Star. — London, England, 1820-01-07 00:00:00

• • View of the following facts, and the evidence which tar:ports them : It will be seen by the documents transmitted herewizh, that the declaration mentioned, relates to a clause in the eighth Article, concerning . certain grants of land, recently made by his Catholic Ma jetv, in Florida, which, it was understood, had con veyed all the lands, which till then had been un. granted. It NV 5 the intention of the parties to annul these latter grants, and that clause was drawn for that ex press purpose, and for none othe r . Th e d ate ot those gay •-ts was unknown, but it was understood to 3,1,- posterior to that inserted in the Article : in nlust be obvious to all, that, it that provision :a the Treaty had not the effect of annulling these ;: would he altogether nugatory. Immedi :.tely afttr the neat> , was concluded and ratified by litis Government, an intimation was received that t: - tese grans were of an anterior date to that fixed on by the Treaty, and that they would not, of course, be afFected by it. The mere possibility of such a c ase, so inconsistent with the intention of the parties, and the meaning of the Article, induced this Govern ment to demand an ex lanation on the subject, which was immediately granted, and which corresponds sv'th this statement. With respect . to the c ther act allet;ed, that this Government had tolerated or pro tected an expedition against Texas, it is utterly with out foundation. Every discountenance has, inva riably, been given to every such attempt within the limits of the United States, as is fully evinced by the acts of the Government, awl the proceedings of the Conrts. There being cause, however, to apprehend, in tie course of the last summer, that some adven turers entertained views of the kind suggested, the attention of the Constituted Authorities, in that quar ter, was immediately drawn to them, and it is known that the ..oject, whatever it might Le, has utterly failed. These facts will, it is presumed, satisfy every im partial mind, that the Government of Spain had no iastifiable cause for declining to ratify the Treaty.— .e Treaty, concluded in conformity With instructions isobligatory, in good faith, in all its stipulations, ac cording to the true intent and meaning of the arties. Each party is bound to ratify it. If either could set it aside, without the consent of the other, the; e would be no longer any rules applicable to such transac tions, between Nations. By this proceeding, the Go vernment of Spain has rendered to the United States a new and very serious injury. It has been stated that a Minister would be sent, to ask certain expla nations of this Government. But, if such were de sired, why were they not asked within the time limited tor the ratification ? Is it contemplated to open a new negociation respecting any of. the Articles or conditions of the Treaty ? If that we , e done, to what consequences might it not lead ? At what time, and in what manner, would a new negociation ter minate ? By this proceeding, Spain has formed a relation between the two countries which will justify any measures on the part of the United States, which a strong sense of injury, and a proper regard for the rights and interests of the Nation, may dictate. In the course to be pursued, these objects should be con stantly held in view, and have their due weight. Our National honour must be maintained, and a new and a distinguished proof be afforded, of that regard for astice and moderation which has invariably govern e' the councils of this free People. " It must be obvious to all, that if the United States had been desirous of making conquests, or had been even willing to aggrandize themselves in that way, they could have had no inducement to form this Treaty. They would have much cause for gratula tion at the course which has been pursued by Spain. An ample iicld for ambition is open before them. But such a career is not consistent with the principles cf their Government nor the interests of the Nation. From a full view of all circumstances, it is sub rnated to the consideration of Con gress,whether it will rat be proper for the United States to carry the con ditions of the Treaty into effect, in the same manner as if it had been ratified by Spain, claiming on their part all its advantages, and yielding to Spain all those secured to her? By pursuing tills course, we shall rest on the sacred ground of right, sanctioned in the most solemn manner by Spain herself, by a Treaty which she was bound to ratify ; for refusing to do which she must incur the censure of other nations, en those most friendly to her ; while, by confining ( - I;e:elves within that limit, we cannot fail to obtain - .eel!' well-merited approbation. We must have peace er. a frontier where we have been so long disturbed ; ear citizens must be indemnified for losses so long since sustained, and for which indemnity has been so v.:..;astly withheld from them. Accomplishing these grew: objects, we obtain all that is desirable. " But his Catholic Majesty has twice dechtrel his .'