Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-24

the efforts in his power. This common rule of in.
terconrsc between all civilized nations. has. |
between the United States and Spain, the fur |
Their aud solemn sanction of an express stipuia. |
ton by treaty. In violation both OF the com |
mon usage OF nations, and of the express pro-
mise of Spain in the treaty, nearly two hundred
vessels and their cargoes, belonging TO citizens
of the United States, were seized, inaus of
them within the territorial limits of Spain, aud
under the cannon OF her fortresses, b, French
cTuiaerS and all OF them were condemned
within Spanish Jurisdiction.
You allege- FIRST, That Spain has, i'm the ca
sea 10 which reference is now made, actually
Carried iuto effect the obligations contracted
by treaty; that she used all hei efforts for the
defence and projection of this prbperty Bm,
in what have these efforts consisted These
were not cases of vessels seized by suadenyi.
olence aud Carried away beyond her juris,iic-
tiOn, before the officers, appointed for tho
execution ct her laws. could he app.ixedoftiie
wrong, and Summoned 10 the performance Of
their duties. Tkey arc not eases of Candcstine
d.predations, elndng the vigilance OF the ma
siSitatcS; they ATE Cases OF triendiy merchants
aud navigatois Requesting the ports OF Spaia
npOn the faith of,reatieS, and for purposes OF
Il mutual beneficial intercourse. seized some
OF them III the very harbors of Spain. by TO
reign crnzers, dragged on Spanish ground
before a foreign consul, anu there pnndered
of their property, before the face of all the
lawful anihoriits ofSpain who neither raise
a voice nor lift an arm for their defence. What
then have been all the efforts of Spain for the
projections OF this property, conformably 20
the treat,l
Yon say-SscOndly, that Spain was not re-
sponSible for these deprcdatiops, because thew
were made by natIom with which the United
States were not at war aud this Won say I'M
meaiately after quoting the words OF the sixth
article OF the treaty. expressly stipuIating
protection and defence in the ports of Spain
ts the vessels ard other effects of citizens OF
the United States, whether they are at war
on not. with The power whose subjects have Ia
ken possession OF the said effects"
~. ...1
were their allies, in against England
and that Spain could not prerent the privateers
OF her ally from entering her ports. But il is
not that The French privateers were allowed
TO enter the ports of SPAIN OF which the United
States complain, but that they were suffered
to make prizes, and the Spanish censuls to
condemn, within the territorial Jurisdiction of
Spain. You refer to tile decision OF a subordi-
nate British conrt OF admiralty, that the
prizes ola bsligerent may be carried into the
| ports of an ally, and there lawfully condemn
| ed but surely yen do not mean 10 contend.
that the decisions ofan admiralty court of
one nation constitute the law OF nations, or can
even be adduceda as authority for others. Of
| this principle al leash, there can be no donbt
that an alliance between two nations cannot
ahsolve eitherof them from the obligations OF
previous treaties. Now the treaty between
| Spain and the United States, by which Spain
was bound TO protect the property of AIneri-
Can citizens within her jurisdiction, was con.
cluded before the alliance between Spain and
could in no wise impair the rights of the citi.
zeRs The United States 10 lie protection of
| their property, stipulated in their favour by
| the aniccedeut engagement of Spain.
SOnr fourth and last expedieut fer relieving
Spain from responsibility fer these losses and
| ininries, suffered by American citizens upon
| her territory, is the positive assertion, that
| satisfaction has already been made for them
| by france: your ouly voucher for which is the
| letter OF 9th Jnly. 1904, from Air i.lleyrand
| To admiral Graynd The assertions ofthatleit.r
| | have shown, by reference to indiSputable
documents. are utterly without foundation
Yonr subsequent offer, OF the good Offices
| OF YOUR government, near that of the present
| court of France, to obtain indtmnitieS for a
mercan citizens for French depredaiions com
mitted within Spanish jurisdiction by virtue
! of an alliance between Spain and Napoleon,
| Won doubtless did expect 10 be accepted. Ii is
| TO Spain alone. sir, thai the United States 81 II
| look and will continue to look, as thew ain avs
| have looked, for those indemniiles for which
! Spain alone is responsible to them. am in
| strHcted TO renew to you the declarations re-
peatediy made by the minister of the United
| States 10 yenr government at Arannez, in
| 1908, thai no satisfactory arrangement can be
| made of the differences between the two conn
| tiles, which shall not include the adjustment
! of ihese injuries.
| Before bringing this reply to your four suc.
| cessive notes to a close. il is necessary 10 adj.
vert 10 several Incidental assertions aud re
marks, Which you have made in relation to the
| neSociau0n a AraijueZ, equally destitute Of
| Foundation, with the claims aud pretenSiens
| TO which this letter has already replied
| In your note of the 18th December. Won af.
| firm, that the negotiation a Arapinez was
early interrupted > and in that of the 18th
| January, Ia confirm the assertion, that If all
| the differences between the two countries havc
not long since been adjusted IL has not de-
| pended upon the government of Spain Won
say tli<t 1t is" evident. beyond the possibility of
| denialirom tine otfinial CORES pondence between
his catholic maleStv's minister OF state and tls
az he a fupr ri
| who suspended ard gare up The negotiation AT
| Aranlnez, after having oDstinately refused 10
| accept the notifications founded on strict
justice which were proposed by the Spanish
| government"
The negotiation Of the Special mission of
| the United States AT Aranjuez, ia 1905 occHpI.
| ed a period of nearly five months from The be,
| ginning of January. when Mr.. Monroe arrived
| at Madrid, 10 the I'D OF May, when he took
| leave oi The king, 10 return TO London. In
! his addres'tO tine king that occasion, lie
| said " on my arrival here, had the honor TO
! assure yourmajesty. of the high consideration
| MY government. for your maiesivs per. on
| * government. then IopedtO have bad the no
! nor to conclude the specal mission with which
| was charged IN conjunction with tile minister
p!euipotcrtiary near yonr majesty 10 the ad
| vantage and satisfaction Of both parties but
! being disappointed in this respect, all orr pro-
| positions har5rc beeH rejected, and others
! rer eDered on lie pdTt Of y0Wr mqjesig's gOUerH.
mem. though ejten inrited, Il j. myduty 10 re-
turn 10 my station ~ London"
! This assertion, made To- tile king of Spain in
| person, at the close of that mission, was fully
warranted by the transactions undefit. Every
! one OF tie topics, nOw included in your four
! notes as embracing all the subjects of differ
! ence between the two countries, were discuss.
| ed at great length, much in the same manner
| Which YOU have now assisted upon repeating.
| The questions of ndemUities for spoliatious
! Spanish and French, fer the suppression OF
! the dcposite at New Orleans f; OF the eastern
| ana OF the western boundary of Louisiana.
| were descanied upon with peftinaeity az