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BY AUTHORITY.
AN ACT
To atithorxc thf people of Missouri Ter
ritory to form a Constitution ami
State Government, and for tl»e admission
of audi state into the Union, on an equal
footing vi ilia tire original state*, and to
prohibit slavery in certain territories.
He It entitled by the Semite and Home of
lirptrsenta'.ives of the United State* 'f Amei -
tea iu Vontrve** assembled, That (lie inhab
itants of that portion of the Missouri I er
ritory included within the bouodai*'. * here
inafter designated, he, and they are here
by, authorized to form for themselves a
Constitution and Slate Government, mid
to assumuSinch name as they shall deem
proper; and the said state, when formed,
shall he admitted into the Union, upon
an equal footing with the original slates in
all resfx cts whatsoever.
4 2. And he it further enacted, That the
said Slate shall consist of all the territory
including within the following boundaries,
to wit. Beginning in the middle of the
Mississippi river, on the pa.uiK’l of thirty
bis degrees of north latitude : thence west
along that parallel of latitude, to the Si.
Francois river; thence, up and following
the course of that river, in the middle »f
the main 'channel thereof, to the parallel of
(attitude of thirty-degrees and thirty min
utes; thence west, along the same, to a
point where the sai l parallel is intersected
by a meridian line passing through the
middle of the month of the Kansas river,
whe re'the same empties into the Missouri
river; thence, from the point aforesaid
north, along Ihn said meridian line to the
intersection of ti.e parallel of latitude which
pusses through the rapids of the river l)i s
Doin’es, making the said liue.to correspond
witu the Indian h mnclary line; thence cast,
fro » the point of intersection lasi aforesaid,
along the said parallel of latitude, to the
middle of the channel of the main fork of
the said river lies Moines ; thence down,
and along the middle of the main channel
( ,f the said river Dec Moines, to the mouth
of the same, where it empties into tbo
Mississippi river; thence, due east, to the
middle of the main channel of the Missis
sippi river ; thence, due east, to the middle
of dig main channel of the Mississippi river;
thence down, and following the course of
the Mississippi river, in the middle ol th"
main channel thereof! to t!i place of be
ginning . Provided, the said Slate shall rat
ify the boundaries aferesaid ; And print.led,
also!that the said Slate shall have concur
rent jurisdiction on the river Mississippi,
and every other river bordering on tlie
said State, so far as the said rivers shall
form a common boundary to the said Slate j
and any other Slate or States, now or here
after to be formed and bounded by the
same, such rivers to be common to both;
and. that the river Mississippi, and the na
vigable rivers and waters leading into the
game, shall be common highways, and fop
ever free, as well to the inhabitants of the
said state as to the other citizens of the
United States, without any (ax, duty, im
post. or toll, therefor imposed by the said
state. <
(j 3. And be it further erneted. That
all free white male citizens of the United
States, who shall have arrived to the age
of twenty-one years, and have resided in
said Territory three months previous pi
the day of election, and all other persons
qualified to vole for representatives to the
General Assembly of the said Territory,
.ah all be qualified to be elected, and they
are hereby q talified and authorised to
vote and choose representatives to form
a convention, Wi o shall be appointed a
mongsl the saveral counties ns follows .
From the county of Howard, five repre
sentatives. From the county of Cooper,
three representatives. From the (founty
Montgomery, two representatives. From
the county of Filer, one representative
From the county of Lincoln, one repre.se
•rntative. From the county of St. Charles,
three representatives From the county
of Franklin, one representative. From the
comity of St. Louis, eight representatives.
From the county of Jefferson, one repre
sentative. From the county of St. Gene
vieve, four representatives. From the
county of Madison, one representative.
From the county of Cane G rardeau, five
representative From the county of New
Madrid, two representatives. Prom the
county of Wayne, anu> that portion of the
county of Lawrence that falls within trie
boundaries herein designated, one repre
sentative.
And the election for the representatives
aforesaid shall be liolden on the first Mon
day, and two succeeding days of May next
throughout the several counties aforesaid
ih the said Territory, and shall in every
respect be hold and conducted in the same
manner, and under the same regulations,
as is prescribed by the laws of the said
territory regulating elections therein for
mvmbers of the General Assembly, except
that the returns of the election in that por
tion of Lawrence county included in the
boundaries aforesaid, shall be made to the
county of Wayitc, as is provided in other
cases under the laws of said Territory.
