INTRODUCTION. 



5b 



of dollars^ to aid the cause in Spain — who seemed to 

 be animated with the most violent hatred to Napoleon, 

 considered themselves as treated with gross insult by 

 the Spaniards; and their loyalty was thus converted 

 into hatred, first by the menaces of the Europeans, 

 and next, by their resorting to force, and treating them 

 as rebels. 



But whatever the constitution of the Indies may be 

 in theory, Spanish America has always been in factj 

 held as colonies, subject to the will, caprice, and in- 

 terest of the king of Spain, and his European sub- 

 jects. They have been viewed only as the means of 

 improving the condition of the metropolis, not as a 

 co-equal independent empire, having a right to equal 

 favor, and advantage. For the benefit of the Euro- 

 peans, the agriculture and manufactures of America 

 were restricted? in order that those of the peninsula 

 might prosper, commerce was monopolized by the 

 Spaniard, and its offices were bestowed to these aliens, 

 in order that they might be enriched, notwithstanding 

 the tantalizing declaration of the code, that Amer- 

 icans in all cases should be preferred. This boasted 

 compact, therefore, could only tend to irritate and 

 sour the minds of the Americans, while directly in 

 contradiction to this charter, they, the descendants of 

 the first settlers and conquerors, were made ^^hew ers of 

 wood, and drawers of water" to the inhabitants of 

 Old Spain. In order to decide upon the justice or in- 

 justice of this case, it suffices merely to change the re- 

 lative situation, and to suppose the monopoly of the 

 commerce and government of Spain, granted to the 

 inhabitants of the Indies! 



