Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-14


ments which you announce, 1 do not Hesitate |
TO inform you ly anticipation, iba, his imperi !
majesty cannot but be extremely sensible TO |
the uncertain aud uneasy position i'm which |
two powers, in amity with France, are placed |!
by this misunderstanding, aud that he viii |
certainly do whatever may d.psnd ON him 10
prevent It's coming TO AN unfortunate issue.
1t Is several months since I was informed
by the charge d'aiiarcs near Tie fed. ;;,l uoy-
ernment, Of The pfetenSiens OF thar GOVERN
ment, relative 10 - portion of country eorucr-
ing on Florida, mich has hrcome a Great OBJ
jerl OF ambition 10 the americans. ii, seIsiioa
10 the establishment OF tieii revenue system,
and II seemed 10 me, from this information.
that was important that the federal Govern
iutnt Situld Us al tie means IN lis p0@er. TO
obtain the auneAa alton of Tins frontier poiiit,i,
of Fonda 10 Louisiana (; but the opinion due
10 tise justice and moderation whici di>iin.
giIISh the personal character of the President
al tie tm.ed States, has not, nor does il Vet,
| permit me TO ihiuk that menaces, provocation
aud gioGndleSS hostility may be considered by
him as The most suitable means 10 enable the
uniled States tn acquire = portion OF territory
belonging 10 a foreign power, which suits their
COW enienCe.
kespes ting the second point in dispute,
which your eXceiIency does me the honor TO
speak ct in your note, must say that had
| previously TO Knowledge OF it, And, indeed,
| 1T had been informed that his catholic majes-
| TVS ministers had carried their condescensiou
| tor the government ot the United States so
\ tar as TO engage themselves towards il for in
| demnii> IDs VIOLATIONS pretended TO have been
| committed lIy France shOgld certainly have
| received orders from my government, to ex-
| press the dissatisfaction which France must
| feel on the occasion of so Guscemiy defer
! enCe, and this dissatisfaction would have heen
| expressed Siii' more warmly to the government
| OF the United States than 10 that of Spaiu.-
! There Is every reason to suppose that the court
| OF Spain, by ihuS yielding TO an improper de-
maud, has emboldened The American govern
nent. aud determined il TO become pressing,
aud even menacinS on this occasion. As for
| the rest, the explanations formerly given TO
| Your court on this point, as we'll as those which
! have been authorized to be given to the gov
| ermment of the United States, by the charge
! d'affaires OF his imperial majesty, mast enable
you TO Judge of the opinion formed by his ma
"sty, on this question, WI h having already
| been the subject OF Il long negotiation and of "a
| formal convention between France and the
| United States. Cannot again become subject
| of discussion"
"such, Monsieur PAmbassadcur, are the
remarks that have thought proper to make
III tile f:St Instance, III answer to the prelimi-
nary note of your cxceliency. In addition, L
must observe, that IN my opinion, the demon
stidtiois which appear to me TO have given
| your government the uneasiness il has charged
| you 10 express, are somewhat exaggerated,
either from the impression they have pr ;iuc. d
at Madrid, or from the construction, possibly
too extensive, which the minister of the United
States TO his catholic majesty, may have, per-
haps, given to his instructions. There is 10
room to suppose that a government, anxious as
that of the United States is, to establish "A gen
eral opinion of its wisdom and mod ratlOH,
womb resolve on engaging IN an unjust war
through motives of ambition /; but as the Unit
ed States attach great Importance 10 the acqui-
siton Ui Il part of Florida suited to their conve-
nience, it is not In be doubted that they will
make every effort to obtain it. The ground of
this dispute, therefore, rests entirely on this
point. Perhaps the federal government may
have thought that 1t would tend 10 promote
| negotiation for exchange, by exciting dIplo-
matte quarrel. The wisdom of his catholic
majesty will certainly suggest to him what is
| proper to be done on this OCCASION with view
! TO terminate dispute, which. L have no doubt,
viii necessarily be revived, so long as no change
| will take place in the actual relative position
of Louisiana and the FloridaS but, OH this
| point, il is Tor the wisdom of his catholic ma
| jesiy TO decide. The United States are not
| founded in making any claim on his majesty.
| a positive declaration was made to them, that
| Louisiana was delivered 10 them, such, aud
| with The same extent IL had when acquired by
France, and This de claralion will again be made
| TO them as often and as positively as his catho-
| lie Iaajesty will desire il.
q I request your excellency to receive the
| assurances of my highest consideration. Cha.
| Man. Tale, rand. TO Admiral Travina, am
| basSador of his catholic majesty"
You see, sir, that this declaration of the
| French government is conclusive, and that the
| responsibility for losses ana injuries caused
| by French cruizers and tribunals on the coasts
| and in the ports of Spain, is removed from
| the period of that agreement aud that to
| renew a claim for what has been already paid
ton for enc and the same injury, and double
payment for one aud the same debt. Notwith
| standing if the United States have still claim
| for the complete fuihinent of this satisfaction
and payment, his catholic majesty is ready To
| mite his good Offices aud earnest requests to
| this claim of your government that of
France, in order that she may perform, and
! cause to be performed, whatever may be Justly
| required i'll behalf of American citizens who
| have sustained losses and injuries by her crui-
GERS and tribunals. To this the obligation of
Spain, in the present case, is reduced and his
| catholic maJestys government offers mmed-
| ately TO sustain all the Just pretensious which
| the government of the United States may be
| DESTROYS to form against the government of
/ France on this poiEt, or TO demand of il all
| such explanations as may be Judged necessary
to clear up all doubts, II any are yet entertain
| ed BY the United States, on this matter.
This point then being separated from those
| connected with the question of claims for in
| jurieS, losses, and damages, because that is
| already settled between France and the United
States. or is to be settled with France directly,
| il any thing still remains to be performed, we
| can agree upon Just and suitable mode Of
| determining reciprocal satisfaction for the
| injuries. losses, and damages, before spoken Of
| and included in the three points of The first
| class. as enumerated in this note, in order that
| we may proceed more clearly and methsdiCai-
| ~. These three points, ds ! have before said,
will be submitted to the Judgment and decision
| of the Joint commission, IN virtue Of the con-
vention TO be formed on the basis of that of
| 1902, simplifying and rectifying il in such man
ncr as will insure its most expeditions and
| faithful execution.
| In this note and the two others which have
| already had the honor To address to you, are
| contained all the points in dispute between the
government OF his catholic majesty and that of
| the United states; and TO avoid conOunding
| theH with each other. j have treated them in
| their regular order, with precision, simplicity,
| and cIparneSs. Yen can examine each Of
| them, sir, with tile impartiality aud rectitude