Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-03-18
recently wrested from their hands by the
authority ofthe Spanish government, and
NO OTHER EQUIVALENT one

aVtnOr1ty OF the 0pahlSn government, dHu
NO OTHER EQUIVALENT one
assigned, where after more than two thou.
sind miles of boat navigation, they may
tisembark their produce in order to be
lhipped for sea, andwithout this adyan-
tage the navigation Of the river is to them
but an empty name. ...... -
have said by the authority ofthe Spa,
nish government. 1t has indeed been 81
wen out to the world for reasons that eve-
~ man may conjecture, and are unneces.
sary to be mentioned, that this was not
the act Of the government, but the rash
measure of a single officer, the Intendant
General Of the Spanish proyinces--that
the Spanish minister had issued orders
for the speedy adjustment Of these diff
culties-had kindlyoAered to throw him
self into the breach to prevent this Inten-
dant General from going into extremities
with the government Of the u. States.---
Sir, gentlemen may find when too late,
that this is mere piece ofdiplomatic po-
Icy, intended only toamuse them-and
to say nothing of the humiliating idea Of
resorting to such a plaster for the wound
that has been inflicted upon our national
honor, If they had taken the trouble, they
might have been informed that the Spa
nish Minister near this government has
no controul at New-Orleans--that the
Intendant General is Ike himself an im-
mediate officer of the crown, and respon-
sible oaly to the crown for his conduct.
If the Spanish minister has interfered,
which l am not disposed to question, to
make the best Of it, it could only have
been by the intreaties ofmen in power, as
a mere mediator, to beg ofthe tntendant
General Of New-O Orleans, justice and
peace on behalf of the people of the Uni
ted States. Are honorable gentlemen
preparedto accept ofpeace on such terms!
They might do sir for tribe of starving
Ihdians-but Is this the rank that we are
to hold among the nations of the world !!
And it seems thateyen these supplicating
advances are likely 70 avail us nothing-
by accounts very lately received from
New Orleans, by private letter which
! have seen since these resolutions were
submitted to the senate-the Intendant
General has expressed much displeasure
At the interference of the Spanish mini
stet-stating that it was not within his
duty or his province, and that he, the
Intendant, acted not under Spanish but
French orders. .2z e 49, ".
As to the closing Of the portof New.
Orleans against our citizens, the man
who can now doubt, after viewing all the
accompanying circumstances, that it was
the deliberate act ofthe Spanish or French
government, must have locked up his
mind against truth and conviction, andbe
determined to discredit even the evidence
Of his own senses, But sir, it is not on-
" the deprivihg Us of our right Of depo-
sit by which we have been aggrieyed--
it is BY a system Of measures pursued an
tecedent and subsequent to that event,
equally hostile and even more insulting.
] have in my hand a paper, signed by a
Spanish officer which with the Indulgence
Of the chair, I will read to the senate.
-. =. :. ADVERTISEMENT. = x :
:: q Under date ofthe 10th inst. (Decem-
ber) The Intendant General ofthese pro-
.vinces tells me, that the citizens Of the
United States of America. can have no
commerce. Wifh his mqiesty's subjects
they only have the free navig alton of the
river for the expectation of the fruits and
produce of their establishments, to TO-
reign countries, and the importation of
what they may want from them As such
Icharge you, 50 far as respects you, to
be jealous and uigilant, with Particular
care, that the inhabitants, neither tur-
chase or sell any thing to tie shipPiag, fat
bottomed boats, 6arges Or any other smaller
vessels thai may SO along the river desti-
ned for the American possessions, or
proceeding from them, that they shall be
informedof i for their due compliance
ofthe same : ~ { =, ~
.r (Signed) - !. T- - ' '.: ..-.-
.$ CARLOS DE GRANDPREE. !
Baton Rouge, December %, 1909. (
e. Z. - :.