date

1822 April 14 Rid Yourselves
1822 April 14

Rid Yourselves

Lett 18. Relinquishment mode

'. 3. Case 11. Subjection contested

Buyers inhabitants

II. Now as to the non-gratuitous plan.

If any advantage as being obtainable in a pecuniary shape from this

plan my expectations are not very sanguine /abundant/. As above observed, the cases

to which it is confined are those in which the dominion /subjection/ is actually

under contestation and then that in which it is as yet uncontested.

As above the hands from which the profit if any is to be obtained are

either those of your kinsmen [...?] or those of this or that foreign nation.

1. First take the case where the dominion is contested, and the hands

locked in by you for benefit of a pecuniary shape those of their kinsmen themselves.

Of all four cases this is that which seems to present the fairest chance.

By this supposition The province in question has /contains/ in point

of fact - a set of men towards whom others in adequate numbers are seen paying

obedience. If in the province there be money in adequate quantity here then is the

faculty of collecting it a chance of it being obtainable for such a purpose. If the

matter be considered in a view exclusively pecuniary here then a survey is made by

the Province of this as the price of emancipation a sum be agreed on less than the

cost /money/ of self-defence with the addition of the loss in all shapes that would

be produced by the continuance of warfare, loss by expence in money, loss in moneys

worth by rapine and devastation.

Here then if the contracting parties are to be considered as belligerent parties,

and the standard of right and wrong is the sword, something may not impossibly be to

be got for you. But if the standard appealed to be the Spanish Constitution, the

Constitution which your rulers made for them as well as for you, cover /veil/ must be

kept over that Article (Article 8) which declares equality of rights: otherwise while

you are receiving the money with one hand you will have to give it back again with

the other.
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  • Title: [1822 April 15 Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1822 April 15

    Rid Yourselves

    Lett. 18. Relinquisht. mode

    ' 3. Case II. Subjection contested

    Buyers inhabitants

    2. Case 2. Dominion /Subjection/ contested, hands looked to for

    payment, the inhabitants of the Province - money redemption as before

    This source does not present itself as a very promising one. By the supposition the

    province has not in exercise a set of rulers otherwise than those which yours have

    found for them. Here then a government to treat with and raise the money remains as

    yet to be found. That for any such purpose as the payment of the money there should

    among the influential few be any great disposition to labour in the formation of a

    new government does not seem in any very high degree probable: notwithstanding

    /although/ that independence and self government will be the benefits obtained in

    lieu of it. From one to another this will be apt to be the language If they will set

    us free money, they will set us free gratis: for it will cost them more beyond all

    comparison to make war upon us than it will us to defend ourselves. Whatever be the

    number of men at present employed in governing the country and defending it against

    its inhabitants, if we can but rid ourselves of their hostility any how - by force or

    gifts, by extirpation or adoption, what we are sufficiently assured of is - that

    there will be no more of them. Never will men be at any such expence for the purpose

    of opposing with one hand what they are doing if they have not done it already with

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  • Title: [1822 April 15 Rid Yourselves]
    Description: 1822 April 15

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    Letter 18 Relinquisht. mode

    ' 4 Case III. Subjection contested.

    Buyers foreigners

    Case 3. Dominion /Subjection/ contested: hands looked to for payment,

    the hands of a foreign power - the money - purchasers money.

    In this case, on the part of the refractory province there must be a disposition to

    subject itself /be subject/ to the dominion of the foreign power, though not to that

    of your rulers: and to prefer that subjection in a state of quiet to the continuance

    of the contest for independence. If a disposition to this effect is not thought to

    have place, no foreign power will have to do with any such bargain: for no power will

    pay money for a pretence for engaging in war: if disposed to engage in any such war

    they will employ the money in carrying on the war rather than in the purchase of a

    pretence for it. A pretence may be made by any body at any time for any thing: in

    addition to the expence of printing, writing or speaking it costs but a few words. Be

    the rulers in question who they may if it be too much trouble to them to make it

    themselves any lawyer will make them a pretence for a few dollars. Pretence for

    universal war and universal despotism are they not every day put on paper, put by men

    whose names if put upon the paper would defile it Rulers who give such men offices

    and pensions for such service do so from sympathy not from necessity: for as many

    dollars as could be held between two fingers as good pretences might be had as are

    got for as many offices or pensions.
  • Title: [1820 Sept. 3 Emancipation Spanish]
    Description: 1820 Sept. 3

    Emancipation Spanish

    Summary

    Transfer to U.S.

    When the extinction is /instrument is/ to be performed by governing

    men against their interests or endeavours, We are for extinguishing anarchy is the

    slang of malefactors in high places.

    Come, have patience with me and I will tell you how if the

    circumstances /demands/ of another country continue as they have been, you /your

    rulers/ may compass /ZS/ points at once, pecuniary easement /relief/ to you, good

    government and content to a portion more or less considerable of your kinsmen in

    America, advantage to a third party, and glory pure and unexampled glory to you and

    to themselves. If there be a well and popularly governed Confederacy of States

    willing to give money for the valuable land in this or that Spanish American Province

    contiguous to its own territory, transfer the province to that confederacy if it can

    be done with the consent of the inhabitants, to that Confederacy.

    Start not at this proposal. In every part of it, it has (you will

    see) for its basis incontestable experience.

    The State /foreign Confederacy/ I have in view, you see already, it

    is that of the Anglo-American United States.

    Every body knows what they gave gave to Napoleon for Louisiana.

    Every body knows what they wish to give to your own King for the

    Floridas. I say to give: for giving up claims to money is in so far as the money

    would otherwise have been obtainable, giving the money.

    In both instances, they found a convenience /an advantage/ which for

    shortness I will call a Geographical convenience. In what

    way it was convertible /expressable/ as supposed in pounds shillings, and pence in

    Dollars and Cents in what way it was brought home to individual feelings we have no

    need to enquire. Trust these people and rulers together /subject many and ruling few/

    - for these, subject many and ruling few are one - trust them as to these matters:

    for they are not men to give money for moonshine.