The honor of first proposing this recognition, in the Congress of the United States, and of advocating it with unsurpassed eloquence and zeal, belongs to the patriotic Henry Clay.

Mainly by his influence, the House of Representatives, in 1820, passed the following resolutions:-- "Resolved, That the House of Representatives participate with the people of the United States, in the deep interest which they feel for the success of the Spanish Provinces of South America, which are struggling to establish their liberty and independence.
"Resolved, That this House will give its constitutional support to the President of the United States, whenever he may deem it expedient to recognize the sovereignty and independence of any of said Provinces." Mr.Adams at first hesitated on this subject.

Not that he was opposed to the diffusion of the blessings of freedom to the oppressed.

No man was a more ardent lover of liberty, or was more anxious that its institutions should be established throughout the earth, at the earliest practicable moment.

But he had many and serious doubts whether the people of the South American Provinces were capable of originating and maintaining an enlightened self-government.