§ 4 And be it further enacted. That
the members of the Convention thus duly
elected shall be, and they arc hereby, an
thorized to meet at the seat of govern
ment of said territory on the second Mon
day of the mouth of June next. and the
, said Convention, when so assembled, shall
h u e power and authority to adjourn to any
other place in (he said territory, which to
them shall seem best for the convenient
transaction of their business; and which
Convention, when so met, shall first deter
mine, by a majority of the whole number
elected, whether it be, or be not, expedi
ent at that time to form a Constitution and
SUdc Government for the people within
the said territory, as included within the
boundaries above designated, and, if it
be deemed expedient, the Convention shall 1
provide by ordinance for-electing repre
sentatives to form a Constitution or fra ini 1
of Government; which said representa
tives shall be chosen in such manner, and !
in such proportion, as they shall designate;
*nd shall meet at such time and place as
shall be prescribed by the said ordinance : 1
and shall then form fur the people of sai«t
territory, within the boundaries aforesaid;
a Constitution and State Government;
Provided, that the same, whenever finned, *
shall be Republican, and not repugnant to •
the Constitution of the United States ; and J
that the Legislature of said slate shall uev- •
er interfere with the primary disposal of a
the soil by the United States, nor with any
regulations Congress may find necessary
for securing the title in such sod to the fi
purchaser*; and that no tax shall d
bo imposed on lands the property of th
United Su'-e* • land in no tase shall non
resident proprie tors be taxed higher than
residents.
(j 6 And be It'further enacted. That
the following propositions lie, and the
same arc hereby, tillered to the convention
of the said territory of Missouri, when form
ed, for their free acceptance or rejection,
which, ifaccepted by the convention, shall
be obligatory upon the United Slates:
It rut. That section numbered sixteen
r in every township, and w hen such section
has been sold, or otherwise disposed of,
oilier lands equivalent thereto, and a* con
tiguous as may be, shall lie grunted to the
. Slate for the use of the inhabit ants of such
township for the use of schools.
, Second, ’That all salt spring*, not ex-
I ceeding twelve In number, with sir, sections
i of land adjoining to each, sh„l! be granted
, to »he said iSiale for the use of said State,
llu; same to b.- selected by the Legislature
of the Maid State, on or before the fi » day
of January* in the } car one thousa.u. ziglil
hundi'td and twenty-five, and the same
when s« delected, to be used under such
terms, enndit iiins, M,d ivgulatumn, as (he
Legislature of said Stale shall direct: Pro
it I d, di.it no salt spm.g, the right where
of now is, or hereafter shall lie, confirmed
or adjudged to any individ /vl or individu
als, shall, hy this section be granted to said
‘ Slate : And pern ided, also, '1 hat the i.’gis
■ latwe shall never s II or lease the same,
at any one time, f.r a longer period than
ten years* without the consent of Con
gress
'Plied. That five jvt cent of the net
proceeds of the sale of lands lying within
the said territory, or state, and whi. li shall
be Sold by Congress, tiom and afur the
lii st day of January next, afu r deluding
all expenses incident to the same, shall he
i reserved for inaLmg public roads and ca
nals, of which three-fifths shall be applies
, to those objects within the Slate, under the
, direction of the Legislature thereof; and
and the other two fifths in defraying, under
F the (lircction of Congress, the expenses t 6
, be incurred in making of a road or roads,
| canal nr canals, leading to the said State,
i Fourth. That four entire sections of
land he, and '.he same uie hereby, granted
. to the said state for the purpose of fixing
their seat of government thereon, wlncli
said sections shall, under the direction of
i die Legislature of said stale, be located,
■ as near as may be, in one body, at any
time, in such townships and ranges as the
Legislature aforesaid may select, on any of
. the public lands ofthe United States: Pro
tiled, that such locations shall be made
prior to tile public sale of the lands of the
tinned States surrounding such location.
