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tflAKMWJu m
;%»>•. p»ki}Rh.jck s. tell, i
C1TT JpjiiNTM.
Vj^aIlt jtfdi gS—for^xai —ft» atcxtx,
rmH< i* u»* ixr.K.,
,Y\c* and tuno yid'".*!; "hu*, is up {nor
both fffjyr*—mid Hojpt by •»■»*▼, ow/y. ! r j) ^ i
*" — - J£. \*TS
.Accompanymg’ the President’a Message, Sec.
* (cojirinintD.)
The ^ecrehiry ./State to Mr. John Forsyth.
** «To!iU For-yth, <*sq minuter Plenipotentiary of the
United States, Madrid,
n-fKir*>r.iiit of Stutr, *
t lh/.i . Jinnix'j Wilt
Sir: Cnpta'm K** fl^-cf the Hornet, fr^
ti.livcred lu me your of the I-'Kh-
lrth, and 2 Jd of Jinn*, V.I.ic’i 11?.vc been
subraitted to the considers ion of the presi
dent.
1 !I‘*t«vcvcr the extraordinary the conflict
of the Spanish government in relation to
the ire.ty, on the 22d of I chruary
T Just, has be en, the president is unwilling to
abandon tile hope* Jru, v i hin, tiie period
of .»ix irontha, alk’.ved for i!*< exchange of
they have January, IB 18. If the? article had even been
Whatever
mu minister lias concluded, remaining inef-
lectuki until the ratification of tin: princ
there is less danger of paving Inin a fun
power. But to refuse, with iionor, to rati
ty that which has been conclued in virtue 01
a tr.il power, llie sbycrcign'musl have strong
and solid reasons lor it; and jlarticular/u he
must shew that lux minister transcendejLhls
ini'itrutfioru."—VaUei, book 2, chap. 12, §
156.
“Every tlftng that ha> been stipr»».ccd by
an agent, in contorauh) to ins fan jrj'.vera,
oughtto beco:»i^,obligati^ry ior the stale from
bemoi. eiUoisigiii.ig, wimoui even waning
lor the ratification. However,natlo expose a
su.eioihe .iroisolusingie person, it is now
income a general maxim, Unit public con*
vemions <lo not become obligatory ti.l ratt-
:ied. l ue motive ot mis custom clearly
proves tim the ratification can never be tv-
lused with justice, except when he who is
enurged avi.ii die negocialion, keeping with-
iii co.np'.xs with respect to Ills-public tun
powers, has gone beyond ins secret instruc
tions, and consequently lias rendered him
self liabie to punishment, or wnen .he oilier
party re:uses to ratify.’’—Martens’ Sum.na
ry, li.xik 2, chap. 1. j 3.
lhe obligation of the kibg ofSpain, there
fore, in honor :uul in justice, to rat if 1 ,-the
cceptcd by us in those terms it eoul .
only, by an unworthy deception, be pretend
ed "that it covered the grants oi Alagon, and
Punon Rostro, because it bail been explicit
ly agreed, on both sides, that they should
be annulled, and because Mr. Onis, who al
ways spoke ofthem as % fraudulent grants, o; .
,v!iich he w as ashamed for his country, has j
repeatedly declared to me, that lie signed
she i imitations, » sense ol uisiire and oil ... - • , .
j ’. f „r ,i I treaty signed be lit* minister, is as pencil
deceit regara lor the online I .lib ol the H
• , . - , h . •, , . „ u.ul u iqi.aiitiod as his roial promise in the
km,- ami nation, solemnly pledgcil i>v the I . * . . . ... i - ... a <> ,
•n i ,i ■,...i mil power; and v. gives to the Lulled butts
treat r, will prevail over the inc.i. lUIKU in- 1 °
trigue* and linking iiP.ucnce which
prompted -lie dei iv that !i taken* place.—
Should this expect -.lion, however, be disap
pointed, and should the treaty remain mi-,
r uVied Ip. Spain at the time when you sjjjdl
receive ti is ili-pati h, you Viil ini medial dy
make t.n cllicia 1 roii.niunicatio i loilicmin-
js.ei of foreign •■flairs, stating that the r.ui-
fi a i ni of Sp in, v. i.b tin- 'xpli.'il iinder-
■ st. i• . on Ja r part, that the alleged grants
to the duke of Aldgon,count rti’ oii flosiro,
and M,% V irga i, and a-.i others wliirh mv
h...e be. u n ade nr.dt's - iliu same -circun.-
s. Kr< s are, by
jn-.'i aim void ..: d v. ill be so licid hv til
lie right equally pefbsci iu compel the per
lorinanoe ol that protftise.
oiiould it be suggested that the. United
Stales themselves, have, oil more Ilian ohe
occasion, withheld or anne red conditions to
the ratilicalions of treaties signed bv their
i’hmipbtci.tiarics in Kurope, it will readi.;
recur to you, that, by the natureofotlrcon
stiiti isn, the l’uli pow ers of our niinisa r:
never are or can lie mil ini ttctl; timt w.iat.
