Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-17

hlSNtsNc9y <slNSi tlt uotc tt Nnc treaty Oh
San Lorenzo ard continued uu;l tie CON:
venIicn OF Mad:id, which WAS signed on
the lth of August, 1905.
Exception has been taken 10 Tie con-
du6tof,he admins ration ON three grounds:
/. On that of delay in tho pursui, of
efficient measures for The obtaining indenl-
MITIGATION for spolated property.
2. On account of the substance Of the
convention: and
3. On account Of the circumstances at
tending It's rsiilica'inn.
In the FIRST place, the administration
are charged with having neglected 10 taLe
pronp. and efficient measures for indsm-
ni!ying our merchants.
TO test the accuracy of This charge it
is only necessaryto state few facts.
The snciations corilncnccd toWo,ds
the close ofihc year l79s, in The Presi-
dency OF General Washington, and conf
nued during The whole Of that,Cr MIR. a.
dams, whom it is customary to extol fer
the vigorous prosecution 81 The CONNER
cel rights OF our citizens.
No treaty was formed, or retlfess obtain
ed, during The ohoiG Of ti:e .,eriod which
terminated the Sd OF March, 1891, aud
which consequently embraced term of
more than FIVE years.
|, /, is well understood that these spoiia-
lions, in great meeSur-,'if N aitoee-
iher, grew out of cur misunderstanding
with France.
That misunderstanding was not fully
closed until the 18th d,y of December,
1901, when the treaty of Paris WAS ha.l-
ly acled upon by the Senate. t., ,rea-
", il is true, WAS signed on the 3o,h of
September, 1900; bot il o,ill be recollec-
ted that there was 4 mate,ia! modification
OF 1t proposed by our government, ac-
coiapanied with which * was sent back
10 France, " no agreed 10 il so modified
IN consequence OF which the Publications
were exchanged at Washington on ,hs
issh at December, iS0l.N-
On The Sd Of March, 1901, h!r. JeEe~-
sons administration commenced. Mr..
Humphreys was then our minister at the
court of Madrid. II is to be prcsum ID
that ne had full Instructions from Mr.. ~
damy, and that they were renewed by Mr..
Jefferson.
In the month Of June, 1901, Mr.. Pinck-
ney was appointed mimater owing to
sickness after he left the Urited States,
he did not replace Mr.. Humphreys till
December 1901: and OF The ll,h day of
Aug' following the convention was signed.
From these facts then it follows, that
what Mr.. Adams was unable to effect in
four years, Mr.. Jefferson accomplished
IN seventeen months; notwithstanding
the unavoidable delays arising from the
commencement Of rev administration.
il follows too, independent of any COM
par'son Of tie promptness Of the measures
OF one administration with those of the o.
ther, that little, III any time was lost, which
could have been saved. 1t was essential
'y necessary, to secure The co" Gdcmce of
the Spanish court, that the new executive
OF The United States should renew the
powers OF lis minister. II was impra6l-
cable to do this in less than few months.
/ hat court, likewise, undoubtedly waited
The issue OF our negotiations at Paris, and
was eventually governed by them, and The
treaty cf pace with Greai-33r.tain, enter
ed into n October 1901. These ueeoci-
auons, we have seen, were not brought to
close until the 10Th of December, 1901:
leaving period short OF eight months;
previous tothc formation of the convention.
When these circumstances are duly
weighed; and when proper allowance is
made for the tardy habits Of The Spanish
government for the unavoidable DELAYS
Attending all negotiations between indie
pendent nations for the connection as in
this case, Of regoc;atioss on one point
with chose on another OF greater impor-
lance; it any surprise IS INDUCED, IN res
Fect to the time consumed in negotiating
the convention, it will be on account OF $
breyity.
Exception is, in the second tlacs, TAX, n
to the substance Of the convention, which
is as follows:
"a CONVENTION,
Between his Cahnlc Aloiesly and Tie
United States Of America, for the in
Identification Of tho-e who haze sustained
losses, damage oripiuries, in consequence
Of The excesses Of individuals or either
nation, during the late war, contrary TO
the existing treaty or the laws Of nations"
His Catholic majesty and The govern
me0t Of The United States, wishing ami
c"hly to adjust the claims which have A.
RS Irou1 he ,v~-roar ~or,,~.:t,.J L..