HJih. lint thirty-six sections, or one
entire township, which shall be designated
by the president ofthe United States, to
gel her with the other lands heretofore
reserved for that purpose, shall be reserv
ed lor the use of a Seminary of Learning,
and vested in the Legislature of said state,
to be appropriated solely for the use of
such seminary by the said legislature.—
I lovided, that the five foregoing propo
sitions herein offend, are on the condi
tion that the convention of the said state
shall provide, hy an ordinance, irrevoca
ble without the consent of the United
States, that every and each tract of land
sold hy the United Slates, from and after
the first day of January next, shall remain
exempt from any tax laid by order or un
der the authority ofthe state, whether for
slate, county, or township, or ary other
purpose whatever, for the term of five
years from and after the day of sale and
further that the bounty lands granted, or
hereafter to be granted, for military ser
vices during the late war, shall, while
they continue to be held hy the patentees,
or their heirs, remain exempt as afore
said Ironi taxation for the term of three
years from and after the dale of the pa
unta respectively. 1
§ 7 And bv it further enacted. That, in
case a cuiuiihiition aiul state g*overnnu*.r.t
shall be Ibni eel for the people ofthe said
territory of Missouri, the said convention,
or representatives, as soon thereafter as
may be, shall cause a true and attested
copy of such constitution, or frame of
state government, as shall be formed or
provided, to he transmitted to congress.
§ 8 . In,P be i t further enacted. That in all
that territory ceded by France to the U.
States, under the name of Louisiana,
which lie i north of thirty.six degrees and
thirty minutes north lattitude, not inclnd
ed within tlw limits of the state contem
plated hy this set, slavery and involuntary
servitude, otherwise than in the punish
ment n. crimes, whereof the parties shall
have been duly convicted, shall be, and
is hereby, forever prohibited; Provided
(dra;i.i, Flint any person escaping into
the same, front whom labor or service is
lawfully claimed, in any slate or territory
id the United States, such fugitive may
be lawfully reclaimed and conveyed to
the person claiming his or her labor or
services as aforesaid,
’ H.CLAV,
Speaker ofthe House of Representatives
JOHN GAII.LAHD.
President of the Senate pro tent.
February 2S, IbJj. Appioved.
JAM US MONROE.
L ■'
Turn ox.
The Subscriber hag opened a private
toEMLVAnr Oh' LEJRJS'LVG ;
IN which are taught the Greet-, Latin
and French Languages—The A fathtutm/.
ics in their various branches—Reading,
Writing and other ushal elements ol an
English education.
Malls and Fkmalks of any age will be
received, and separate Itoou c be furnish
ed fur he same
A few young I.adies can be accommo
dated with Hoard—OVerjf attention will be
paid to their comfort and improvement.—
Mrs. Dixon vviM also, at intervals, instruct
them in useful and ornamental needle
work. Professors of Drawing Painting
and M itsic can be easily engaged.
For further particulars eiftfuit'e of the
Subscriber at the House on Telfair sicet,
lately occupied by David Urqiiahart,Esq.
Thomas H. I)i. rou.
•** Apprentices, journeymen Me
chanics and Youths who cannot conven
iently attend at any other time, are res
pectfully informed that a night School
is opened at the above plate for their
accommodation.
TERMS—3 Dollar* per Quarter.
N. Li. It is requited of every scholar ft)
furnish the School'fipoih with three C ui-
Jle* per week.'
March 9- ts
CHRONICLE^
.VUUTSTA.
T■-- « *
I
Saturday .Morning, March 25, IH2U
i It will be recollected that Mr, Forsyth’s
1 letters to the Spanish Minister were cen
i sm '•(;(! by some persons as unnecessarily se
• vero ami uncortious We have already
expressed an opinion upon tit is subject,
1 approbatory of the conduct of Mr. F.
throng'!;out the whole course of the cor
■ respondence,—tlmt opinion still remains
4 unchanged. .Adverting to this topic one
■ of our conekpoodeftts at Washingt on City
. makts 'he following very pertinent re
marks;—
“ These glances at liie character of Mr.
