286 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



but our city can be nothing' less tluiu tlie jSTorth American Continent 

 witli its gates on all the snnounding seas. 



John Adams, in the preface to his " Defence of the American Consti- 

 tution," written in London, where he resided at the time as Minister, and 

 dated fche 1 st January, 1787, atGrosvenor Square, the c(^ntral seat of aris- 

 tocratic fashion, after exposing the fabulous origin of the kingly power 

 in contrast with the simple origin of our Republican Constitutions, thus 

 for a moment lifts tlie curtain of tlie future: "Tliirteen Governments," 

 he says plainly, "thus founded on the natural authority of the 

 54 people alone, and without any pretence of miracle or mystery, 

 and which are destined to spread over the northern part of that 

 'Whole quarter of the globe, is a great point gained in favour of the rights 

 of mankind." (John Adams' Works, vol. iv, p. 293). Thus, according 

 to this prophetic Minister, even at that eaily day was the destiny of 

 the Eepublic manifest. It was to spread over the northern part of the 

 American quarter of the globe; and it was to be a support to the rights 

 of mankind. 



By the text of our Constitution the United States are bound to guar- 

 antee a "llepublicanform of government" to every State in this Union; 

 but this obligation, which is only applicable at home, is an unquestion- 

 able indication of the national aspiration everywhere. The Republic is 

 something more than a local policy; it is a general principle, not to be 

 forgotten at any time, especially when the o])})ortunity is presented of 

 bringing an immense region within its influence. Elsewhere it has for 

 the present failed; but on this account our example is more important. 

 Who can forget the generous lament of Lord Byron, whose passion for 

 freedom was not mitigated by his rank as an heriditary legislator of 

 England, when he exclaims in memorable verse? — 



The name of coniiiionwealtli is past and ftone 

 O'er the three factious of the groauiug globe! 



Who can forget the salutation which the poet sends to the "one great 

 clime," which, nursed in freedom, enjoys what he calls "the proud dis- 

 tinction" of not being confounded with other lands'? — 



Whose sous must how them at a Mouaroh's motion, 

 As if his seuselcss sceptre were a waud! 



The present Treaty is a visible step in the occupation of the whole 

 North American Continent. As such it will be recognized by the world 

 and accepted by the American people. But the Treaty involves some- 

 thing more. By it we dismiss one more Monarch from this Continent. 

 One by one they have retired; first France; then Spain; then France 

 again; and now Russia; all giving u^ay to that absorbing Unity which 

 is declared in the national motto '■'■ E pluribus ununi.''^ 



ANTICIPATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



4. Another motive to this acquisition may be found in a desire to 

 anticipate the imagined s(iliemes or necessities of Great Britain. With 

 regard to all those I confess my doubts, and yet, if we may credit report, 

 it would seem as if there was already a British movement in this direc- 

 tion. Sometimes it is said that Great Britain desires to buy if Russia 

 will sell. Sir George Sim])son, Governor-in-chief of the Hudson Bay 

 Company, declared that without the strij) on the coast umlerlet to the 

 former by the Russian Company the interior would be "comparatively 

 useless to England." Here, then, is a provocation to buy. Sometimes 



