Reasons for Joel R. Poinsett’s Refusal of A Second Mission to South America
1963; Duke University Press; Volume: 43; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1215/00182168-43.3.405
ISSN1527-1900
Autores Tópico(s)American Constitutional Law and Politics
ResumoH ISTORIANS have often asked why Joel Poinsett refused to undertake a second mission to South America when President Monroe asked him to serve in 1817 as a special commissioner. Poinsett's polite but definite refusal, it is suggested, proceeded from thoughts of military service or else diplomatic employment of a higher order than that which had been his experience during the years 1810-1815.1 But even his excuses of lengthy-absence from home and friends, and recent election to the South Carolina legislature sound peculiarly hollow in the light of his well-known republicanism. During his five years in South America, Poinsett's opinion of leading revolutionaries was exceedingly unfavorable. The abilities of Don Manuel Belgrano were overrated, and he disappointed the expectations of the people. 2 Juan Martin de Pueyrredon was a man who had conducted a successful course of intrigue. The spirit of unrest which these men and others engendered was undermining the cause of true revolution in South America; and the United States could not afford to rush to the support of such instability. Poinsett's reply to the Department of State outlined his essential position, and warned of the personal ambition of many leaders.3 There is almost no later official correspondence touching this problem until the celebrated Poinsett Memorandum of 4 November 1818 to Secretary Adams. Researchers have deplored the lack of documen-
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