Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-01-28

.,,..;on whatever, which allgfil csuss IS g
~ y;rwed as a national offence. A must CD
serve, that according 70 my iniosmaiioa,
the duties on lmpos,o and exports are very
m oderate only 6 per cent, 4 that every Po"-
.er has right 10 regulate as they please
these objects within the boundaries OF tneir
,;nrisdlctlon, and this exercise of sovereign
~ is,practlsed by the American govern
ment at Fort Ssoddert; that is, within
their lines, without any pretensions on the
par, of Spain to Interfere in their reguiasl-
ons. But even admitting il may eirou-
blesome, it never surely can be pretended
as national offence.
He afterwards SAYS" Propositions for
adjusting amicably the boundaries OF Loul.
siana have not been acceded to-" his as
sertion is not strictly correct; tor 1t is, and
always has been the wish as well asthe in.
tention of Spain, TO adjust smicably the Ii
rni,s OF Louisiana; bar however friendly
(amcabIs) may have been her disposition
towards il, she canao, sacrifice thereto Ell
Their the dignity or rights of her crown;
so that it was not,as the president supposes
owing,to the want of a desire OF adjusting
amicah!y, that this business was NOT con-
Guided but rather from the nature ofthe
proposals, which were in thenselvea mad
MISSILE. The paragraph continues
/" While the rights unsettled, we have a.
voded to change the state Of things, BY
taking new posts, or Strengthening our
selves in the disputed territories, IN the
hope that the other power would not, by
a contrary conduct, oblige US to meet their
example, and endanger conflicts of aothoFi-
~, the issue of winch may not easily be
con,rouled but in this hope we have now
reason to lessen our cophdence."
II truth cannot comprehend what the pref.
debt can call unie,t!ed ,igns and fill leGs, ii he
wines to spply Il to that part of Wet Florida
comprehcndcd within the Mifififp, Ibervillcs,
/ lakes, and the river rerdldo. The light of
thi, territory cannot be csnGdered as unfettled or
d,ubtiui; for independent of thar right aIidag
trom actual p5G.fion and from tn. treaty of re-
uoeeRion OF Louliana to F.ance, there issapo
Their ancuGv: circumaance, well known TO the
American government, which ought and mue
diapate every doubr, if any could ever exit On
this luGiea. The mof dif;nguihed ciy!isos a.
gree, that the tue interpreters of a treaty,
doubtful in any of is claufes OF expeditions, are
the contracting parties t!emlelyes, when this can
be obtained. Spain and France, who were the
contracting parties in the treaty of rctrocelion,
on which is founded that Of iale, Of the goth OF
April, froFa whence The pretenilcns of the Anne
ricah government emauate, have explained il 10
the manner already known TO you, Sit; namely,
thar it was not the intention OF Spain to cede to
Fsance more thar Che had received from her, as
the title and word retroceiiion made ulc of there.
in, clearly imply; and that France never wuuld
have pretended or hoped TO obtain ore inch of
Land caa Of the M:iEiippi, IbeFville, and Ghe
Lakes. The true intention OF the contracting
parties being thus exp slsly manifeaed, ] hall
content myfeif by copying fngle paragraph
from Vattel, among many ether ilmiiar ones
which | could produce from other civilians, in
fupport of the rights of the king, my mater on
this fubiees. In paragraph TIA Of +" Tie In
terpre,ation Of Theatres" Vsttrkiays-" When
we manifeagy fee what is the fenie Tint agrees
with rhe intention of the contracting powers, ii
is not permitted to turn their words to contra
~ meaning. The intention efficiently known
fura:fa,. the true matter of the convention, Of
what is promird and accepted, demanded ard
granted. To violate The tieaty, Is to go cen
taty 60 the intention f fiji irrfly n,anite.ted raa
ther Than against the terms IN which il is con-
ceisel; for the terms are noihirg without the
iotensions yhrsuehout TO dictate them'' Ac-
eordiug to this, The petition taken by the pref
dent, in the laid paragraph of his meaage, that
the right (no doubt abiding to the territorial
right was doubtful or uniettIcd, is inadmliliole,
ana Of cou.ie all The indueaons and conf quences
he draws from this. fuppoftion. fall completely
10 the gr d. B Gdcs, whatever alteration CT
change nigh; have taken place in the territories
of his Catholic majesty could never have been,
as have had the honor to ,nform you, fir, bar
the eff; Cts of new plan Of frontiers, Gaich the