The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-08 00:00:00

he reciprocated, a just and gatiAfactury arrant.;, -
mew finny Ue expecteti. It is proper, ever, to
'clunk that no 'proposition kas yt.; been made,
,ro.n) which sucn a resnli can be plesPin,(t.

It %l as anticipated, at an early stage, that the
contest hettveeti Spain awl the co!orties ►coitltl
become highly interesting to the United States.-7
It Was natural that our citizens should sympa-
thize in events which aff eeted thcir neighbouts.
•It seemed prohahle also, that the prosecution of
the conflict along our coast, and in contiguous
occasionally intetrul►t our coin=
coerce, anti otherwise affect the persons and pro.

pert y of our citizens. These anticipations have
been realiied. Such injuries have been receivesl
from persons acting under the authority of both;
the parties, and for which, redress bus, in most,
instances',
.been withheld. 'through every stage.
of the conflict, the United States have maintained
an impartial neutrality, giving aid to neither of
the parties in men, money, ships Or munitions of
war. They have regarded the contest, not in the
light of an ordinary insurrection or rebellion, bat
as a civil war between parties nearly equal, hav-
ing', as to neutral powers, equal rights. Our
polls have been open to both, and every article,
-the fruit of our soil, or of the industry of our ci-
tizens, which either was permitted .to take, has
been equally free to the other. Should the Co-
lonies establish their independence, it is proper
now to state, that this Government neither seeks,
nor would accept, from them any advantage, in
Commerce or otherwise, which would not be
equally open to all other nations.. The Colonies
will, in that event, become Independent States,
free from any obligation to, or connection With
us, which it May not then be their interest to form
on the basis of a fair reciprocity.

In the summer of the present year an expedi-
tion was set on foot agamst Dlst Florida, by
persons claiming to act under the authority of
some of the colonies, who took possession of
Amelia Island; at the mouth of St. Mary's river,
near the boundary of the State of Georgia,.
.As
this province lies east of the Missi,sippi, and is
bounded by the United States and the ocean on every
side, and has been a subject of negociation with the
government of Spain, as an indemnity for losses by
spoliation, or in exchange for territory of equal
'due westwesd of the fact
known to the world, it excited surprise that
countenance sliould be iziven to tliis the as or e by
any of the colonies. it would he difficult to

reconcile it ‘vith the itienilly relatio:,s ,existing
between th'e United States and the colonies, a

doubt was entertained whether it had been autho-
rised by them, or any of them. This •doubt has
gained strength, by the circumstances which have
unfolded themselves in the prosecution of the en-
terprise, which have marked it as a mere private
unauthorised adventure. Projected and comthenred

with an incompetent force, ?chance seems to have
been placed on what might be drawn, in defiance of
our laws, from within our limits ; and of late, as
their resources have failed, it has assumed a more
ma►ked character of unfriendliness to us, the
island being made a channel for the illicit intro-
duction of slaves from Africa into ►he United--
States, an asylum for fugiti►•e slaves from the
neighbouring states, and a port for smuggling of
every kind.

A similar establishment was made, at an earlier
period, by persons of the same description, is ti,e
Gulph of Mexico, at a place called Galveston,
within the limits of the United States, as we con-
tend, tinder the cession of Louisiana. This enter-
prize has been marked, in a more signal manner,
by all the objectionable circumstances which cha-
racterised the other, and more patti,:olarly by the
equipment of privateers which have annoyed our
commerce,• and by -smuggling. These establish-
ments, if ever sanctioned by any authority what-
ever, which is- not believed, have abused . their
trust, and forfeited all claim to consideration. A
last regard for the rights and interests of the
United States required that they should be sup-
pressed ; and orders have aetortlingly issued to
that effect. The imperious eonsb'erations which
.produced this measure will be exidained to the

parties whom it r►►ay, in any deg! «, concern,

To obtain correct. to 00 every subject
Which the United Statvs are int erestcd; to in—

spire just sentiments in all persons in authority,
no (+ her side, of our friendly disposition, In far
it may comport v.'ith Rll it:TatCIA itetitiality and

to .secure proper respect to our commerce to
ev(ry putt, and from every it IIHS beet) 11101)gia
pl'opir to Sena ;i slop of war, with three
goished citizcns, along the ..mthcrn coast, ‘VtitS
ith
instrut;ion to touch Ott such ports as they rn.iy
find most expedient for tl!cse pirpt.hes. Willi the
existing authorities,. %vitt, those in the possession
of, ant! exercising the sovereignly, tutst the com-
munication he held ; from them alone can red,e•l

for past injulies, coMmitted by persons Wing