over they conclude must he, and by the
itlirr contmctir.g party is always known
sml undrrstoo'i to be, subject to tlieiUkb'.'r.v
th nr'ic’c of the Ircatv. i 1-0,1 :i " fl d. tcirrni.a'.ion of the senate, to
'‘whose considcra'imi it must he submitted
u ' . t ,. will bn .cceplcd as valid; and before its rauic-aion; that our lull power,
that V...I are. ntiwri a d to .', nviiC .he Sp n ■ j n .‘ v ‘ r «»“•«'* u "; sa ‘«V n tkc ,'«:
i 'sb ia'.ifiraiio'i in exchange for that of the 11011 Jo i-at.ly "bateve the minister sum.
U it,si Stales, thou,ill after the Iai.se of the ! coacluelo, bin res.rv e expressly not omy the
:;!■ ht:cd . six inomhs: pixivi.led the <*x-1’'Hua r,g!,i«| ratmcation, but the constmt-
'cl.aive shill be immediate, and' in such time !l0,1!l1 1«-ivHr-ger ol toe senate to give
th : vott candi spa.ii h then, tided treaty by lhe
To, skengcr w lio w ill be tire bearer of till s, in
Si ..son m arrive 1u re. hrforc the liieelio;, ol
coir res* on the first Mood <y in L)en niOer:
that, il tbe ratilie.l treaty sitoiil.l nut arrive
here at that time, a lull com nun r ation w ill
be made by the president to congress, of all
ti e transactions r dating lo the treaty, anti
a::eh measures will be adopted by l.'V.l bony
as thrv shall think required by the exigen
cy of »he case; the,, whatever their tleier-
'mioalion may be, the Spanish government
will be responsible to the United States list
all dating 's all expenses \. Inch may arise
from die delay or refusal of Spain lo ratify,
‘and fulfil the measures to which the United
States may resort, to give efficacy to their
rights: and that, for the indemnities to
w '.bi ll tiu v tvi!l be justly entitled, for this
violation of frith by Spain, the United States
wiil look to the territory west of the Sabine! uistnr ’.:c
Tiver. United S
Tim only reason assigned by the minister
of state, ad inluii.n, Sihnon, for the post
ponement of .lie Snauisli ratif.cation, was,
the determination oi the king, founded ii|x,i>
tin great importance of the treaty, to act
upon it with full deliberation. This may
have been sufficient lo justify delay within
the period stipulated by the treaty; but after
tlu expiration of that period, can no longer
be alleged. Del ,y h. y.md that period will
T»o a breach of faith; for the treaty, in all its
parts, from the moment of its signature by
fir. Onis, and the ratification of the United .
States, was as binding upon the honor and
good'faith of the Spanish king and nation, as
it would be after the ratification. It is
withhold their assent to the ratiiicatior.;
w ithout which assert, bv a majority <>, t'.vo-
lliirds of the members pres'til at the vm,
taken afterroiisideratia.i ol the treaty, the
President has no authority to ratify, in
withholding or refusing the ratification,
llurefore, no promise cr engagement of the
state is violated. But neither the same rea
son nor the same principle applies to the
king of Spain, who posst sscs the sole, en
tile, and exclusive potver of ratifying trea
ties made by his ministers, a'ui who, there
fore, by tlie promise, on the. faith and wore
of a king, to ratify whatever his minis.er
shall sign, Commits Ids own honor and ti
o f his nuiioit, to the fulfilment of bis promise.
This'distinction is well known and clearly
i'ccogiifeed by the law of nations.t
The Spanish govern...ciit cannot alfc
eit icr th„t Mr. Onis transcended bis secret
or.s, or that the ratification of the
United Slates has been refused, or that an
unfair advantage was taken on the part oi
the United States in the negotiation, or that
Spain was not fully aware lie torch.and, o.
the fulle^i-—eofthv engagements'contract
ed hy Mr. Onis. It is too well known, and
they will not dare lo deny it, that Mr. Onis
l .si instruction* authorized him to concede
niiir.li more than he did:.that those instruc
tions had been prepared by Mr. Pizarro;
that after *lic appointment of tbs M rquis
de Casa Yrujo to the ministry, they were
by him submitted to the king’s council, and.
