Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-04-17


| Spain TO ccde the two Floridas TO the United
| States i'm full and complete Sovereignty"
| In case this proposal shonid not appear adj
missiblc to yeur government, the Following
| NAV he substituted - The uti poss,detis, or
state of possessions in 1868, TO form the basis,
aud the western line OF division to be estab-
| .iShcd from the sea, at point between the
/ rivers Carcasa and the Marmentas or MarIen-
toa, running thence by Arroyo Hondo, till it
! crosses the Colorado OF NatciniocheS, be-
| tween that post aud Adaes, thence northward
! to point To be fixed aud laid down by com
nissioners respectively appointed for the pur-
! pose.
| =. His catholic majesty, to ratify the con-
venticn of 1902, and both governments TO abide
| by the decision of the joint commission on The
! question OF indemuites, chasing as such t"ose
4 which regard American citizens and the crown
and subjects of his catholic majesty, for spolia.
| toms reciprocay committed TO the period OF
| the said convention and thereafter to the date
! of the confirmation of the adjustment by the
1 Joint commission. Five or seven members to
/ compose the commission, with this condition,
| that 1t they are five, each government shall
| respectively nominate person tor The MIN
member, to be chosen by lot provided they
cannot agree on the person to be so chosen
the same to take place for the fifth, sixth. and
seventh, 1T there be seven members; but the
fifi, IN the first instance, and the htth Slain,
ana seventh, IN the second, shall neither De
Spaniards nor citizens of the United States by
4 birth or naturalization. They shall, moreover,
| be. by their profession and office. Judges ct
the number of those subjects, who among
maritime and commercial nations, are usually
employed TO Judge and decide OF matters con
nected with maritime law and the law OF ma
tions, whether i'm France, England, Russia,
Austria, or the Netherlands, In both cases,
the person so designated, to be provided with
certihcate of the government OF the country
he belongs TO, proving the opinion entertained
OF his integrity and capacity, his quality and
actual profession Judge m the matter re-
TERED To, aud also the assurance, that permis-
SION shall he granted TO him for discharging
the duties of the commission, in case the said
person shall be chosen by lot.
With these notifications suggested by pru-
dence, impartiality, and the most perfect rec
titude, and excluding, as is Just, the indemui-
~ fOr the spoliations committed on the conf
MERGE OF this republic, by French priva'eers
and consus OIL; the coasts and in the ports OF
Spain, and by the tribunals of cassation in
France. The convention of 1902 to be ratified
aud carried into execution.
3. His Catholic majesty, to unite with the
United States i'll using their best endeavors to
obtain from France the correspondent indem-
nity for the spoliatons just mentioned, IN
case that question has not alredy been settled
between the French and American govern.
neuts.
4. The government of the United States to
engage TO take efiectual measures to prevent
all hostile ornaments in their ports and terri.
tory against the commerce and possessions OF
Spain, either by Americans any other pow
err, or by adventures of any other nations, or
by the rebels of Spanish America and for
their due execution, the President to issue
positive orders TO all persons employed by the
government, charging them, OH their responsi-
billty, to guard against any infracIion or vio-
lation of them whatsoever, extending the same
measures to the preventing of any vessel
employed IN crIizing against the Spanish
commerce or otherwise hOStllely engaged
against the government and subjects of
his catholic majesty, from arming in, or
entering armed, the harbors and waters
OF the United States. Every vessel of this
Al al icfio ~
the United States, to be seized without remis-
Sion and subjected 10 the rigor of the law by
the American officers and authorities; and the
vessels and property so captured, belonging
to tho subjects of the crown of Spain, to be
laid under attachment, and dehntively deli
vered up to his majesty's minister, or the near
est Spanish consul, 10 be held by them at the
disposal of the lawful owners. This proposal
contains nothing beyond the obligations, alrea-
dy imposed by the laws of the United States,
the law OF nations, and the existing treaty.
But as II is evident to yOn, and tile whole
world, that abuses and attractions of these
laws and solemn compacts, have been, and
continue to be, frequently practised, il is absO-
lutely necessary that suitable measures be
adopted, fully and effectnalIy to prevent the
repetition OF similar abuses and attractions.
BY these four proposals, the rights and inter
ests of both powers are reconciled, npon prin-
cples of manifest justice and reciprocal ntili-
ty; they settle and terminate all pending diff
tersnces, in my Judgment satisfactorily to
both nations and must presume, that The
President will view them in the same Iipht.
and substantially admit them. In case there
be any other question of secondary, or minor
importance, 10 be In like manner included in
the general and dehnitive adjustment it will
be easy, aud follow of course, after we have
agreed on the most essential articles or points;
we will then also determine the true import of
the several propositions laid down, and explain
each one of them with the necessary clearness
accuracy and precision.
If, however, you should find any difficulty
or obstacle 10 the acceptance of the proposals,
/ have now the honor to make to YOU, and are
of opinion that by any other mode we NAV at
tain the desired object, without deviating from
the fundamental principles and basis of JUS
tice and reciprocal convenience, l will, with
great pleasure, be ready TO adopt it, provided
il be compatible with the powers gwen me by
the king, my master. In this view. YOU can
propose such changes or moditic2 tions, as you
may see fit, az are calculated to remove all diff
ficnities on both sides, and reconcile the rights
Interests dnd wishes Of both powers
In tile mean time, hope that the course
pursued by the President Zen la marcia de su
conducta) will correspond with the sentiments
and uniform profession OF amIty aud perfect
harmony existing between his majesty and the
United States; and am therefore cOnstrain.
ed TO reclaim and protest formally, as now
do, against all measures whatsoever, luxurious
10 the rights of the crown of Spain, and to
new, as 1 hereby do, the protest already made
against the occupation of Amelia Island, and
against the orders to occupy GdlveztOn, mas
much as the United States, having no right
Whatever, either 10 the said islands, or 10 Gal
vezion, they neither had, nor could have,
a inst motive or cause to sanction similar acts
of violence in the midst of peace.
1 await your answer to tins note, IN order
thai we may accelerate the moment OF agree
ing on jusi and At measures for carrying the
defnitive settlement OF all pending differences
iuto effect.
In the mean time, renew to you, sir, the as
surances of my constant respect
Cod preserve YOU many wears.