APPENDIX. 369 
It will be perceived, therefore, that two Administrations at the commencement 
of the national existence of the new Republic, solemnly determined on an unqual- 
ified political and colonial separation from all European powers. They were 
anxious to preserve a state of mutual liberty and independence, and yet it was not 
deemed expedient to imitate the example of the Old World, by the formation of an 
American Holy Alliance, in defence of our freedom, as Europe had done m de- 
fence of legitimacy and allegiance. It, nevertheless, would seem, that as the 
great head of the Powers of this Continent, it becomes us now to persist in the 
policy wisely adopted near twenty years ago ; and to be warned, in time, of every 
sym.ptom of approaching danger. 
If England extends her power, by gradual advances, from the Balize into Gua- 
temala, (now under Indian rule,) and then into Yucatan, (now in revolt,) she will 
hold the key of both Americas, by controlling the passage across the Isthmus to 
the Pacific. If she pushes her claims on Mexico, and grasps the Californlas ; 
retains her hold on China, the mouth of the Columbia and Canada ;— and, while 
she continues the possession of the Bermudas, sweeps our Eastern coast by 
armed war-steamers, masked under the peaceful disguise of West India Mail 
Packets (!) we will shortly find ourselves as comfortably and securely walled in 
by British bayonets, as the most loyal of Her Majesty's subjects could well 
desire. 
And yet, all this would be effected by mere supineness on our part, and by 
neglect of determined firmness, and intimations similar to those of 1825, in regard 
to the French fleet, and the occupation of Cuba and Porto Rico. If I am an- 
swered, that these are dreams and visions of things that may occur, but perhaps 
will not in our day and generation ; I reply, by the expression of a hope that the 
period of time-serving policy is over in our Union, and that the statesmanship of 
America is not hereafter to be confined by a horizon of four years, or, at most 
of eiglii. 
If one-half the foresight that is employed in Britain to sustain a population 
over-taxed, over-worked, and surrounded by institutions far behind the spirit of 
the age, on a territory of small dimensions, were infused, especially, into the for- 
eign relations of our own country, with its vast domain and happy people, the germ 
of a thousand ills would be destroyed for the future. If we begin right in our 
national career, we shall not be forced to remedy an accumulation of political 
errors by subsequent legislation, or, like England, to resort to unnatural stimu- 
lants and predatory wars for the purpose of infusing artificial life into a decrepit 
Empire. 
In connection with the subject of our trade and interests in the Pacific, and the 
proposed junction of the Atlantic and that Ocean by a Canal across the Isthmus 
of Panama, I take the liberty to insert a very valuable note from Mr. Forbes's 
" California," relative to Steam Navigation in that Sea. 
EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ON THE SUBJECT OF STEAM NAVIGATION IN 
THE PACIFIC, FROM A GENTLEMAN FORMERLY RESIDENT IN ONE OF THE MEXICAN 
PORTS ON THE PACIFIC. 
London, Dec. 20, 1838. 
I have taken some pains to make myself acquainted with the grounds on which 
the " Pacific Steam Navigation Company " is founded, with its proceedings as far 
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