.rumination to send a Minister to the United States, 1 / 4 o ask explanations on certain points, and to give them, reseecting his delay to ratify the 'neat:. — 'hell we.act, by taking the ceded territory, and pro ceeding to execute the other conditions of the Treaty, leinre this Minister arrives and is heard ? This is a ease which forms a strong appeal to the candour, the magnanimity, and honour of this People. Much is e.iie to courtesy, between nations. By a short delay ''e shall lose nothing ; for, resting on:the ground of remutable truth and justice, we cannot be diverted feen our purpose. It ought to be presumed, that ?;'.e txplanations which may be given to the Minister '. ill be satisfactory, and produce the desired result. In - any event, the delay,' for 'the purpose mentioned, being a further manifestation of the sin cere desire to terminate, in the most friendly manner, all differences with Spain, cannot fail to be duly ap ptecialed by his Catholic Majesty, as well as by other Pow crs. It is submitted, therefore, hether it will not be proper to make the law proposed for carrying the conditions of the Treaty into effect, should it be adopted, contingent—to suspend its operation upon die responsibility of the Executive, in such manner as to afford an opportunity for such friendly expla nations as may be desired, during the present Session of Congress. " I communicate to Congress a copy of the Treaty, and of the instructions to the Minister of the United States, at Madrid, resiecting it; of. his correspon dence with the Minister of Spain,, and of such other documents as may be necessary to give a full view of the subject. • " In the course which the Spanish Government have, on this occasion, thought proper to pursue, it is satisfactory to know, that they have not been coun tenanced by any other European Power, On the contrary, the opinion and wishes, both of France and Great Britain, have not been withheld, either from the United States or from Spain, and have been un equivocal in favour of the ratification. There is also reason to believe, that the sentiments of the Imperial Government of Russia have been the same, and.that they have also been made known to the Cabinet of Madrid. " In the civil war existing between Spain and the Spanish Provinces in- this hemisphere, the greatest care has been taken to enforce the laws intended to pre,erve an impartial neutrality. Ourports have con tinued to be equally open to both parties, and on the I same conditions, and our citizens have been equally restrained from interfering in favour of - either to the prejudice of the other. The progress of the war, however, has operated manifestly in.favour of the Colonies. Buenos Ayres still maintains, unshaken, the independence which it declared in 1816, and has enjoyed since 1810. Like success has also lately at tended Chili, :tad the Provinces north of the La Plata, bordering on it, and likewise Venezuela. " This contest has, from its commencement, been very interesting to other Powers, and to none more so thaa the I:l;itedStates. A virtuous People may, and v. - ill confine themselves, within the limits of a sti ict neutrality ; but it is not in their power to be hold a conflict so vitally important to their neigh ! . bours, without the sensibility and sympathy which naturally belong to such a case. It has been the steady purpose of this Government, to prevent that feeling leading to exce,s; and it is vet y gratifying to' have it in my power to state, that so strong has been the sense, throughout the whole community, of what wa, Jae to the character and obligations of the Na tion, that few examples of a contrary kind have oc curred. The distance of the Colonies from the pa rent country, and the great extent of their population and resources, gave them a6fantages which, it was anticipated, at a very early perioa, it would bediffi cult for Spain to surmount. The steadiness, con sistency, and success, with which they have pursued their object,:as evinced, more particularly, by the un disturbed sovereignty which Buenos Ayres has so long enjoyed, evidently give them a strong claim to the favourable consideration of other nations. " These sentiments on the part of the United States, have not been withheld from other Powers, with whom it is desirable to act in concert. Should it become manifest to the world, that the efforts of Spain to subdue those Provinces, will be fruitless, it may be presumed that the Spanish Government itself will give up the contest. In producing such a detern - 4 % nation, it cannot be doubted that the opinion of friendly Powers, who have taken no part in the con troversy, will have their merited influence. " It is of the highest importance to our national character, and indispensable to the morality of our Citizens, that all violations of our neutrality should be prevented. No do6r should be left open for the evasion of our laws; no opportunity afforded to any who may be disposed to take advantage of it, to com promit the interest or honour of the nation. It is submitted, thei efore, to the consideration of Congress, whether it may not be advisable to revise the laws, with a view to this desirable result ? ,‘ It is submitted, also, whether it may not be ad visable to designate, by 12w, the several ports or places along the coast, at which, only, foreign ships of war and privateers may be admitted? The diffi. cuity of sustaining the regulations of our Commerce, and of other important interests, from abuse, with. cut such designation, furnishes a strong motive for Liiis measure. _ " At tic time of the negotiation for the renewal of the Commercial Convention between the United States and Greatßritain, a hope had been entertained that an Article might have been agreed upon, mu tually sati:factory to both countries, regulating, upon principles of justice and reciprocity, the corn merci4l intercourse between the United States and the British possessions, as well in the West Indies as upon the Continent of North America. The Pleni potentiaries of the two Governments, not having been able to come to an agreement on this important interest, those of the United States reserved for the consideration of this Government the proposals which had been presented to them as the ultimate offer on eic tart of the British Government, and which they ~; ;.,», .~ - .. 