•ii h their full sanction, were transmitted to
Mr. Onis; that, both in rcluion to the
grants of lands in Florida*, and o the wes
tern boundary, the terms which he obtained
were far within tbe limits of hia idstnicrions:
scarcely stippo.sablc that Spain will conies, j
this nosition, or that it should be necessarv that it was known to, am. understood >y,
to th.' present view in tbe following temu.
of the lull power of Mr. Onis, fhe original
of which, signed by the king of Spain, was
delivered lo me before tbe signature of the
treaty. The words ofhis Catholic majesty
are. after authorising Mr. Onis to tr
t',.civic, and cottchiJe a treaty, whereby.
past differences may he adjusted, and a firm ° ,lu ’ *■ . ,1!tttl 't'-ates. indeed,
ami lasting peacf established between llm nmdeiation ami generosity oi
two governments; obliging ourselves, as wc
do hereby oblige ourselves, ami promise, cm
tbc.&ilh and work of a king, to approve,
ratify, end fulfill, ivlnit*oe-ser muy he stifi-
~lil<>tril ami signed by you; to which intent
ami purpose, I grant yon all authority and
full power, in the most ample form, thereby
as of right required.”* If language so rx-
liim, that file grants to Alagon, I’unon l’o
tro, and Vargas, were annulled by the trr ^
ty; that so fully was this Ins understanding,
that, in his despatches to bis government,
be pointed out to them means o indemni-
ne '_ tying those grmtres, for their disvppuiii'.-
' mer.t. from other lands. The goveiiiment
considered the
of the terms to
which they had acceded, as a pledge that
they would he received with pric e and joy
by the Spanish government. And so, it
will not I e denied, they were in tbe first in
stance received by tbe king ot Spain and his
cabinet. If.afterwards, from the unexpect
ed extent of sacrifices which the United
States made, for purposes ol conciliation
vu SIS' 1 ” - * 1 r • •' • I
p lie it and ur.nmfilied \vrr*% in regard tr» its]? 1 '! ° s,nccr - ainity, Spnn has
import, susceptible of any doubt, founded on ' '"b-renr.' .'-=■*' '•■om.-n- ,m.
the usage which requires the ratification
of the sovereign, for ate full consummation
of a treaty, there is nothing dubious or un
certain in the extent of obligation resting
upon him, by tbe signature of his minister,
rtsted with such a full power. The following
passages from Vatic!' ami Martens, arc de
cisive authorities upon the principle:
‘‘Sovereigns trea' together by the agency
if their attorneys or mandatories, clothed
with a'nffirietit powers; they are commonly
Called t>!enipptcn?ir,ri“s'. All the rules of
flic law of nature, concerning things per
formed by commission, are here applicable.
■raw’n the
inference that this temper may be trifled
with, and abused, it is proptr, and will be
just, tlial *he shook! be effectually unde
ceived.
Should the ratification be withheld, it is
;o be presumed that some other reason than
the importance of tire treaty, will ultimately
be assigned by Spain for withholding it.—
What 1iat will be, can at present only lx 1
conjectured. If the grants to' the duke ot
Alagon. and count Pinion Rostra, should be
assigned, us forming the objection, you viil
explicitly declare, that tbe United" States
have no compromise to make, and will lis-
t»u to none on that subject. The insir.ua-
he treaty without knowing tlicir dates, but
fully believing them to be subsequent to the
24th ot January.. If, then, the confirmation
of the grant* prior to that date had been, as
it was first proposed by Mr. Onis, positive
and unqualified,and if the grants had been
completely made before that date, there
might lie some pretence that they were co
vered by the lower of the article, though by
a mistake common to both parties, oi which
a just and honorable government would dis
dain to take ally oih.r advantage than that
of manifesting its good laltli by its cheerful
ness and promptitude in rectifying the er
ror, and fulfiling the intention, instead»f the
letter, of the engagement.. But the article
was not accepted in thin form. In the coun
ter-project delivered by me on the 1.1th of'
February, the grants prior to the 2
Hilary, 1318, ihc conditions of cohtch
have brru /ierformed by the grantees, and
none other were declared to be confirm
ed. A: the time jdiat the counier-projcci
was received by Mr. Onis, he Was con
fined to his house by indisposition. A*
bis request, tlie communications between
h. m and me were made by the Fricndiy in
terposition of the French minister, M. Hyde
de Neuville. Mr Oil's insisted on the ar-
tie'e concerning tlie grants, as cua'wn up
by him, not for the purpose of covering
these grants, for be professed an e tinest de
sire that they should be annulled, lor the
vindication, of has own character from the
aspersion w.tirh had been Circulated here,
that he had a personal interest in them; but
he had drawn tbe article in these terms,
merely to save the honor of the king. It
was then observed, that the honor of the
king could lie saved by declaring tire grants
prior to the 34th Jan. I8 !8, binding to 'hr
same extent aXthcV veiikWiavcjbecn upon the
Spanish government, if'be cession to tlie U.
