Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-07-24


complete hostility with the views Of
srain in this partic.Iar instance. Tie
following observations, on the same
subject. are taken from the Washing
ton City Gazette, and place the bust
ness in full view before the public.
IMPORTANT STATEMENTS.
at is with very i'll grace that the
lSpapish government places itself in the
light of an Injured party in the questions
depending bptween it and the United
States On the subject of Florida. Spain
does not contest tie transfer OF louisa,
naby France and not contesting that,
she of course aDandons al claim to what
soever the .ransfer isciude-. he Anne
irican government requires no more !: In
Justice to itself II eannot accept OF less.
Whether Louisiana, as purchased by the
United States, comprehends any portion
jof W est Florida? is a Gu stion for ami
cable discussions he United States
lhate b en- long ready to meet it, 1t is
Spain herseii that is culpable in procras-
ltinating an equitable and honest adjus.-
,ment of limits.
In taking possession of a portion OF
West F.orida, as part OF the Louisiana
purchase, the United States acted upon
the sonnd 81 principles OF political morali-
ty. Should Spain make nut her title to
Il, the territory IN dispute will be instant
~ relibeuished tn her.
The spanish 60 eminent had acted
with peculiar Dad faith towards that Of the
United States, During the earlier years
OF he French revolution, Srain and the
United states being at peace. the Spa9iah
sovereign allowed French consular ADM
rally courts to be instituted within his iu-
risdIction, By which large amount'of Al
merican property was condemned. fherei
can be 40 clearer principle of the law OF
nations than this /; that every independent
state is responsible to any other indepen
dent STATE for injuries done to the latter,
by force, or suiferace, or conntyance.-
This principle applies TO the condition of
things between the United States and
Spain. The Spanish government itself
seemed, under tie influence Of moinenta
ry feelings of rectitude, ia acknowledge
it; and entered into treaty IN 1902, toI
make compensation for the lesses of Al
merican citizens by tie privilege granted
to the Preach tribunals established inI
Spain. This treaty was believed by tie
American government to have been CON.
pete, with the exceptlou OF some particu
lars or acknowledgement considered OF any
very great or as opposing any
serious obstacle to the iinaI ratification OIL
it. BY an a.'tIfce, how i'll which the
famous lruio was principal agent. theI
Spanish sovereign centrlved to elude the
force of that treaty and to render it null. |
Y,ujo proeared, from some lawyers in|
uritten opinion, that az
Of a principal absolyed an aeE
cessacy rom all responsibility. 1hiSisI
a maxim os TIE common law. applicable
ch,efi, to criminal offenders; and it wa
argued lhereiro,a by the Spanish authori-
ties, that, as the United States had al
tasted their dltfe ences with France with. /
ourdeuanling compensation for the pro-
perty condemned by the French courts
n spain, the later stood, OF course, &C
Quilted, the Erench cove. nment being the
offender AID that Of sipaiu
merely an accessory. Thus, by strata
oem. ruie OF municipal law was purloin-
Cd for the code OF nations, and some of
our ATTEST LAW yers were matte to appear
as if opposed in opinion to tier own go-|
yernplent. The doctrine OF the Spaniards
on this occasion, is too absurd to require
particular retutation, We're it to be
upon by any nation, that nation
would inevitable be converted into a ren
lezvous and asylum for all sorts OF rob
,ers, Let US suppose simply the case OF
| pirate. capturing American property
md carrying it into Spain, allowing it to
,e there condemned as good prize, ought
We to lock to the pirate, and not to the
sovereign Of Spain. for reparatlon! The
,ssence Of the common law maxim,a that
he acgui,tal of a principal acquits the
,ccessary. consists in the want OF proof to
support the fact with which the principal
5 charged. or in tie want OF law to pu-
lish him for the crime and mere espe
,iaIlv. in the circumstance that both the
me and the other of the accused par les
ire charged with the same offence. But J
he fact. as it relates to spain, is not event
doubted that the claims ought to be IL
lui,lated is net denied by the spaniards
themselves tie Only point is by whom i
spain says b, France: he United States f
a.,... 70 Il thc EroI Oh o.. Tho G...i La