Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-14


After the peace, il became the buff
neis Of Congreis TO inveaigate the relati-
on of tnefe Rates TO the different powers
OF the earth, ina more extenive view
eshan they had hitherto done, and parti-
cularly in the commercial line; and 20
make arrangements for entering inso
treaties with them on luch terms as might
9be mutually beneficial for each party. AS
the refult of the deliberations of that day.
il was refolved, Sc Thar commercial trea-
ties. be formed, if poiible, with iaid pow
ers, .hoic OF Europe IN particular, spain
included upon dmilar principles, and three
xCommiilioners, Mr.. Adams, MIR. Frank
lin, and Mr.. JefeIlon, be appointed Tor
thar purpois. $50 that an arrangement
for a treaty Of commerce with Spain had
already been taken. Whit theie powers
! were in force, a representative from Spain
arrived, authorized TO treat with the u
nited States, on the intereiting claims
of the two nations, reipeeting the Mifiii-
fppi. ana the boundaries and other con-
Germs wherein they were respectively IN
tereaed. "A iimilar commillion was CIV
en- 10 the Honorable the Secretary OF 70
reign Affairs, on the part of the United
STATES, with thrie ultimate, |" That he
enter into no treaty,E compact or conytn-
ton whatever, with faid representative OF
Spain, which did not itipulate our right
70 the navigation of the Miilliii1pl, and
the boundaries as efabliihed in our treaty
with Great Britain. And thus the
late negotiation commenced, and under
aufpicies, as fuppofed, very favorable
10 the wilhes of The United States tor
Spain had become fenGble of the propriety
soi cultivating the friendlhip of theie ftates
Knowing our claim to the navigation
of this river, The had ient Miniaer hi
Their principally TO treat en- the point
and the tine would NOT be remote when,
under the increaiing population OF that
( country, the inhabitants would be able'to
open it, without our ailieance or her con-
-isnt. Theie circumstances being confder-
ed, was it not prelumable ihe intended to
make merit of her conceiiion TO our with
es and TO agree to an accommodation up
on that fubietf, that would not only be
satisfactory, but highly pleaiing to the
United States? But what was the iiiue OF
this negotiation How was it terminal
ed ? Has il forwarded the particular OBJ
jee in. view, or otherwile promoted the
interefls and the harmony of the Rates, or
any of.them? Eight or fen monihs ela9i-
ed without any communications OF IFS pro-
grefs. AT length letter was received
from the Secretary, fating that Difficult.
ties had arifen in his negotiation with the
Representative of Spain, which, in his OPT.
snion, lhould be fo-managed, as thar even
their exiRenee ihould remain fecret tor
the prsient, and propoGng thar commit
tee be appointed with iull power TO d.
reA and inarna him in every cafe rela-
tive to The propoled treaty. As the only
, ultimate in his initruttions reipeeted the
Miniaippi and the boundaries, it readily
occurred chat thele occaGoned the Difficult
ties alludedto, and were thofe ne wilhed
10 remove. And for many reaions this
appeared at leait 10 me an extraordinary
propodsiop. By the articles OF. Consede-
ration cine fates are neceaary TO enter
into treaties. The intfrutfion is the foun-
dation Of the treaty for if it is formed
agreeable thereto, good faith requires thar
il be ratified. The pratlice of Congreis
hath alfo bsen always, | believe, IN con-
formiiy to this ides. The infTuesionun-
der which our commercial treaties have
been made were carried by pine Rates.
Thole andsr which she Secretary now
acted were paasd by snine aates. The
propcftion would then be, that the pow
ers which under the Conatution nine
itases only were coNpetent TO, thoasd be
transferred toa committee, and the object
thereby TO i;{aDpaoe hinielf from tie ul-