i. ..tes had not been made. It was known
a.itl admitted, that neither of those grains
would in that rase havedieen valid, because
tie conditions, by the laws of the Indies, in-
ilispensible to their validity, neither had
been nor could he ftiiliiled by the grantees:
and their tion-pei'form.ir.ee had been form.il
ly assigned by Mr. Onis, in bis letter tome
oftite Inin Nov. mis, its bis reason fur
agreeing to tiieir being annulled. But ha
observed, that there w ere grants of old stand ■
ing. nude buna fife to persons in artttai
;sion ol'tiie lands,.inti having made im-
ments and selliunui s upon them, but
iino, by the laic revolutions iu FTumpc, and
the convulsed rta.e of Spam, had been pre
vented from completing all the.comb:io..s
of their grants; tin. it would be hut equita
ble to idibwtlicm time h unt the date of lhe
treaty to fulfil them. To this a ready as
these grants should all be annulled, because
ttrir coitdi ions had not been Jit filed by
the grantees. The President of the Utited
States is yet willing to Accept oT the ratifi.
cation of that treaty by Spain. It settles
important interests; it secures pacific and
harmonious relations with Sp..in; it provides
indemnities to numyVf our riiizcns for in-
uries which Su.f n umki row ledger they have
suffi ced from ifor; and. it gives Fiorid.t, a
and useless and expensive to Spain, though
chiefly by its position^valuahle to us. But
for all these advantage - wc know that we
have given in the same treaty ample and
generous equivalents to S* in; and she will
find herself much deceived if, in the hope of
making hereafter a better bargain, site now
disdains them. To possess Florida, us wiih
ine full and fair consent of S*>ain, is tin
lonblcUlyan object of interest to the Am. go-
vermnent; but an object of inf.iiiteiv deeper
and dearer interest to them is, to observe lu-
vards Spain, and ail other nations, a just
and candid, and single-hearted course of
t onduct, free fram fraud, ai tifice, or disguise.
And that which they observe they demand
i t return. They will net'her themselves
practise, not' from others submit to, a disin-
Ja-j genuous, double dealing system of trcach-
trv, paltering with its own engagements,
a id spreading snares for the generous! con
fidence of good faith.
You. wili th: reforc, tin ro consideration;
exchange the ratifications without delivering
ti u d el .ration prcserioeil by your ins.ruc
tion.': when you took.c:urgc of the uvaty;
ar.d you will not fail, if tiie ratification be
w iIilH'id,to address an earnest remonstrance
to the Spanish go: eminent against the
grants lit. mselves, and the circumsutices
ni.der which they were issued.
The proposal of Mr. One's letter to this
depalxnu nljof 31 October, 1818*, was as
follows: “That the late grants made hy his
majesty in the Florid.since the 24th of
Jantt u y lasl, the date of my first note an
nouncing Ins majesty’s W illingness to cede
them to U. States, (the said grants having
men made w ith a view to promote popul
CO.YGRESfti
7Viursdu De c. 26.
SKSMTE.
Mr. Stofcca, fiora Noith-Cai’olma, attended .si-^I
' ook 5‘»scut "VtistuiTiaV. * 1
The Senate pi^:cctioi! to the nppotutaoeiu$of ’
ts several SiaihJiiig' Comroitiee^. i*y ballot, of
which the appointment ot’ tlie £•!lowing j»-cntl
men was the rosutl: 1 •
/in F r ■.> » £M,rfi»n»—Messrs. Brown, Hunted
Harbour, Vvalker, of tleo. * I
On Wiuiuc&—Mtfs&t's. ^aniurtl, Macon, l);tn;v]
Katon, 1.0^.111.
On r-»«WiW andMantr/ii tures—McSbis S«f I
fori!, Mp.utin, Dana, Loj.-an. \
On .T/i.V/r. rv. Messrs. W illiams, of Tenr.
lYiaihlc; Taylor, Tiulifnjr, Kl'iOt.
On .V\:\ uf .Ifeirt—Messrs. Flcusants l'urtott;. -
lo’tlor.l; Walker, of Alabama, NViU-ams Mi v s." ^*'1
On the .1 lilitiu—Messrs. A’oblo, Stokes 1 :che*f
nor, WaltccT, of .V9»i>. latnn.an.
(J > tfie. Jnd.ciu. e—Messrs. Smith, Leake, BttMtk.
nil, Loijar., Otis. 4 k.|1
On 2*u : !ic Lands—Messrs. M illiams, of M
Taylor, Tlumias^ lauvrie. Himtur. ! : v*
(in ' VLdtus—*Mejrtrs. Koi>c:t> Wilson,
Van l)ykc.
. On /Vf’.t*6w«—Messrs. Van Dye* Noble, Klliot* 71
Eaton. \V!?su»». . Jl
0.1 /•oji-afic* and Post Uavh M-ssrs^T.I
Stokes, Wilson, 1*.timer, !*.«!.v.a\!s, .\iet1cn. *»M
On the Dnii'ict of Cukanfiiii—Messrs. IbniCJV ^
Hunter, I’leasnnis, l.an'man. jj
The felhm nuv et/inmitteo was also appointed.**]
purj^an' to a:i tinier i f this (Ia\:
O/i th.\Y: t h:U' Jitmd.sz*— Messrs. KobVrts, tkill-d
lar-l, Mc»-n. Huvijll. I.:»nn.an.
