1820 July 19

Emancipation Spanish

'. Mediation preferable

If in any character Spanish rulers can serve Spanish Americans, it must be not as rulers, but as mediators.

But our brethren it may be said /says somebody/ our brethren in America - think of their condition! think of their sufferings - their sufferings from anarchy - think how incapable they are of governing themselves! What? shall we refuse to them the benefit of our guidance? the benefit of our excellent Constitution at any rate, to those who lifting up /holding out/ their hands to us for succour shall we refuse it? shall we leave them for ever a prey to anarchy - and to misery - to the sword of extermination. shall we be this selfish? this hard-hearted.

Fair words these, nor probably among you nor are there /men/ wanting that could make them up into eloquence: nor have them in abundance. But as to reason applying itself to human feelings - to the interests of the parties see what they amount to.

1. In the first place, it being in the character /by the supposition/ of armed rulers /in arms that your rulers/ that on this occasion your rulers must /will/ appear, /then bring the experiment to be tried/ see in the first place what the costs will be.

You must begin with saddling yourselves with the quantity of expence /Your rulers must begin with saddling you with the burthen already presented to your view/ deemed necessary to the appearing in that same character in an imposing attitude: an expence for which you will find most assuredly no adequate funds + You /They/ must begin with doing to yourselves /you/ this vast mischief for the chance (and think with how small a one it will be) of serving in the way you contemplate /think of/ these objects of your fraternal, or if you please your /it be more pathetic of their/ paternal tenderness.