328 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



system of policy which I have earnestly recommended for this 

 emergency. It was also intended as a firm, spirited, and yet con- 

 ciliatory answer to all the communications lately received from 

 the Russian Government, and at the same time, an unequivocal 

 answer to the proposals made by Canning to Rush. It was meant 

 also to be eventually an exposition of the principles of this gov- 

 ernment, and a brief development of its political system as hence- 

 forth to be maintained : essentially republican maintaining its 

 own independence, and respecting that of others ; essentially pa- 

 cific studiously avoiding all involvements in the combinations 

 of European politics, cultivating peace and friendship with the 

 most absolute monarchies, highly appreciating and anxiously de- 

 sirous of retaining that of the Emperor Alexander, but declaring 

 that, having recognized the independence of the South American 

 States, we could not see with indifference any attempt by Euro- 

 pean powers by forcible interposition either to restore the Spanish 

 dominion on the American continents, or to introduce monarchical 

 principles into those countries, or to transfer any portion of the 

 ancient or present American possessions of Spain to any other 

 European power." 



Only a week before the message of the President was due, 

 'the question of how to proceed against the threatened 

 dangers from Europe was by no means settled ; indeed, 

 Adams seems to have had the only clear conception of the 

 true necessities of the occasion. The form of instructions to 

 Rush was not determined upon ; the President's draft of 

 message met with the vigorous opposition of the Secretary 

 of State, and Adams' suggestion of a manifesto to Baron 

 Tuyll found no supporters in the cabinet. Monroe considered 

 Adams' sentiments in his proposed letter to Baron Tuyll to 

 be too vigorous, and to Europe, too offensively republican ; 

 they might even estrange Great Britain, whose friendship in 

 the impending crisis was absolutely essential. Calhoun also 

 doubted the necessity or even the advisability of publishing 

 " so ostentatious a display of republican principles." Adams 

 defended his manifesto by urging that " as the Holy allies 

 had come to edify and instruct us with their principles, it 

 was due in candor to them and in justice to ourselves, to re- 

 turn the compliment." Again Calhoun averred that as the 

 President's message, which covered this very subject, was 



