Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-01-29

wards US. i lie event TOO proved thai
* was not neceilary TO obtain her recoeni-
,ion c. il by Ecr;fce en- orr part 70 m
Frptent, as that contemplated in the Ieio
luiion alluded TO.
After the concIuiion Of the war, Mir.
Gardoqui, the Spanill miniiter refident IN
this country, was infrutted to negotiate
with our governn ent relative to rhe Mil
fippi. Mr.. Jay, tllen Secretary Of lo-
reign Affairs, was appointed by Congrels
TO treat with him. The executive nav'-
CATION of this river, was iavorite sro-.
jet of the King of Spa'n--it was intlited
uPon with unyielding periinacisy. 10
abandon forever our right TO participate in
irs ne. was an idea not to be endured; il
was attempted 10 meet midway. Spain
at length propofed, that we fhouId cede TO
her for IS years the fole navigation OF the
river, for which in return very important
and executive commercial advantages were
offered as the quivalent; among theie orr
yeflels we're to be received in her ports,
(other than S. America) On the fame foot
ing with her own: fubjett to no other re-
ffrietions, or duties. 1t is true. that
Mr.. Jay reported TO Congrefs thefe terms,
as the refult of his negotiation with Mr..
Gardoqni, and that he recommended TO
congsefs to accede TO them. 1t is allotiuc,
that ieven of the eaaern itates" voted
in favor of the report. The weak and
unietted fate of our government howe
yer, a. that time prevented the compile
ton of treaty, and the bulineis there ter
minated.
Now " hen Mr.. Randolph adverted 70
this tranfaaion, il would have been we'll
for him not 10 have relied too implicitly
upon the authority Of MIR. Mrnroe's
fptech; but 10 have examined for hinfe)f
the facts that have been here briefly men
toned before he undertook to vaunt of
the conduct Of tie fouthcrn fates 10 rela-
ton 10 the MiaiiliPpi, and to criminatc
the proceedings Of what then conltituteda
majority of the Union.
a flight view of exiting circumaanccs
., the time of this negotiation, il IS pre-
iuned will abundantly repal the unjua IN
ierences Of MIR. Munroe ard Of Mr.. Ran
do!ph, that the ealfern hates in voting for
the propoied arrangements with Spain,
were governed by an untriecdly fPlrt to
the weacrn fettlers, or even delire to de-
preis fouthern influence.
From what has been faid, it appears,
that the executive navigation Of the Milf
fiilippi, was matter. of ardent dehre with
the Ssanilh King; that the war had no
iooner clo(ej than he fought the means of
urging his claim to it fliat when his mi
niaer broschea the fubj-tt to our govern
menr, it had neither energy to Unfit upon
its rights, nor power to protect them. II
we had refrfed all overtares of accon,mo-
dation, might it NOT have been juAiy ap-
pretended, that Spain would ufurp and
maintain by force, what ihe could NOT a
vail hcrfelf of by gentler means and
that therefore the only ineafure which
prefented itlelf was to ten PORTE or to bar
gains
An important and leading inGucement
with our nasefnen who were in favor of
the proPofed meature, is mere TO be men
toned. Spain claimed the exoluive right
to the river, and denied that we had any
p1erenlons we on Cur part advanced a
rival claim, 10 participate at leaf, in the
privilege of its navigation. How were
thele Earrings rights 10 be fc,tled twas
then fupPofcd by Mr.. Jay and 'hcfe who
acted with him, that if the affair could
be made to aGume lhape that would i'm,
ply thar Spain accepted the river as OR
leiiee for certain time, it would follow
that ihe virtually recognized the reviii
cnary right to be in us, ard thus there
would quietly be an end TO all future diff