'WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1853
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was predicated, and in which it originated. We find, that in 1823, speaking in relation to the desire of England to unite with the United States in preventing the resubjugation of the South American colonies, and in reference to a proposed course of policy on our part within our hemisphere, preventing coloniza- tion or interference by European Powers, Mr. Jefferson said to Mr. Monroe: "The question presented by the letters you have sent me is the most momentous which has ever been offered to my con- templation since that of independence. That made us a nation; . this sets our compass, and points the course which we are to steer through the ocean of time. And never could we embark on it under circumstances more auspicious. Our first and funda- mental maxim should be, never to entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe. Our second, never to suffer Europe to intermeddle with cisatlantic affairs. America, North and South, has a set of interests distinct from those of Europe, and peculiarly her own. She should, therefore, have a system of her own, separate and apart from that of Europe; the last is laboring to become the domicil of despotism--our endeavor should surely be to make our hemisphere that of freedom." If we had regarded the admonitions of Mr. Jefferson we should not have interfered in the broils of Europe. \Vas not the Hungarian revolution a broil in Europe, and therefore apper- taining to European affairs? Was not the intervention of Russia also pertaining to European affairs, with which it was not our business to embroil ourselves? Then, sir, we had nothing to _do with it. What is the case now? Because troubles have arisen in Cuba, and because England and France have indicated a disposition to secure Cuba to Spain, are we to make a protest that no Power can or shall interfere, colonize, or in any way occupy this hemisphere, but we are to reserve the right inviolable, and, in us, indefeasible? Sir, it has been said repeatedly that the invasion of Cuba was in imitation of a revolution that occurred in our neighborhood, and of which I have some cognizance. It has been said that there is a striking analogy between the attempts made upon Cuba and the revolution of Texas. Sir, nothing has ever been more misapprehended on earth than the facts in relation to the course pursued by Texas as a colony, or component part of the Republic of Mexico. We find in Cuba that no revolution was going on. The people were quiet and tranquil. I ndmit that it
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