Foray ill, I think may he ranked among the
common ircidc-r'.s w hich follow a fa dure
' in a public minister, to effect the objects
' oi his mission. In this free government, it
is nut uncommon to hear Units found by
J those who tire unacquainted with the sub
jids of which they complain—the
’ thing itself n.av, by this habit, Teeotoe
! fashionable.”
M ere I to express an opinion on the
• Diplomatic tpauiaeddiH of Air Fm-svGi in
1 Spain, I could not hesitiile to say . that i
ain fully persuaded hr ijas pursued 'ho
spirit of his instructions, j’io he pos.tlve
o.i this subject, would require tc. i*ru all
! the instructions he lias retched. My in
fer« in*, are drawn from tie language of
' he Secretary' of State in I u.se iustructini,,
’ that arc made public, and from other pub
; tic documents of his production on the
subject of Spanish Affairs ”
, FOR THE CfIIiOXrCLE.
“ Good Company.”
Messrs. Editors,
1 have for a long time been
f a strict /.bserver of the various fashion;; and
I customs that have their influence in soci
ety, and if it were in my power to alter
i them, I would trot deprive myself of the
f amusement they ijffiml me of watching
( their effect on the mi mis of men of differ
ent capacities and in different situation*-'.
Unlike many writers, I am an advocate of
)• fashion, as I consider it very laudable to
. patronise that which has for its aim the
double object of pleasing ourselves and
others; there are however, some customs
which as they in some degree interest
every one, fall more immediately under
[ general observation, than the little every
day whims of the fashionable world : In
short gentlemen, the above magical words
explain mi/ meaning, and I will offer a
premium for a true definition of theirs, —
wli.it constitutes “Good Company ?” what
■ qualifies is it necessary to possess that
nil) give one a (airand honorable claim to
this distinction, in the common accepta
tion I and by what mysterious power is
this dignity conferred ? this indescribable
something which commands such influence
in society, and the respect and envyof’all
the subordinate classes? 1 have long since
known it was not beauty, merit orgenius;
on the contrary, it is by mere accident, if
they are introduced within its circle : To
those who have become habituated to Indi
crolls Custom**, it Ib not ko strilc.inpp uw to
strangers who might be supposed to de
mand why merit should not associate with
merit} and look for reasons why me:,
should consider themselves degraded Ir.
associating with others of the same pro
fe*oit, resources and character.* They
would be at a loss to account for distinc
tions arising from no perceptible caus<
not know ing that these discriminations an
many times made in societies where pi id<
and ignorance abundantly compensate f«;
the absence of genius and worth. It might
be supposed that not possessing stqierim
merit, or claims to any pre-eminence
whatever, there would be some charm to
counterbalance the absence of good qua’i
• ties, that others while they acknowledged
this distinction, might at least have some
consolation for their own proscription ; but
it is sought in vain.
To the young mind there is something
peculiarly fascinating in the society of
wealth and fashion; to be noticed and en
couraged by nten of literature and influ
ence, creates a laudable emulation, but it
too often degenerates into the petty am
bition or desire of being distinguished as
one of this self styled “good company”
without attending to the good qualities
necessary to support it; the tormenting
aiyriety which constantly attends them
while pursuing this object, keeps them in
continual fear of their former friends,
whom it is necessary to desert, but whose
contempt they find it dillicult to brave ;
it being a first principle among those who
arrogate to themselves the title of “select”
to “ wipe from the table o( their memory”
every thing which might remind them of
their former insignificance. To an accu
rate observer, nothing is more amusing
than to read the Various countenances of
these aspiring youths. It is generally most
conspicuous on occasions where people of
fashion assemble, in going - or coming from
church, at the theatre, or ball room, and I
have even seen in the well dressed crowd
collected at the post office on Sunday
morning, many of these would be gentry
with tlieir fine ruffles, parading to and fro
with self approving smiles, endeavoring
to catch a look from others more distin
guished than themselves ; am! if so fortu
nate by some several bows as to succeed
in getting one in return, by the expression
of countenance, one would think an ever
lasting obligat ion Was conferred ; again !
have seen the same countenance turn pale
with apprehension at the appumeh of an
evening acquaintance, a touch of whose
hand would have been contamination; to
have escaped which, at this critical mo
ment, a birth would willingly have been
accepted at the bottom of the ocean. I
have seen young mtn of very considerable
literary attainments, endeavoring to force
their way into these circles, but wanting
that consummate impudence, necessary to
complete the character, have, been forced
to return to tlieir former friends who
would not rect i , e them. The greatest in
juries by props r atonement may be wiped
iiw.iv, but men rarely forgive contempt.
