russia for her mediation with Spain ! Her mediation! What the devil had she to do with the West Indies! Nothing; but she had a deal to do with US: a deal to do with Malta and the Scotch Ionian Isles! This is the devil all over, to be sure! The plain truth is

do, for God's sake, look at his fulsome, low, vulgar, crawling compliments to Jonathan's people, government, and envoy in London! Feeling as Englishmen, your hearts will sicken within you; but, my friends, bethink a little it is the THING'S minister that is talking, and talking, too, to a septennial and unreformed Parliament! Think of this; and think, too, that of all the objects in this world, the Boroughmongers hate and dread, and justly dread, Jonathan the most, and that in proportion as he becomes powerful, they become, and will become, fle. Th of these things,