fieldston american reader volume i – fall 2007 - Ethical Culture ...

That the following amendments of the constitution of theUnited States be recommended to the states....First. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportionedamong the several states... according to their respective numberof free persons... excluding Indians not taxed, and all otherpersons....Second. No new state shall be admitted into the Union byCongress... without the concurrence of two thirds of bothhouses.Third. Congress shall not have the power to lay any embargoon the ships or vessels of the citizens of the United States... formore than sixty days....Fifth. Congress shall not make or declare war... without theconcurrence of two thirds of both houses....Seventh. The same person shall not be elected president of theUnited States a second time; nor shall the president be electedfrom the same state two terms in succession....The Monroe Doctrine (1823)... At the proposal of the Russian Imperial Government,made through the minister of the Emperor residing here, afull power and instructions have been transmitted to theminister of the United States at St. Petersburg to arrange byamicable negotiation the respective rights and interests ofthe two nations on the northwest coast of this continent. Asimilar proposal had been made by his Imperial Majesty to theGovernment of Great Britain, which has likewise been accededto. The Government of the United States has been desirous bythis friendly proceeding of manifesting the great value whichthey have invariably attached to the friendship of the emperorand their solicitude to cultivate the best understanding withhis Government. In the discussions to which this interesthas given rise and in the arrangements by which they mayterminate the occasion has been judged proper for asserting,as a principle in which the rights and interests of the UnitedStates are involved, that the American continents, by the freeand independent condition which they have assumed andmaintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects forfuture colonization by any European powers.It was stated at the commencement of the last session that agreat effort was then making in Spain and Portugal to improvethe condition of the people of those countries, and that itappeared to be conducted with extraordinary moderation. Itneed scarcely be remarked that the result has been so far verydifferent from what was then anticipated. Of events in thatquarter of the globe, with which we have so much intercourseand from which we derive our origin, we have always beenanxious and interested spectators. The citizens of the UnitedStates cherish sentiments the most friendly in favor of theliberty and happiness of their fellowmen on that side of theAtlantic. In the wars of the European powers in mattersrelating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor doesit comport with our policy so to do. It is only when our rightsare invaded or seriously menaced that we resent injuries ormake preparation for our defense with the movements in thishemisphere we are of necessity more immediately connected,and by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened andimpartial observers. The political system of the allied powers isessentially different in this respect from that of America. Thisdifference proceeds from that which exists in their respectiveGovernments and to the defense of our own, which has beenachieved by the loss of so much blood and treasure, andmatured by the wisdom of their most enlightened citizens, andunder which we have enjoyed unexampled felicity, this wholenation is devoted. We owe it, therefore, to candor and amicablerelations existing between the United States and those powersto declare that we should consider any attempt on their partto extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere asdangerous to our peace and safety with the existing colonies211