We readily acknowledge a. superiority in
wealth and talent, but it is the misfortune
of pretenders that they are wilfully blind
to their own deficiencies, and arc often
conspicuous for weaknesses of which they
appear unconscious, until made sensible
by the ridicule of others. To poihi til cm
cut would be charity, but the world has
become too vu'tc to take advice ; if given
1 in general /rrms it may he l.eali., hut
when it he comes personal, it becomes
offensive.
■ This continual prating of “Respcctabi
, i;iy”—“first society” and “first classes,”
tins desire for distinction —this false am
bition and pride so prevalent among ti e
youth of both sexes, has caused more ini
happiness than many of die miserie.i of
liunrun life. A bust of enemies spring up
, around them ; they meet every w,.eic
3 with opposition, and find fees where they
’ thought In make friends. Gould vve look
behind the curtain how nay sal hearts
should we see attributing their gn.-l to
’ slights, inattentions or n. gleets of those
' whose society they courted How of tit
have they returned from the party "t pica
-3 sure, wearied, unhappy and disgusted with
the world. I.ct them sea.rcn for' be cause.
They sigh for that nominal diminution
■ which we see men may acquite with mo
rals the most unchaste—which men may
• posse,-is whose vices disgrace human ita
- lure, and whose abilities acute*.: serve tlicn.
; in -an et'iergc itcv, whi e modest nnas
-4 sidling merit may quietly st'acit-eli dow i.
t ! in its own insignificance.
t SIiAiFIIONIIS.
COXGIIESSGOSAX.
HOUSE OF HKPEKSENTATIVES.
. Thursday March 9.
1 ‘IfF.f.ATIONS M i l'll SPAIN.
j. Mr Lowndes, from lli" committee or.for
-1 eign relations, delivered in the following
• report:
The Committee to whom has been ve
-1 ferred so vouch of the President's message,
at tiic commencement of the session, as re
lates to foreign affairs, respectfully re
port.
That their attention was directed, imme
diately upon tlieir appointment, to the
state of the relations of the United Slates
i with Spain, and that their delay in making
! a report upon them must he attributed to
- tlieir wish “to afford an opportunity for
r such friendly communications, during the
; present session of Congress,” as the gov
;• eminent of Spain bail authorized ustoex
• pert. They thought it belter that Con
. yrcss should postpone its determination
f until events might enable it to make that
> determination definitive, than that it should
: pass ucontingent act fora.itborizi.ig mcas
-1 urcs which it was not proposed imtne
; diatelv to execute; that it should
. found its determination upon relations as
• curtained to exist, than upon a calculation
' of-events which might be expected to oc
t cur during its sitting.
? Isat more than a year has passed since
i the signature of the treaty by which it was
- proposed to terminate the long dilferen
t ces between the United States and Spain,
t More than six mouths since, tile appoint
> merit of a new Minister from Spain, who
- was “ forthwith” to make known to the U v
i States llif intentions of his government,
: and w'e Imve advanced so far in the session
■ as to make it necessary to p»opose ; without
1 further delay, any measure on which it is
’ expected that Congiess shall act before its
: adjournment.
f ’i’he committee will not attempt to add
> any thing to the exposition of the rights of
■ the United States and the obligations of
. Spain, which is contained in corres
pondence between the two governments.
i '.Ve can hardly expect, from continued ne
. ociation, the redress which has been clai
med for twenty yeut s, and promised for
ighteen—which has been a second time
irnmised, and a second time withheld. In
- such a negoeiation, the signature of a trea
i seems to be a mere accident, and not
ts term.
