Mr. Seward to Mr. Perry
Sir: Your despatch of the 11th of March, No. 175, has been received.
This government would hail with pleasure any determination that might be adopted by European maritime powers to assure the independence of the people existing upon the island of San Domingo. Surely the adoption of such a humane policy would only be a small instalment of justice to the Africans, who, having been brought from their native continent to that island as slaves, have now emancipated themselves and established civil government. Nor is it to be easily seen how European states could avoid complications dangerous to the peace of nations, if they, or any of them, should attempt intervention on that island or elsewhere in this hemisphere; certainly the United States will never interfere to disturb the peace of the African race in Hayti or elsewhere. Emancipation has become as necessary to our security as it has always been congenial with the principles of our government.
Nevertheless, while making these views known to the Spanish government, as you freely may, you must by no means forget that it is a fixed principle of this government not to enter into entangling alliances of any kind with foreign nations. While always respecting the Spanish authority in Spain, we once declined to enter into treaty stipulations for non-intervention with France and Great Britain, not because we desired to reserve a right to intervene, but because we cannot enter into political contests for any general purpose with foreign powers.
For the same reason we have often declined to enter into the congress of the American republics.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Horatio J. Perry, Esq., &c., &c., Madrid.