1820 May 29

Emancipation Spanish

Ult o

'. Creoles willing

Troops [...?]

From America to Spain can it be in contemplation, /ever to convey troops/ always speaking of peace and in contemplation of peace, ever to convey troops. Hardly No surely. If from either to the other it will be from that part of the globe which is the seat of government /power/ to that part which is the seat of dependency: this will be the course intended and not the reverse /converse/ will be the course intended: if reciprocity be possessed it can only be in appearance and for appearances sake.

Well then, in [...?] of sending /conveying/ forces from the one to the other, the sole object will be, for this is the only object which such an arrangement can have is the keeping the Colonies in subjection by force: keeping by force 11 millions of men in subjection by and under. 10 /11/ millions that is by and under the rulers of the /these same/ 11 millions.

From which so ever of the two countries conveyed to the other, there must be ships /vessels/ for transport and there must be or will be vessels of war for the convoy of the transports. Are they to be hired? the expence of the hire will be variable, and at the lightest heavy: are they to be kept constantly in service? the expence will be still greater, it will be at its maximum.

Behold here then the dilemma. Are no troops ever to be sent from Spain to the Colonies? the dominions of Spain over the Colonies will be but nominal: the sort of connection stated as subsisting /having place/ between them will be but nominal: of the effects stiled good and professed to be expected, none will be attained.

Are troops to be sent from Spain to the Colonies? It can be for no other purpose than the maintaining of the dominance over them by force. But for this purpose the quantity of force, land and sea together thus conveyed must for ever be unlimited: the quantity unlimited and thence the expence. And this expence will to the two countries[?], together in some proportion or other divided /shared/ between them, in just so much more than there would be any demand for, in the case of mutual independence.