For the spoliation* which have been
committed upon the property of our citi
l sens, for the invasion of onr soil, for the
weakness or partiality which has made a
i Spanish territory the place of rendezvous
i and encampment.of an enemy, and yvhicii
- has still more lately permitted the Indian
i inhabitants of tlmt territory, (whom Spain
was bound by treaty to restrain,) to engage
in savage hosts ities against us; for all tbes
acts of war, a people less attached to peace
■ would seek redress only by war. To cap
1’ tore and confiscate the ships *'n<l property
of the wrongdoer, would be admitted to be
a policy of mildness and forbearance. Hut,
by such reprisals, the government that
does the wrong suffers less than the unof
fending subject. It seems a more just re
prisal to octupy the province which has
been made an instrument of in jury, which
has been designated by Spain herself as the
fund for our indemnity, and whose occupa
tion by the United States will slop th’e ac
cumulation of those claims for compensa
tion and redress, which the misgovernine-.it.
of that neglected colony continually pro
duces. The committee submit to th
house a bill to authorize the I’resident of
the United States to take possession of
F.astaud West Florida, and establish a tem
porary government therein.
There appears too much reason to be
lieve, from the mistake of the Spanish ne
gociator, as to the dates of the Spanish
grants, which it was intended to annul, if
the projected treaty had been ratified,
that .he Clown lands in Florida may be’
insufficient to provide the expected in
demnity for our losses. Hut these may be
applied as far as they will go, to the com
pensation of our citizens ; and for tiie ex
cess of our claim, Spain, by whose act:
the domain of Florida has been rendered
inadequate, must expect us to look west
ward. Perhaps, when our attention is thus
forced to a direction ynore interesting to
Spain, her government may vt last admit
that it is as much her interest as ours, that
the just claims of die United States should
be provided fur by friendly convention,
and we may hope that the next treaty be
tween the two nations may be executed as
well as signed.
The following bill accompanied the
report.
Ve it enacted, Lc. T hat the President of
tiie United States hr, ard he is hereby
authorized and required to take possession
of, and occupy, die territories of Cast ami
West Florida, and the appendages and
appurtenances thereof and be is hereby
authorised, for that purpose, to erflploy
any part of the army and navy of the Uni
ted States, ami the militia of any state,
which he may deem necessary.
Sec. 2. .dnd be it enacted, That, until
the end of the next session of Congress,
inless provision for the temporary go
vernment of the said territory's be sooner
made by Congress, ail the military , civil,
and judicial powers exercised by the offi
cers of the existing government of the
ame territories shall be vested In such .
rersdn and persons, ami I*<» exeroj.
wd in such manner, as tre Vreaiduit of
tlie United States shall direct, tor main,
taining the inhabitants of said ten dunes
in the free enjoyment of their liberty,
property, and religion* and the laws of
the United States relative to the collection
of the revenue, and the importation 0 f
persons of color, shall be extended to the
said territories; and the Preside lot’the
United States shall he, and he is Rtrehy
authorised, within tr.e vm as iresuid, to
establish sucii districts for tlie collectitm
of the revenue, and during the recess of
Congress to appoint such officers, whose
commissions shall expire :.t the end of lire
next session of Congress, to enforce (lie
said laws, as to him shall seem expedient.
Sec. 3. .'imi be it enacted That the sum
of dollars is hereby anpropriated, for
•he purpose of carrying this act into es.
feet, io he paid out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and
to he applied under tlie direction of the
Pr-sid-nt of the United States.
The hill was twice read, and referred
to a co'nnjiuee of the whole on the slate
'if the Union.
The- Si cretary of State io Mr. T.->reir\'n.