Mr. Mon it, of.'erid for cons.de 1 at ion fellow-1
nip ret-olve:
'/1'.Tw'ivi/, That the committee on pensions be '
<!irc*'*t. :i to enquire i ii>> the expetiivnev at :t ', m
thr act of HHI6, uilitleil “Alt ai i to p »i\itW
lor jiei’stt’.is u i’.o vveiv tl.bled In kuov. n v»
ce.vetl in the Re*, tilul an.;r\ War,” tviich i.xpi^ I
t! at •thee!'*se 01 the lust sT.?s en oi o»nj,iv.<.
Mr. l) : ikc*rsen o.ieicd lor cousnier.it.oh tin :ol- .
tvinj** resolution:
I*, suh'.-tl. That tlie con.iii ttee on 1 nance be
stmcteil to enqMTo mt*> die t spetl cncv o:' so
r a'!erinp:,tl»e laws for ajijio.nl'.:•»* Coilcctcis of
(•nstoms of the l n.’ed tat* s; L.str.ct Attorney
of the United Mates; s.nd Receipt is of l'u!»liv- 'To
nies for lands of iJie t n ted States; Si,;\ e \ el s of
the T ibi 0 t.un.Is, ‘{eg;*:ters and iiidi odier *dfi-
e, r; a.*: lhe; may iliint proper, as to have thus*
officer*’respect.veiyappo nted ior limited penoxbs,
suhics't to removal as in
.• " f " 4 1 ‘V r Sevral petitions were presented and ref--red
mu, rid' iv.itmn, and t.utqs.ry, and not with tothc ^auilkng eonuniacd :.lrea,b ..ppointv#.
hilt. o« alien.unti^ :hetn.) shail be declared Aud t!ic suuatc a-Liourncd to Moiutay.
IIOL’Si: < *F Rid"RF.SENTATIVI'S.
Mr. S^r-vau*, frotr. the* c.'inmltiee on the Jiidi-
'ian, reported a hill f»r estubli*wn'* an 11 nfir.St
r</.v. vt f . f Jt.ir A*‘ 7/.fry f/ii*/.'fon: the If nited Suitesi
.vhich was twice read ar.d committed.
that
nidi ndd void, in consid.ure.doii of the g
tees not having complied with the esaentiaJ
conditions of lhe cessions, as lias been the
And in hrs letter of the 10th March, re
ferring to 1!ii‘5 proposal, lie srys “with the
lr.a»kn<‘ssan;i f.nih which has nniibnn-
iysctn.iUul n:y comhi^L* and whicli clisdo-
w’tush tlie chaiMCtcr of the Spaoisn nalioiu 1
•l ive to (h rlurc t) you* sir, *dMt 9 wlu-nipro
pose:! th*’ rt vocation of all tiie icrrius m .a’»
syi*js':'|uent to tin*, date ubovu-mmiuoiu J, i-
v*.is v/Ut» thefuil belief that it compre
hended those ni.delo ihcdnke of Am^o.s
as writ d‘i .my 01 hers which had been stipu
Kited at tliat p'^rlcd.**
IK tv, their, is the express declaration oi
the-Spanish ue^oex v‘ot of *nat uv'ftly: 1st,
That i!*.c grants in question were all, In his
full belief* when he made die proposal, hi-
c!tided a.nor. 15 those positively aixituiUd by
Ine dr to* I'd, 'ihai. these 1 rails had beet:
ratilyiug that which has beat concluded bv Hieni from confirmation, whatcvcrniight br
Tbe f„;i theirdates; Mr. Onis. on tbe first nrajec
tlicir minister in their name. The fuil
•{bwer is merely a commission cum libera.
if’this cdim.iission w. :' 4 to have its full ef-
prajec
ol a treaty, delivered on theptli ol Ftbruary
had drawn the article in such terms as U
th o
firct, it slienld br given with the utmost cir- j Cl,n111111 grants made before the
rtimsnection. But, as prices cin be cou- tTheK)V , rt . : , hc . , cs fcB ard , w
^.•pned totulfil their offiligaiMns only bv Ultc powcr> !l;ls f llKloilbt ^ u> u.e right to ireat, ...
fofTC .if arms, the custom h::s'a*i*s^n'0l rely- : tlie name ol'the ^late whiefi he rejuysents, and bis
JhTtr:-:-. ' , .v I enjpwemer t» b.ind tl*e whole nation. But the rulers
* '’Oaliyanflouo* y prone term:* esjhy palahn j of nation* have'not all the exclusive j ower of mat;
de fey que approbarcir.os, rati(icarvntos,cunipIire- i *ng pi.Hc treat:, s: some are under tbe retried,
ff \ hai'cnos r!:s:-rvary cumplir inviolahlemcnte | oftak ng die advice of tlie senate, or ol ti:,. repo.
eS'.'tnS. per vrs m els; cdpulailo y firniado JIUW lo' se.ttative s of ihe natior. It is in the fine! a men'.:,
dtal daVr^pfclto todas’« tac.ilta.les y pleiios jio. Ians of tack state that we mist lock for die pow,:
I'.jua mas atnpia quad# ScrvviiU 5e j capable of contracting valid engagement" to r
I aaiue of tks sUto.—\ attel, hook «kap. Id,
K:
sent was given, and the article was tints
greed: to limitii.g to sv.rli grants alone, tin-
confirmation prior ta the 21.'a of January,
1813.
