MEXICO. 105 Cortes held out hopes, which they never intended to realize,* while the Colonies replied by professions of a fidelity, which they could hardly pretend to feel. In point of fact, from the commencement of 1811, independence on the one side, and the re-establishment of the old system, with as little modification as possible, on the other, were the real objects in view. The Spaniards urge, that this state of things was the na- tural consequence of the first steps taken by the Insurgents, which could lead to nothing but the emancipation of the Colonies, and were consequently opposed, from the outset, by the Mother country. This is perhaps true ; but it is not less so, that, until driven to it by actual hostilities on the part of Spain, the war-cry of Independence was not raised by any one of the Colonies ;-f- nor was it done, even then, without reluctance. The concession of privileges, much inferior to those en- joyed by the former Colonies of Great Britain in the United States, would have satisfied the Creoles, and placed their treasures for years at the disposal of Spain. They would have purchased, at almost any price, the right of Colonial assem-
- I do not wish to animadvert upon the conduct of the Cortes with
unnecessary severity. They have fallen themselves " from their high estate," and their misfortunes are their protection. But, in considering the feelings of the Americans towards this assembly, it must not be for- gotten that the Cortes were the first to sanction the barbarous principle that, " with rebels and Insurgents, no engagements were binding." They approved of the violation of the capitulation of Caracas, by Monteverde, in 1812; the first of a long series of similar breaches of the public faith ; and, with such facts as this before them, it was hardly to be ex- pected that the Americans should place much confidence in their pro- fessions of amity, equality, and brotherly love. t The Declaration of Independence of Venezuela (which was the first) did not take place till the 5th July, 1811, — seven months after the blockade.