Ifi.r ■ : it-o or Sta-'-v,
.''2i«;r December,
William T.oVrndes, F.sq. c‘ vrman of
in** Comnnttee of K’.i .'iyn Relations
Sir: In answer to the ipteslions con
tained in your letter of die 10th lost, 1
have the honor to state, for the informa
tion of the committee,
Ist l hat information has linen received
by the Government of the. United Stales,
•hough not through a direct channel, nor
in authentic form, that another motive
besides those alleged in the letter oftha
Ts.tlie of San rnaudo to Mr. Forsyth,
did operate upon tin* Spanish cabinet, u»
induce the withholding of the ratification
of the treaty, namely, the apprehension
t hat the ratification would hr immediately
followed by the recognition by the United
States of the independence of one or more
of the South American provinces. It hafi
been suggested, that probably the most
important of the explanations which the
Minister to be sent by Spain, will be in
structed to ask, will consist of an explicit,
declaration of the intentions of this Gov
ernment in that respect. There is reason
also to believe, that the impunitv with
which privateers, fitted out, manned, and
officered, in one or more of our poits,
have committed hcstilltics upon the Span
ish commerce, will he alleged among the
reasons for delay, and perilous some pledge
may he required of the effectual execu
tion against these practices, of law, which
appear to exist in the Statute Hoof»
It may he proper to remark that, during
the ncgociution of the Florida treaty, re
pealed and very earnest efforts were male,
both hv Mr. Bizarre, at Madrid, and by
Mr. Onishere, to obtain {Vt..;. Li.; Gover*.
ment of tlie United States either a posi
tive stipulation or a tacit promise, that the
United States would not recognize any of
the South \uierican revolutionary govern
ments; and that the Spanish negotiators
were distinctly and explicitly informed
that this Government would not assent to
any such engagement, either express or
implied.
2. By all the information which has
been obtained of the prospective views of
the French and Russian Governments, itv
relation t<> the cours" liicli it was hv them
thought proha' le wo d<l he pursued by
‘he United Stat s, it is apparent that they
strongly apprehended the •mmediab* for
cible occupation of Florida hv the United
States, on the non-ratification by Spain
of the treaty, within the stipulated time.
France and Russia both have most ear
nestly dissuaded us from that course, not
by any regular official communication, hut
by informal friendly advice ; deprecating
immediate hostility, on account of its ten
dency to create a general war, which they
fear would be the consequence of a war
between tlie United States rnd Spain. It
was alleged that, in the present state of
onr controversy with Spain, the opinion of
all Europe on the point at issue was in onr
favor and against her. Tliut by exercising
patience a little longer, by waiting at least
to the Minister, who was announced
as coming to give and receive explanati
ons, we could not fail of obtaining ulti
mately, without resource to force, the
right to which it was admitted v.e were
entitled. But (hat precipitate measures
of violence might not only provoke Spain,
to war, but would change the state of tlie
question between us; would exhibit u*
to tlie world as the aggressor, and would
indispose against us those now the most
decided in our favor.
It is not expect'd that In the event of sl
war witli Spain any European power will
openly take a part in it against the United
States; but there is no doubt that the
principal reliance of Spain will be upon,
the employment of privateers in France
and England, as well as in the East and
West India Seas, and upon our own coast,
under the Spanish (lag, but manned bora,
all nations, including citizens of our o"’n,
expatriated into Spanish subjects for that
purpose,
3. The enclosed cop'cs of letters front
Mr. Fromentin, contain the most particu
luar inf irmation possessed by the Execu
tive with regard to the subjects mentioned
in your third enquiry. In the month of
September, a corns of 3.000 men arrived
at the Havanna, from Spain, one third ot
which whom are said to have alreadv fallen
victims to the diseases of that climate.— /
fly advices from the fl ivanua, as recent as
the 4th of tiiis month, we are assured that
no part of this force is intended to be in
any event employed ip Florida.
4. Aconiinunica’ion f tun the Secretary of
War, also herewith enclosed, contains the
information requested by the committee
upon tins enquiry.
5. At the time when captain Head left
Madrid, 13th October, Mr. Forsyth had
no positive information even ot the ap
pointment of the person whoisto come out ,
as ti.c minister, indirectly we have been
assured that he might he. expected to arrive
here in the course of! he present month.
I am, very respect fully, sift your ve.f
ob’t sevv’t.'
JOHN’ QUINCY ADAMS.
Scvanuah, March'2o, 1820.
Wc have, through the politeness ot i
commercial friend, been favored "d- I
London papers to the sth and I.i'erpuia I
to the 7lh iib. the most important ai- I
tides, are anticipated by the ar,l \ a , _ r ° i
the Meteor, at Charleston From tn _
we find that communication between oi- j
brallur and the interior, was cut on J
the Royal Spanish Army; many uarti-ao’
cf the constitution and cortex