Minutes of the discussion upon Ibis ami
de were drawn up in writing at the lime by
Mr. de Xeuviile, copies oi wh' . h were i'ur-
. islirii both to .Ml. Oi,*o ami to m:. prior .o
me signature, and recognized by ns both to
be correct. An abstract from them of all
that relates to tltis article, together with the
draft of the article, ns first proposed by Mr.
Oni S.of that in our counter project, anti ol'the
article as finally agreed to, are hcrc.vit!: en
closed. They will show tna; ikr confirma
tion of the grants to Alagon, i'u.ion Rostra,
and Vargas, is as effectually excluded by
the limitations in the first part of the article,
if their date is prior to the 21th Jan. 1818,
ashy the date itself, if made subsequent to
that tune. They were rat excluded, by
•itune. for two reasons: First, conformably
io the desire ol Mr. Onis. to save tlie lion-
• of the king. You . iti see this distinct
ly noted in the minutes cf Mr. Neuviilc.—
Sccmdly, because, from the despatches of
Mr. I'.rvli.g, it was supposed there were
other grants of the same kind, and made un
der sim lnrcircumstances. To have nam
ed them might hat e left room for a pre
sumptive inference ill favor ot others.—
The determination was to exclude them
til.
Norcliar.cc was placed upon the exclu
sion by the date,because the grants having
been seer tly made, ar.d wit.:out the usual
'.omiuii'.ies, the copicsofti'.ctn received fram
Mr. Firing might he unautheutic; because
no copy of the grant to A liigon hail been re-
civet!; and because if fraud Was lo be guar
ded against, it w as well known that anteda
ting was cite of its most familial' and favo-
l’.te expedients. When, shor.ty ai.er the| Such pledge sure amply within tiie reach of
signature of the treaty, a rumor was circa- j the U . States, in their intercourse hereafter
i.itcd here, that the date of the grants was wdth Spain; nor is it to be presumed that
one day prior to the 2 4th oi Jan. 1818,and those who are intrusted with the liiainte-
tl'.at this last date had been assumed with I nance of the rights and interests of this na-
itention, at least on the part of Mr. J tion will overlook, or neglect, tiie duty
(tnis, that they should lie confirmed; without. which roar be devolved upon them, d taking
admitting the suspicion tlr«t lie had attempt- them',
d a deception, for which the language olj This despatch will be delivered to you
decency has no name, it was yet thought! bv capt Read,, of the Hornet. If the tilii-
dvisJdc, that no shadow of a pretence j mate decision of tlu-Spanish governmei.:
iibiikl, by any possibility, be raised aiieri upon tlie treaty,should be still pending, or.
the ratification of the treaty, by Spain, or j his arrival at Madrid, you wilt demand i,
grantees, that those grants were con-| immediately, giving notice, that a delay ol
firmed, or that cither party cf the compact) „.„ rc thaivone week, alter your co.nniuni-
rcfusal. Atthe ex-
ner, if the decis-
to you, year will
his - return to this
, be expected
he ratifications b,
absence, contem-
p.'_tcd .viien you Icn'i this country, may be
used at your discretion; but il not, the pres
ident thinks .t best that you should rermtin
at Madrid, to atv.nt the contingency oi'event
upon the meeting of congress.
1 am very respectfully, your obedient and
very humble servant,
John Quincy Adams.
* This is a wrong date, insertccTby mistake. It
should be 1 |W< .Yi/i' -ribrr, 1818, as '.viil be scc,l oil
refi.-rr.ng to the extract of a letter from Dim l,ius
de Ons to the becretan ol* State o: that date, al
ready puld ,he l in the Nation:.! lutelhgenccr,
in ibc S.WMinai Republican.)
> ( To be continued-Ji
made by the king, with the view ot promo
ting population, cultivation, and iudustry,
and net wiih that of alien; ting the territory;
and, 3 I, That die grants wu-e all itiuil an.,
void, bee if.se the grantees had not complied
with l: e essential coi'cli'ticns oiihe grams.
