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

c"i-n government, winch would not take
pece until inumaiion Of il had been made
10 both the parties; this would lake at
least two months. Supposinc the appoint
mentof sonersimmediately, otake
place, and no time TO be lost i'm fixing the
time OF Sleir meeting, three months more
would at least, be consumed, before they
could reach Madrid; making in the whole
hvc months, which added 10 The eighteen
months allowed in the convention, would
make term Of nearly two years, during
which they are TO q receive all Claims ;"not,
~ has bscn erroneousIy stated, decide
upon them.
IS not then the term OF two years am
pie Tor the sole purpose ofrecciving them
Would not the allowance of longer term
have tended inluriously to delay the ulti-
mate liquidation? 1t ought not 10 escape
notice that, although eighteen months are
allowed for receiving ciailfis, there is no
obstacle created by. the convention, TO the
settlement, at any time, of those prefer
red.
IN ne FORTH PLACE the convention has
been condemned for not making provis-
OH for the indcmnihcaton of property cap
tured by the French cruisers, and adiudi
Gated in Spanish ports. There can be no
doubt of the Justice of our claims on the
Spanish government for this species of
spolation. But as the benefit derived
from It accrued 10 France, and as the sane
ton given it by Spain was Internationally
co=rcsd by France, it is probdole that
Spain thought It hard and unequita5le 10
afford compensation for which France
would not Indemnify her or perhaps, her
oblect was 10 gain time 10 m Ike arrange
m:nts with France 10 relieve hersel, from
the eventual burthen Of The indemnify;
and il IS by no means unlikely that she wa,
emboldened to pursue this course by the
instructions Of Mr.. Adams, and the con-
sequent treaty with France, waving al,
claims Tor French spolialious. So far.
then, rs this state of things induced the
decision of Spain on this point, whatever
merit or demerit attaches TO it lies at the
door Of the former administration. Our
government claimed full indemnity.
spain agreed To allow partial indemni.
ty; not being able TO obtain more, was
It not rigli! to take all that could be got
especially when this did not, as in the
ca3e of the treaty with France, an,.ul CT
in the least invalidate the claims for sDo-
liations made by French cruizsrs, which
are expressly reserved for future adjust.
ment?
In the last hlace censure is thrown on
the administration on account Of the cir.
cumstances attending the ratification of
the convention: So unblushingiy atroci-
GUS has calumny been on this point, that
it has in defiance Of the clearest expo-
sure al tacls charged the President with
having suppressed the convention for -
months, and the republican side of the
Senate with having co-operated with HIN
virtually TO render it nugatory, in order
20 wrcak mean and contemplate yenge-
ance on our merchants.
Tie {atts attending this trarsa aion We
long since stated, nthe hope that he false
hoods then Propagated arose from ieno-
rance, and that they would not, after such
IN exposure be repeated. Events have,
howefrr, shewn that in this charitable
nope, we have been disappointed. Those
;1tts, with others which it is now proper
to state, are these.
The convention was signed at Madrid
on the eleventh Of August, 1902. Ii was
received by the executive on the 24th
of November following, who early in the
session, which commenced in the begin
ming Of December, laid l. before the Sc
nate. In the mean time the Spanish In
tendant at New-Orlears suspended our
right OF deposit at that place. The SEN
sstioD cxcjted by this agg,es sion is not
forgotten. lis nnmedia.c effects were dis
tresslng, while IFS ultimate effects menac-
cd the peace OF the country. There were
not, ndeec, wanting those, WAC denomi-
mated the outrage an acl Of war, and un-
der this impression the lcdclal side oil the
senate urged with vehemcrce the taking
torc'hle possession Of New-Orleans. #
was during these discussions that the con-
vention was communicated to the Senate.
"A majority Of that body was then republi-
can, but that majority did not amount TO
two thirds of all the members. The rail-
hcaIlon OF the treaty requires the concur
renee oftwo thirds. Although, therefore,
republicans commanded majority, not
having so large a number as two thirds,
they had il not in therpower TO insure by
their votes alone the ratification Of the