Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-27
OUR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN
OFFICIAL PAPERS.
(C0nc!udPd.l

OFFICIAL PAPERS.
(C0nc!uded.)
Extract of a letter from the Secretary 4
State to Mr.. Erving, dated
department Of StCts, y
July 90, lSlS
"You have been app ised already a
a similar measure, which was taken IN
regard 70 the vessels which had be-,
seizrd at Carthagena, and the citizpns q
the United States who, under yarion
pretexts. had been arrested and ium.
soned there. have the pleasure to stae !
that the application succeeded, as to o.,
citizens, though it failed as to the VI.
sells. Yon will interpose directly viii |
the Spanish government in favor of N.
latter; documents respecting which sh,I
be forwarded TO you either By the Or.
set or some other early opportunity"
Mr.. Erving to his excellency Don Pedn
Cevallos, first minister Of stats, &c. |
Madrid. Sept. 26, 1916 |
SIR,-I am ordered by my governnen
to apply to his majesty through your .,
cellency, tor the restitution of sundry 4.
merican vessels aud cargoes which h,n
been seized and brought into Carlhagen
or other places within that command O.
vice-royalty, under pretext of pretend
ed blockade, issued by Don Pablo MOa.l
10 in December, 1915.
When that blockade was commune,
ted to the American government, NJ
M"nrce, secretary Of state, in note 4
March so, SIC, aid essed to his msi,s
ty's minister at Washington, formaDr
protested against it; and il was hoped
that on proper representations being
made by that minister to general Mor!h,
he would retract his measure, or il nC,
that his majesty. being made acquaintti
with the relnOnstrarce of the America
government, wouIdimmediateiy send or
orders which might produce the same q.
feet, and assure, Tor the future due liber.
ty to the American commerce in thCi.
seas.
But it now appears. that as late as Ii.
month Of June, no alteration had taku
place in the measures OF Morillo, no a.
tention bad been paid to the interference
Of Dan Luis de 0nis, aud finally, tie
commissioner MIR. Hughes, who was sen
by tAe government e. tie United Srate
to Carthagrna. fer the purpose, amongst
others Of reclaimins the property seized,
was obliged to return to the United
States. Oh that point altogether unsa,sf'
ed. Indeed, tie vice roy Of Santa Re,
Don francisco de Montalvc, gives tbs
commissioner to understand, by a letter
oil June 9th, whereof the enclosed is
translated c"py. that he, the vice.roy,
does not pretend to be acquainted with
the law OF nations, and, at the same time
that he goes on executing the arbltiry
and illegal DEGREES of general &oriNO
devastating the commerce Of the United
>ta,es, he refers the American govern
ment 20 his msjesty for redress.
l is therefore that | row frd it nece.'
siry to write to your excellency upon
this disasreeable SUBJECT.
II is vain, sir, to hope that the United
States will ever consent to blocEadcs up.
on the principles OF general Moriilo !
they will acknowledge none to be valid,
which are not strictly coptormabIe to the
well known principles of public law
principles most clearly defined and quite
indisputsbie, to which the United State,
have always adhered in their own prac'
tice, and to the infringement Of which, in
any form, in any degree, or under what,
ever pretext, they have always opposed
themselves.
The blockade of general Morillo is re-
pugnant 10 the law, because it extends
over several hundred miles Of coast, and
to an indefinite distance from the shores
of course cannot be enforced as block
ade, bat remains bare pretext for spc
liation. A blockade by sea, to be &C.
knowledged as valid by the U. States,
must be confined to particular ports. each
having force stationed before it, sufl.
cient to intercept the entry Of vessels
and no vessel shall be seized even in al
tempting to enter a port so biockaded'
tile she has been previously Warned away
from that port.
Imay be excused from dilating on rules
so perfectly established, 50 consonant TO
justice and to reason, in writing to per.
son OF your eIcellency's knowledge and
experience.
His majesty, who does not fail, through
his minister, MIR. Onis, to assure the Unr
ted States Of his constant disposition to
cultivate relations of friendship via
them, and 20 that cid to satisfy all tier
Just reclama'ions, will certainly be sens
BILE to the violent proceedings Of wnen
my government now complains. and
persuade myself will not hesitate ID Of