Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-16
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPANYING THE
PRESIDENYs MESSAGE.
CONTINUED.
DIR. MONROE TO Mr.. FOSTER.
DEPARTMENT Of STATE, July 8, 1911.

/ have had the honor to receive the note
which you have presented, By the order OF his
royal highness the prince regent, to protest,
in behalf of the regency of Spain, against the
possession lately taken by the United States OF
certain parts Of West-F lorida.
Although the President cannot admit the
right of Great-Britain to interfere in any
question relating to that province, he is willing
TO explain, in friendly manner, the consider
ations which induced the United Statesfo take
the step against which you have been order
ed to protest.
It's to be inferred from your view OF the
subject, that the British government has been
taught to believe that the United States seized
q moment Of national embarrassment to Wrest
from Spain province to which they had no
right, and that they were prompted to 1t by
their interest alone, and knowledge that
Spain coul6 not defend it. Nothing however,
is more remote from the fact, than the pre-
sumption on which your government appears
10 have acted. Examples of so unworthy
conduct are unfortunately too frequent in the
history of nations, butthe United States have
not followed them. The President had per-
suaded himself that the unequivocal proofs
which the United States have given In ali
their transactions with foreign powers, and
particularly with Spain, OF an upright and IL
beral policy. would have shielded them from
so unmerited a suspicion. He Is satisfied that
nothing is wanting but a correct knowledge
Of facts completely TO d!sslPate IT,
might bring TO your view long catalogue
of injuries which the United States have re-
ceiyed from Spain since the conclusion Of their
revolutionary war, any one of which would
most probably have been considered cause OF
war, and resented as such, BY other powers.
will mention two of these only the spolia-
tons that were committed on their commerce
70 great amount in the last war, and the sup
preston of their deposit at New-Orleans just
before the commencement OF the present war,
in violation of solemn treaty for neither OF
which injuries has any reparatlon or atone
ment been made. For injuries like those oil
the first class, it is known ~ you that iIreat-
Britain and France made indemnity. The U
nited States, however, do not rely on these m
iuries for justification OF their conduct IN
this transaction, although their claims to repa-
ration for them are BY no means reiinqulshed,
and, it is to be presumed, will not always be
neglected. :
When | inform you that the province OF
West-Fiorida to tie Perdido was part OF
I.ouisiana, while the whole province formerly
BELONGED to France, that although 1t was at
forwards separated from the other part, yet
that both parts were again reunited In the
hands of Spain, and by her re-conveyed to
France, in which state the entire province OF
Louisiana was coded tt, the United States III
1905. that in accepting the cesslon and paying
for the territory ceded, the United States I'M
derstood and believed that they paid Tor the
country as far as the Perdido, as part OF Loul-
siana and that on conviction OF their right,
they included in their laws provisions adapted
IN the cession in that eXtent--lt cannot TALL to
he a cause of surprize to the Prince Regent.
that they did not proceed to take possession OF
the territory IN question as soon as the treaty
WAS ratified There was nothing In the cir
cumst;nces Of Spain at that time, that could
have forbidden the measure. In denying the
rights of the United States to this territory,
her government invited negotiation On that x
every other point In CONDENSATION between the
parties. The United States accepted the In
yitation In the hope that 1t would secure an
adjustments & re parationtar every INJURY which
had been received, and lead to the restoration
of perEect harmony between the two coun-
tries, butin that hope they were disappointed.
Since the year 1905, the period of the last
negotiation with Spain, the pi ovince of West
Flor;da. has remained in a situation altogether
;ncomnafible with the welfare Of these states.
The Government of Spain has scarcely been
fsl, there in consequence of which the at
fairs of that province had fallen into disorder;
Or .h., circumstance, however. the United
G.. .oot no advantage. 1t was not until
the last year, when the inhabitants, pereeiving
,hst-aII authority over them had ceased, rose
in SoIy with intention to take the country
;o,c fheir oxn hands, that the American 60
'rn.neat interposed. 1t was Impossible tor
.Ie united Stst.s to behold with indifference
. Doycment in which they were SO de9piy In