The question of recognizi...
The question of recognizing as iudependent, the latt; Spanish possessions in the Americas, or at least sucl; parts of them as are no longer torn by civil conflict, as.; sumes a shape which every day force6 itself more upo:. the attention of Ministers. We do not mean that th - policy of the measure taken with reference to Foreigm,i Courts has undergone any recent alteration, for from th(g outset that policy appeared to us to he unquestionable; bu, as respects the interests of British commerce, a decided course becomes the immediate duty of this Government. 1' is impossible not to feel the htrdshipsimposed upon out merchants,and thc sisk incurred by them,so long as the re4i lations between His Miajesty and the new Republics shalt retain their present undefined and precarious character but should any change of relation take place of a nature S disappoint the hopes and mortify tbe pretensions of tbos States to an aclnowledgmentof their absolute inepeudenc4 to What arevulsion may not the commerce now carried on by British subjects be exposed! The funds of the new States, and the speculations entered into by our merchants engaged in traffic to their harbours, have, by a succession of unfavourable rumours, been kept for weeks past in con- stant fretfulness and sancert;dntv. No person can assure hirmelf to what extent the policy of Great Britain may be influenced by the direct or circuitous machina- tions of other Courts, until the final step be taken by tr. CANNIN'G, and the recognition of these new sove- reignties place(i beyond the most distant chance of recall. Not tbe most solemn convention with these States, for the encouragement of our trade, or the security of our mer- ehants, can be talid, until after their independence shall have been formally recognized. lVhence, then, this un- natural delay? Does Great Britain strive to press any point of national interest with the oldSpanishGovernment in Europe, halding out threats that if this boon (and we can imagine such a one) be not granted, she u ill acknowledge the rights of the colonies? Why then we may pretty conii- dently guess, that the systematic Spanish policy will be doggedly to withhold the coneession; feeling that, if it were once irrevocablv made, Spain would have no longer any tie upon the hopes or apprehensions of this country. Here, therefore, as in the great majority of cases, it is best for a State to do what in all cases an honest individual will do- Vi2, take the downright straight-forward course, and trust to Providence for contingencies.