Now, vvh d :,’ia!l be said a tier these plain
and positive dec!..rations, when Spain ad
vances, as tlie only ground of pretence, lira,
these gran s were cc'dlirmed by tin: treaty;
that lit y were d: ted before the 24th. of Jan
uary, 1818. indeed; but, after the instruc
tions by which Mr. Onis was authorized to
make itis proposal of t'.tat date, lor the ces
sion of Fioridss, had been dispatched to
him from Madrid! What becomes of his
positive assurance that these grams were
made for the population and i:npr .veaifi.t
ol'the triritory, end not with a v:c.v»fi*iiet>-
I'tion? And what was the iiicanhig ol Spain
in stipulating, that an acknowledged cent ei
indemnities lro.n her to citizens of the U.
Stales, at least to the ; mount of live miiiion
of (foliar:!, should be p:tiq from tlie pracecus
of public lauds in Florida, when she now
comes aid says, that, even while her minis
ter was signing this compact on her part,
his sot «:rcign, by a secret and iireguiar ,.li-
er.aiion of the lands, had made its uccom-
piis'imei t intpossibief In whatever oiira.
light it is to be considered, it is an injury to
tlie U. Suites, for which they are entitled to
demand and obtain salisfa. 1 ,on. W lien tlie
government of a nation degrades itself, by
flagrant and notorious perfidy, those who
are const.' lined to entertain jtoliticai relations
of neighborhood with taeni, aee justitied by
the law of nature, and it is their duty to
themselves, in subsequent transactions with
such a state, to take pledges ol security, for
the performance of its engagements, more
effectual ,han' -'Oi'ildcn-c iu it: good faith.—
A vi’sCik
<1.0’s <1 .ii:
f.l lh.-
: utiicr
in n It,a- mi lhe
ir member: ari»<* ,
-rants in question, and the only one which
. he United States’would ever* admit. Mr.
•On s, by his answer lo my note of-the 10th
*jf March,- uucquivocaliv rc-ognizcd that
■.uch had been his understanding of die i.n-
toin of the articlejwheii lie signed it. He
’ dded. indeed, that *f lie ln,d kitown that t!ie
wants were of a prior* date, lie should have
'.misted upon tbier being confirmed. But,
itkou: remarking that his ignorance of
t eir dates,co'i'.d liave no possible effect
. render that which lie had agreed and tin-
erstodtl to be null and void, it bed escaped
recollccliar. .hat, in his note to me of the
noth November, 1818, hc bad agreed tliat
t/v* December 17.
n:ulc, in o’ir •■atement, in yesteij-
O. tJcJ comiil.lluo O l H* HOH.iti*.
:*'»ni*»i.Uc*c o\' co n ;••«*»• >r.d rnuuiifiictnrrs
t»t‘ M. ssrs. :*.iii.onl, Dickson, li ir-iey,
t, Hunull, a.ul l.ot of tlu* gentlemen nanic j
l>y •!.», v csiui-iby, v.-iio, • ill Sjust cn, on ixiurcnce
to tlu: H;.pw’i', «*.«inpo.se U. • Cimilli lt- c ot i iianco.
Mr. ntv« is :»fHonJ/cr
D.stm »>f Cofvi.u!»ia: l’ 1
already uiiiionuct’il.
HOUSE OP REPRESENTVEIVES.
The F]>-. ;iVer !I hefor • ti’*.; !;.'*.:i letter from
the .secretary of'Ru* tre .sn-y , t:*a.’.?.».itt»nj' a s>:i.e-
4 munt of c \ports iVotiithc i i* ; • <! St;* , .e.<i!'.r n.^one
year, emi.r.j? on ti:o .K-t.; . C »jptcn; , 'i*r, 1.19; ami
also a !cU«.;* from the ro:nn»is»;oi:cr *»i tiie r ’;*en :e,
tj’iiasiiuu’.iijc the annual statement of «he pivccetU
or the ihn?cf ta.i ami in * mal ti nies, &<*.
. -Mr Rich, of Verm** c. .iicretl 10** cons.oerai on
lie following resolutio.4.
lieso’V:‘d^ That the o..mnvt?ee of clsi'vs he in^
str»:c!ed to prepare aiulieport a !:*i!l providing i«ir
• ire d ; str blit ion p: a s* m <if oiontyv atnonj*’ s ch o£ ,
the citi/e<9« of the Unite*! states as Icsr t!u .*.* pro- a
nertv in consequence o: the gencal mnfl:*-g.'atinii *
hv tfce er.emv oil the N i'jfar.i tVonticr dur.o^ *he j
late .war. . . ,,
And the resolution was ntlcreil to lit* o:» the to,-.
Me.
Mr. Vf.iii; Id offered fo? consideration the fol-
Jow’uur re.-soive:
il- cAv-d, *f hut the c*.inrrittec on the j*;d c ary
!>e inrftpiutuil to cmpiirc into the ©xpedieney of
inertias:n:;’ the p:u,-«.t jurorr for lhe circuit courts
of the U:i t<* 1 Str.tcs ftr th ■ District <f ••’*/n fft-.fid.
