The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1817-12-10

Of the treaty Of Gbeni, 70 whom IL vas refer.'
red to decide, to which party the several is
lands in the Bay of Psssamsquoddy belonged
under the trsaly Of one ihoussnd seven hun
dfcd and eighiy-ihree, have agreed 10 re-
port, by which all lhe Islands 10 the posses
sion Of each party before the late war have
been decreed TO il. The commissioners act
ing under the other articles Of the treaty Of
Ghent, for the settlement OF boundaries, baye
also been engsged in the discharge OF lhsir
respective duties, but have not ys, con pleled
them. The difference which arose between
tho TWO governments under that treaty, fes-
pec,ing the right OF the UnI,ed States TO take
and cure fish on the coast Of the British pro-
vinces, north OF our limits, which had been
scored by the treaty Of one Thousand seven
hundred and eighty taree, is stili in nego,ia-
,ion. The proposition made by this govern.
me mt, 10 extend TO the colonies Of Great Bril-
tain the pi iihciple OF the convention Of Lon
dom. by which the commerce between the
ports Of yhe United States aud British ports
10 Europe bad been placed on . footing Of
equaiiy, has been declined by the Brush
government. This supjsc. having been thus
smicably discussed between the Two govern-
ments, and il oppesring that the B't,sh gov
efpment Is unwilling 10 .depar, from IT'S pres
ent regulations, Il remains foe Congress TO
decide, whsshor sney win mhkc any other &c.
gustions, in consequences thoseof,' for tho
projection and Imp evement ol our paviga.
tion. e2 'yAt -@rri
The negotiation with Spain, for spolis,ions
on our commercc, and the settlement OF
Boundaries, cmains, essentially, IN the state
il held, by the communications that were
made TO Congress by my predecessor. !,
has been evidently thcpo!ioy OF the Spanish
governtnen, 10 keep the negotiation sospeod-
Cd, and 10 this tie Unltsd States have sgqu-
esced, from an smlcabie disposition tvwafds
Spain, and 10 the expectation that bel soy
ornnent wouid, from a sense OF jus,i-e, hosi-
iy Ecceda 10 such an arrans sIheot ss would
be equal between The parties a disposition
has been lately shcwn ty'the Spanish govern
msnt 10 move Ia lho negolIatian, wbsch has.
been net by this government and, should
The concilia,o,y aud friendly potisy, winch
[. has invariably guided our councils, be reeip-
rocated, JUST and satisfactory a.langsmen,
may be expected. II is p,opee, howeses,to to
remark, that no proposition has ye, been
made from which such . result can ba pre-
su,ped.
Il WAS anticipa,ej, at an early stage, tha,
the con,es, between Spain and ,he colonies
would become highly intcresrDg 10 the Uuit-
ed States. 1t was nsto'al that our ciuzens
should sympathise in events which affected
their ncighbors. II seemed pFobsblcs also,
that tho prosecution of The ,couil,c,, along orr
coas., aud in contiguous countries, would oc-
casionaily in,errupt our cornmetrc, snd OH
erwIse affect the persons aud property OF onr
cniZeus. These snticipatiops have been re-
a,ized. Such iuju,Ics have been received
from persons ac,ing under the sothoii,y OF
both psr,ies, and tor which redress has, in
most ins'anccs, been Withheld Through
every stage OF tho conf1icl, the United Stslcs
havo maintained an impartial ncutrsii'y, Civ.
iag aid TO neither OF the parties 10 n,en,
money, ships or munitions Of war. They
have regarded the contest, not IN The light OF
an ordinary insurrec,ion or rcbsIlion, bur as a
civil wal between psrtiosincsrlyl equai, hav.
ing, as to neutral powers, equal rights. Our
ports have been open 10 beth, aud every ar.
icle, thu icun of Sur soil. Or OF the industry
OF our citixens, which either was ctmitled
10 take, has been equally free ,othe o'bcr.
Should the colonies estaoish their indepeo
denee, st IL proper nov 10 state, Ina, this gps-
crnment neither seeks, nor would sccep,,
Vom tnem any auvantabe, W. Sommt1ce OF
otherwise, which will no, be equally open 10
ali other nations. The colonies viii, in hat
event, become independent states, hce from
aoy obligation to, or connection with Us,
which II may not then be their interest to
form on the basis of fair reciprocity.
In the summer of toe present year, an ex.
pedtion was set on foot agains, East Florida,
by persons ciainiog TO act under tho author
iry Of some Of the colonies, who took posses-
sion Of Amelia Island, at the mouth Of the
St. Msry's river, near the boundary Of the
sls,e Of Georgia. AS this ptovince lies cast
ward Of the Mississippi, and is bounded by
the United STATES and the ocean on every side
and hAs Ssso subject of negoc,a,icn with
the govsrpmeot of Spain, as aa indemnify for
losscs BY ssoilstion, or In exchange for ter.
ritovy. OF equal value, westward OF tho Mis-.
sissippi, q tact we'll known 10 the world, Il
excited ssrprizs, tha, any ecuntenance should
be giveo to this measure by cry OF the colon
les. Az II would bs dislisult 10 reconcile /,
with the friendly relations existing between