4!71M were not authorised to accept. Pa their transmission' here, they were e x a m i ne d w ith d ue d e lib erat i on , t h e result of which was, anew effort to me6t The views of the British Government. The Minister of the United States *as instructed to make a further pro— posal, which has not been accepted. It was; how ever, declined in an amicable manner. I recommend to the Consideration of Congress, whether further prohibitory provisions, in the laws relating to this in tncourse, may not be expedient. It is seets f with in terest, that although it has nut been pradicable, as yet, to agree in any arrangement of this important branch of their commerce, such is the disposition of the parties, that each will view any regulations, which the other may make respecting it, in the most friendly light. " By the sth Article of the Convention, concluded on the 20th October, 1818, it was stipulated that the differences which had arisen between the two Govern ments, with regard to the true intent and meaning of the sth Article of the Treaty of Ghent, in relation to the carrying away, by Britbh Officers, of slaves from the United States, after the exchange of the Ratifica tions of the Treaty of Peace, should be referred to the decision of some friendly Sovereign or State, to be named for that purpose. The Minister of the United States has been instructed to name to the British Go vernment a foreign Sovereign, the common friend to both parties,• for the decision of this question. The answer of that Government to the proposal, when re ceived, will indicate the further measures to be pur sued on the part of the United States. " Although the pecuniary embarrassments which affected various parts of the Union during . the latter part of the preceding year, have, during the present, been considerably augmented, and still continue to exist ; the receipts into the Treasury, on the Oth of SepteMber last, have amounted to 19,000,000 dollars. After defraying the current expenses of the Govern ment, including the interest and reimbursement of the Public Debt, payable to that period, amounting to 18.200,000 doll:irs, there remained in the Treasury on that - day more than 2,500,000 dollars, which, with the sums receivable during the remainder of the year, will exceed the current demands upon the Trea sury for the same reriod. • • The causes which have tended to diminish the public receipts, could not fail to have a correspond ing effect upon the Revenue, which has accrued upon imposts and tonnage, during the three first quarters of the prosent year. It is, howeser, ascertained that the duties which have been secured; during that pe riod, exceed eighteen millions of dollars ; and those of the whole year will, probably, amount to twenty three millions of dollars. " For the probablel_receipts of the next year, I refer you to 'the statements which will be transmitted from the Treasury, which will enable you to judge whether further provision be necessary. " The great reduction in the price of the princi pal articles of domestic growth, which has occurred, during the present year, and the consequent fall in the price of labour, apparently so favourable to the success of domestic manufactures, have not shielded them against other causes adverse to their prospe rity. The pecuniary embarrassments, which have se deeply affected the commercial interests of the na , tion, have been no less adverse to our manufacturing establishments, in several sections of the Union. " The great reduction of the Currency, which the Banks have been constrained to make, in order to continue specie payments, and the vitiated' -character of it where such reductions have not been attempted, instead of placing within the reach of these establish ments the pecuniary aid necessary to avail themselves of the advantages resulting from the reduction of the prices of the raw materials and of labour, have corn- pelled the Banks to a ithdraw from them a portion of the capital heretofore advanced to them. That aid, which has been refused by the Banks, has not been ob tained from other sources, owing to the loss of indivi dual confidence, from the failures which have recently occurred in some of our principal commercial cities. " An additional cause of the depression of these establishments, may probably be found in the pecu niary embarrassments which have recently affected those countries, with which our Commerce has been principally prosecuted. " Their manufactures, for the want of a ready or profitable market at home, have been shipped by the Manufacturers to the United States, and, in many in stances, sold at a price below their current value at the place of manufacture. Although this practice may, from its nature, be considered temporary or con tingent, it is not on that account less injurious in its , effects. Uniformity in the demand and price of an ar ticle, is highly desirable to the domestic manufacturer. " -It is deemed of greit importance to give encou ragement to our domestic Manufacturers. In what manner the evils adverted to may be remedied, and how fur it may be practicable, in other respects, to afford to them further encouragement, paying due regard to all the other great iptetests of the Nation, is submitted to the tvisdom of Congress. The survey of the coast for the establishment of fortifications, is now nearly completed, and conii derable progress has been made in the collection of • I materials for the construction of fortifications in the Gulph of Mexico and in the Chesapeake Bay. The works on the eastern bank Of the Potomac, b e l ow Alexandria, and on the Peapatch, in the.Delaivare, are much advancrA; and it is expected that the forti- • • • • .ficatiames NarrOws, in the harbia .. iii)f New York, will be comPeted in the present year. t , To derive all thi adiantaei contemplated