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Handle BLACKWOOD'S

EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.

No. LXXXV. FEBRUARY, 1824. d bar VOL. XV.

SOUTH AMERICA.

If those states which were formerly known by the name-Spanish America, had remained without influence on the general politics of Europe, they would still have presented a most inportant theme for political discussion;but when they have, unaccountably enough, carried division into the grand European Alliance, and even given rise to rumours of offensive leagues and general war, they supply a question, which, for complexity and gravity, takes precedence of all others that at present interest the politician.

Speaking of them, in the first place, with reference to their own interests alone, their revolution has rendered them in effect independent, and this is perhaps all that can be said in its praise. It was capable of yielding the most magnificent benefits, but these have been sacrificed, less by the ignorance, than the cupidity and false principles, of its parents, and its fruits could only have been worse than they have been, had it failed of success altogether.

New Spain would have formed one or two nations, respectable, tolerably powerful, and full of well-founded hope for the future. The manner in which the world is divided-the extent, power, and ambition of its neighbour, the United States-the past history of nations everything to which it had been accustomed-and, in a word, every interest and hope, forbade its dismemberment. The unit was nevertheless split into a multiplicity of fractions. South America was parcelled out into an infinity of contemptible states, and, by this, its brilliant prospects were destroyed, and the success of its conflict with the mother country was rendered almost as much a matter of regret, as of rejoicing. If any reliance can be placed on history, these states must, from their proximity and various other causes, be generally embroiled in disputes, and ever kept from cordial friendship by jealousy. They must be for ever comparatively powerless even for defence, and it will scarcely ever be possible on any emergency to make them powerful by alliance. They must, therefore, be without weight and influence in the administration of the law of nations, and the maintenance of the proper distribution of dominion--in-debted for the preservation of their rights and existence to the jealousies entertained by the leading powers of the world towards each other-the cringing, pliant dependants of these powers-and capable of being at anytime involved in strife with each other, and swallowed up in detail, by that Buonapartean system of aggrandisement, to which the republic of North America has had recourse so often.

This must be the case if we look at them in the most favourable light possible-if we assume that, contrary to the conduct which all other nations have hitherto pursued, they will never appeal to the sword in their quarrels, and will never thirst for increase of territory at each other's ense. But if we believe that human nature will remain unchanged, and that they will do what other countries have constantly done; then we must believe, that they will be incessantly at open war with each other, until, perhaps, that which has been so unnaturally tornVOL. XV. S