'Vl'i- rc-.olutlOn lrr.in^h ?en unien ieii hv e xt* nd-
»iif“ it to the Dis.r’.e'- eouits, ui»*i b) strik ng out
| die cor.chiiliu^ \vtn\h' in ;t:*l c, so as lo make tii$
: enquiry gY-nerd, way a^r»***«l to.
The house adjourned io Monday*
• Crrnonr, Dec. 17.
Copy of a letter Co the c ; t'.rs of the American,
d*fed •«.?/. Th.iras,2M .Vm*. 1M9.
“The latest news here frf*r * Rolrvar and li’s ar»
my.are, that he was successlid.. Ifc has got pos
s.ssion of tiu* com?; 4 ry near Cartha^ena; anu of
(• *rth’.«gt*na it s < rcpec*.’.. d he w 1? he master*
ere long*. The j,*overu:nent tlierehave forward ell
despatch* * 1<i Havana, stat r.jr, I'tic y .•»*<* nn5
inmiediateh, re::jforcc d the p:u( cir.ust i;di. U Mi*»h-
this s correct or m>t s hard'to ia^ f fc.rthtrt. are
few reports Uiat «*;*acii th s pi ce that can he reli
ed on, respecting* the nsoveii. nt? of the fVriots.
T'nc account published at Norfolk relative **.> ;hc
de struction of ail tlie vood. u houses h> re, :< : :v*
roivcct—not one wu* a. nvit dawn <l.u*iiig’ tiie late
»n*le, in t!>c t . ii; the 'louses in the country only
9 ilo*red.
“I sen*! veu the last pap*T; it is without nt«>-
<*st, andso arc all that arc pui.l’shc i here. Adsiii-
•*.d Camp!)**!', of the E.trhadus st«t’on, d : t I on
hoiinl the Saulsburv C U.on her arrival at Barbados
fro.«i “.cnce, utter the g de.’*
Capt. Hibson of the scitr William, has polit-.dy
handed us the St Thor.ras T-n»es ol'the 2>! Nov.*
last, from wliich wc have made *he following ex*
tracts:
St. T 1 oMi«, Nov. 23.
By a late arrival from Cuifac a we have '•eceivucX
the papers of tf> .t Island up .i .♦* 15th inst.
The Curra*v»:t Cchirant of f !:e dth inst. eoufirniS'
?!»e account of the capture of llio dc ia Hacha, hy .
M*(;rc-gor; hjit that he had emarked lid 1
troops, 'with ’lie exception of a few killed in tJ*c
en^aguna iit) and proceeded t ■ Au * f.V <
A Jamu.-ca paper sta cs that col Rafi* ’ the
British officers uen- no? shot at Port ** ** _- J
They had been t ied for a conspiracy an* ..oq it#
t-d. I.or.l f-ochrane had oJieri.-d e ^ht Hua i «r:L^
for each !5rnish officer and fif.een lor col. Kai’eij*
and ten for u Mr. Moore.
.* Cu^.* »****, Vov. 1.3. ‘t
Private le'ters r»*ce vt*d here from di Toronto
parts ol tl:*.* Spani.-h Main, agT*.e i*» s‘at • g that
Bolivar had been thf .ted iu two ac »ons oy tnc
imops of the king, iml : hat the v*■f'v ro , Sainano,
had. in consv.*»|ucnce, re-occ ip.e.i ^l. Fee. 'I ii.it
irmay liave keen dercati tl, v.v do not doubt,*
but the celerity oi -'amano’s mown cuts, and f *8
having so speed. 1;. follcrted together si ch I. rge
Ijf'dv of men, Is r.idier epiestionaMv; for we ic-
collect that captain I.eoo; of the Schooner Admi-*
r.il Kikkcrt, who arrived hire a few d. vs ago, t n a
.■» »ort pa«s:ig^ from Caithagena, t!\rre saw arid
spoke w : ti» the. vicc-k ir;, then a fugitive lio n St. 1
Fee, without troops, and with ve*> slender ineuu!|
of raising* any.
Extract of a letter from Puerto C ibclly, dated 9t»\
November, 131?.
‘•The tide of trade is s agnut-d here, but' it r^*
expected to take a brisk com sc s< o , in o nsc-j
pience of the Pattering news rtec ved by • c*
* ..:ul from Maraca bo, of two stK'cessive d« fvats
.experienced by Boiivarirom the army oi’C'alr.gf’n,y
vho Is reported ki lanTe.lakcn a lxM>t> of two n iNA
ions of dollars, and recaptured the capitoi oi t.'io;
cingdom of Sew Grenada. Tiiis v cisutud. ao»i
rounlaTor the late njuvcuu-ut ci Mori*!M<»wa r c!s '
.iai\piisixjicW i doubllcs* 10 t*U«u^6t i-vLvai' a* hif
