Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-16

you. With equal frankness shall now COM
municate the part they have acted win ieSpee'
TO East Florida.
In the letter which had the honor 70 al
dress to you on The 9Th Of July, stated the
injuries which the United States had received
from Spain, since their revolutionary war,
and particularly by spoliations on their com;
merce in the last war, to great amount ana
of the suppression of their right OF deposit at
New-Orleans, Just before the commencement
of the present war, for neither OF which hao
PREPARATION been made. A claim to indemnity
ior these in iuries, is altogether unconhected
with the question relating to. West-Florlda,
which was acquired by cession from France In
1908.
The government of Spain has never denied
the right of the United States to just indem-
nifty for Spoliations on their commerce. In
1902 it explicitly admitted this right by enter
ing into convention, the object OF which was
to adjust the amount of the claim, with view
to indemnity. The subsequent injury by the
suppression of the deposit at New Orleans
produced an important change In the relations
between the parties, which has never been
accommodated The United States saw in
war did not Immediately follow cannot be con-
sidered in any other light than as proof of
their moderation and pacific policy. The ex-
ecutive could not believe that the government
of Spain would refuse to the United States
the Justice due to these accumulated injuries,
when the subject should be brought solemnly
before it, by special mission. 1t is known
that an envoy extraordinary was sent to Ma
drid in 1905 on this subject, and that the mis-
sion did not accomplish the object intended
yit.
1t is proper to observe, that in the negoti-
alton with Spain in 1905, the injuries COM
planned of by the United States of the first
class were again substantially admitted to a
certain extent, as was that also occasIoncd by
the suppression ofthe deposit at New-Orleans,
although the Spanish government by disclaan
ing the act, and imputlng it to the lntendant,
sought to avoid the responsibility due from it
that to make indemnity to the United States
for injuries of every kind, cession Of the
whole territory claimed by Spain eastward of
the Mississippi was made the subject of ne
gotlat:on, and that the amount of the sum de-
manded for it was the sole cause that treaty
was not then formed, and the territory added.
The United States have considered the 60
vernment of Spain indebted to them greater
sum for the njuries above stated, than the
Province of East Florida can By any fair stand
ard between the parties be estimated at. They
have looked to this Province for their indenl-
nitv, and with the greater reason, because the
government of Spain itself has countenanced
it. That they have suffered their Just claims
So long unsatisfed, is new and strong proof
OF the moderation, as it is Of their respec:
for the disordered condition of that power
Thcro 10, ivr~e-er, period beyond which
those claims ought not to be neglected. 1t
would be highly improper for the United
States, in their respect for Spain, to forget
what they owe to their own character, and to
the rights of their injured citizens.
Under these circumstances it would be E.
qually unjust and dshonorabe in the United
States to suffer East-Florida to pass into the
possession of any other power. Unjust, be-
Cause they would thereby lose the only indem-
nifty within theirreach, for injuries which ought
long since to have been redressed. Dishonor-
able, because in permitting another power to
wrest from them that indemnity, their inacti-
witty and acquiescence could only be imputed
to unworthy motives. Situated as East-Fori-
Spain, and surrounded in great measure by
the territory of the United States; and having
also an important bearing on their commerce,
no other power could think OF taking posses
sion of it, with other than hostile views to
them. Nor could any otter power take pos
session of it without endangering their pros
perity and best interests.
The United States have not been ignorant
or inattentive to what has been agitated in Eu-
rope, at different periods, since the COM
mencement Of the present war, in regard to
the Spanish provinces in this hemisphere
nor have they been unmndful of the conse-
quences into which the disorder of Spain
might lead in regard to the province in ques-
ton, without due care to prevent it. They
have been persuaded that remissness on their
part might invite the danger, if it had not al
ready done it, which it Is so much their inte-
rest and desire to prevent. Deeply impress
sed with these considerations, and anxious,
while they acquitted themselves to the Just