The Sun.
London, England, 1820-01-07 00:00:00

pernicious abuses of her rights, where site could
not support her authority.,
It being knoa/n that the Treaty was formed tin-
der these circum•tances, not a doubt was enter-
tained that his Catholic Majesty- would have rati-
fied it without delay. 1 regret to have to state,
that this reasonable expectation has beer. disap-
pointed ; that the Treaty was not ratified within
the time stipulated, and has ttot since been rati-
fied. As it is important that the nature and cha-
racter of this unexpected Occurrence should be
distinctly understood, I think it my duty to com-
municate to you all the facts anti circumstance:
in toy possession, relating to it.
Anxious to prevent all future disagreement with
Spain, by giving the most prompt effect to the
Treaty, which had been thus concluded, and,
particularly, by the est ablishineut of a Coeern-
went in Florida, which should preserve order
there, the Minister of the Uoiied States, who,had
been recently appointed to his Catholic Majesty,
and !O whom the ratification, by his Government,
had been committed, to he exchanged for that of
Spain, was instructed to transmit the latter to the
Department of gate, es soon as obtained, by a
public ship, s,!bjected to his order for the pur-
pose. Unexpected delay occurring in the ratifi-
cation, by Spain, he requested to be infoNned
of
the cause. It was stated, in reply, that the great
importance nf the subject, anti a desire to
obtain explanations on certain points, which
Were not specified, had produced the delay,
and th.it an Envoy would be dispatched to the
United States, to obtain such explanations of
this Government. The Minis.;yr of the United
States offered to give full explanation on any
point out which it might be desired : which pro-
wess! was declined. Haviog communicated this
result to the Department of State in August last,
he was inst ructesi, not withstanding the disappoint-
ment and staptise which it produced, to inform
the Government of Spain, that if the treaty should
he ratified, and tratismitted here at any time be-
fore ..be me ling of Congress, it would be teceived,
and have the saute effect as it it Into been ratified
in due time. This order was executed ; the autho-
rised commuoicatiott sets made to the Government
of Spain, anti by iis answer, which has just been re-
evved, We are officially made acquainted, for the
fired time, with the causes which have prevented the
ratification of the treaty, by his Catholic Majesty.
It is alleged by the Minister of pain, that this
G,,vernmeni ILA attempted to alter one of the prin-
cipal Articles of the Treaty, by a Declaration,
which the Minister of the Uoi.ed States had been
ordered to present, when he should deliver the
ratifi,.4,6)„ b'l his Government, in exchange for
that of Spain, and of wlitch lie gave notice, ex-
okitia ory tut 6 i , sense nto bleb that article was
understood. It is further alleged, that this Go-
vernmeot had recently tolerated, 'or protected, an
Ex polition from the United Slant, against the
Province of 1 hese two imputed Acts are
stated as the reasons which have induced. his ca.,
(butte. M +sty to withhold his ratification from the
Treaty. to obtain explauations, respecting which
it is repeated, that all Envoy would be forthwith
dispatched to the T‘litited States. How fur these
allegations will jostily the conouct of the Govern-
men! of Spain, will appear on a view of the
tol-
looitig facts, and the esideuce which supports

114:
It will be t=een by the documents transmitted
herewith, that the (L.'..:laration mentioned relates
to a clause in the Bth article concerning ceraiu
grants of land, recently mate by his Catholic Ala-
jesl, iii Flotida, which, it was understood, had
conveyed all the lands, \vhicit till then bad been
ungranted. It was the intention of the par►ies to
annul these latter Kraus, and that cl.,use was
drawn fur that express purpose, and for none

other.
The date of these grants was unknown, but it was
understood to he posterior to that inserted in the
article ; indeed, it must be obvious to all, tha,, if
that provision in the treaty hart not the effect of an-
Bulling these grants, it would be altogether nuga-
tory. Immediately after the treaty was concluded,
and ratified by this Government, an intimation
was received that these grants were of anterior
date to that fixed on by the treaty; and that they
would not, of course, by affected by it. The mere
possibility of such a case, so inconsistent with the
intention of the parties, and the meaning of the
article, induced this Government to demand an
explanation on the subject, which was immediate.
ly gt anted, and which corresponds with this
statement. With respect to the other act alleged,
that this Government had tolerated, or protected
an Expedition against Texas, it is smelly without
fo„„,ktina, Every discountenance has invariably
been given to every such attempt front within the
limits of the United States, as is fully evinced by
the acts of the Government, and the proceedings
• of the Courts.
There being cause, however, to Apprehend, in
the course of thc., last summer, that some adven..
turers entertained views of the kind suggested,
the attention of the Constituted Authorities in
that quarter was immediately drawn to them, and
it is known that the project, whatever it might
be, has utterly failed.
These facts will, it is presumed, satisfy every
impartial mind, that the Government of Spain haul
oo justifiable cause for declining to ratify the
eaty ; a Treaty concluded-in conformity with in-
s. ructious is obligatory, in good faith, in all its
stipulations, ccorting to the ye intent an
meaning of tbea parti,is. Each partyu is bound to rd.,'
tify it. If either con!!! set it aside, without the con-
scut of the other, there would be no longer any
roles applicable to such transactions between
nations. 13y this proceeding the Goveyntnent
of Spain has rendered to the United States a new
//WI very serious injury. It has been stated, that
a Minister %rookd be sent, to ask certain explana-
tions of this Government. But, if such were
l desired"? %%by were they not asked within the
time limited for ratification ? Is it contemplated
to open a new siegociatien respecting any of the
articles or conditions of the Treaty th„, were
done, to what consequences might it not lead ?
At what time and it what manner would- a new
negociat ion let minate ? By this pi oceediog,
Spain has formed a relation bet %veto the two
countries which will justify any measures on the
part or the United Stioks, which a s!rong ~oe of
injury, and a proper regard tor the tigl4is awl in-
terests of the tta:ion may dictate. In tbc course