flom these fortifications, it was necessary that : they - Should be judicioUsly potted and constructed with a vieW to . permanence. The progress hithettii has, therefore, .been slow; but as thediffitulties, in parti herewfore the least explored .and known, are surroottnteil, it will, in future, be more rapid. As Icon as the sot - vey of the coast is comp!:ted, which, it is expected, will be done early in the next spfing, the Engineers I employed in it will proceed t , .) examine, for like Put poses, the Northern and North-Western frontiers. " The troops intended to occupy a station at the mouth of the Bt. Peter's, on the Mississippi, have established themselves there; and those which were ordered • to the mouth of the Yellow Stone, on the Missouri, have ascended that river to thC Council Blufs,• whore they will remain until next, Spring, .when they will proceed to the place of their destina tion. I have the satisfaction to state, that this mea sure has been executed in amity with the Indian tribes, and that it promises to produce, in regard to them, all the advantages which were contemplated by it. , --,Much progress has likexi-e been made in the construction of ships of svar, and in the collection of timber and other materials for. ship-buildinl;. It is not doubted that our Navy will soon be augmented to the number, and placed, in as respects, on the footing, provided for by law. 44 The Board, consisting cf Engineers and Naval Officers, have not yet made their anal report of sites for two naval depots, as instructed according to the Resolutions of March 18th and A prili2Oth,lBlB, but they have examined the coast therein designated, and their report is expected in the next month. " For the protection of our commerce intheXe diterranean, along the southern Atianti: coast, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, it has been found neces sary to maintain a strong naval force, which it seems proper for the present to continue. " There is much reason to believe, that if any por tion of the squadron heretofore stationed in the Medi tetranean should be withdrawn, our intercourse with the Powers bordering on that sea would be much in terrupted, if not altogether destroyed. Such, too, has been the growth of a spirit of piracy; in the other quarters mentioned, by adventurers from every coun try, in abuse of the friendly flags which they have assumed, that not to protect our commerce there, would be to abandon it as a prey to their rapacity. " Due attention has likewise been paid to the sup pression of the Slave Trade, in compliance with a Law of the last Session. Orders have been given to the Commanders of all our public ships •to seize all vessels navigated under our flig, engaged in that trade, and to bring them in, to be pro ceeded against in the manner prescribed by that law. It is hoped that these vigorous mea,ures, sup ported by like acts by other nations, will soon termi nate a commerce so disgraceful to the civilized world. " In the 'execution of the duty imposed by these acts, and of high trust tonnected with it. it is with deep regret I have to state the loss which has been sustained by the death' of Commodore Perry. His gallantry, in a brilliant exploit, •in the last War, added to the renown of his country. His 'death is deplOred as a national raisCortur.e. • " Washington i Dec. 7, 18196 . " JAMES MONROE" Yesterday, the Lords'of the Council assembled at the Council Office, Whitehall, to investigate charges respecting Slave dealing; preferred against five of the inhabitants . of the Isle of France, who have been in custody for some time; when, after a minute,and full examination of the witnesses, two of the prisoners were committed for trial, and three were discharged. The Ambassador of the NETHERLANDS entertains a party of distinction this day, at his residence in Whitehall-place. Colonel AGAR has left the Prince of Saxe.Cobourg Hotel s Charles -street, Grosvenor-square, to join a shooting party, at the Marquis of BLANDFono's seat, Farnham, Kent. Mr. and Mrs. CorFna left the Clarendon Hotel , Bond -street, yesterday, for their seat Forrest House, Sussex; A most seasonable and liberal donation of coals was made on Friday last, through the Minister of the Parish, to the poor in the village idGovan, near Glasgow, by a Military . Offices occasionally resident in the neighbourhood. • The Hon. Mr. MAtILE has transmitted a Milk note of 1:50 to the Provost of Montrose, to be ap plied to the relief'of the pool' of the town, as the Pro vost and Magistrates may approve. Mr. SHAT. D; of Montrose, ha s also contributed fi ve guineas for the same benevolent purpose: Messis. W. and J. Doa*A an, of Montroie, are just now making their annual distribution of 28($ barrels of.coals among the poor of that town, which will be a very seasonable relief to matiy in this inclement season. REMEMBSPO—CARRbLL Sold the last Prize of £20,000 sterling ever drawn; aila also the last-draw Prize of 20,000 GUineas.—The New Lottery cote. mences Drawing on the 12th of inatialti, and the Scheme contains Four P . riies of 1:20,000, Two of which will be decided by the fiist-drawn Prize,. in' the first five minutes. • COltis7:lllARkET, JANUARY 7. Although the . ice hi the River has considerably d!minished, yet so much still remains, that barges can with difficulty get alongside the vessels a in con- Sequence of which very little business was done (his muining, and prices remaiu polish:ally as on Monday, ----.- SMITHFIELD MARKET, JANUARY 7. Beef 4s Od to 5%. 4d I Veal 6l Ott tO 64 04 Murton .. 46 Isd to 5s 6d I Pork Beast* 510--Sheep and Lambs 3 . o2 o7calveillo—Pigi 210. • HAY A:.IsIll STRAW PER lA/AU. Hay I'3 Os w£4. Is 1 :Arm pit to Ei ift Clover— 3 0, to 6 16. newen ; St) us tv .*Or ~` 4