Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-20

rance 10 ms union, nor from any IndIi-
ference 10 the object OF being upon terms
OF cordial harmony with Span; bur be-
cause peace Is among the dearest and
most earnest objects of their policy;
and because they have considered, and
still consider H., more congeniai 10 HE
principles OF humanity, and TO The psr-
, .nanent welfare OF boin nations, 10 wait
Tor the favorable operation of time upon
Tie preludlcVS ami passions opposed to
them, Than to resort 10 the unnecessary
agency If force. Ai,cra lapse of thirteen
Years OF patient iurrcaraRcc, i'm waiting
Tor the moment when SPAN shou'.l lind
II expedlcni 10 meet their constant desire
OF bringing 10 u happy and harmonious
termination all The conflicting interests
between them, iwil. need little addition
| al Effort 10 wait sotnew Lat longer with
the same expectations. The President
deems tins course even more advisable
| than Thai OF referring the questions de-
pcndins between the two nations TO the
aibl'fameni or inediaiionof one or more
friendly Enropran powers, as YOU have
been authorized iopropose. reinstatement
III Your note ol the 10Th OF February, in re-
ference 10 this subject, il not altogether
correct. II is not The British Govern
ment which, on Ibis occasion, has offer
ed: but your government which, without
consulting or asking the concurrence Ut
| the tinted states, has requested the me-
diaton ofC;reai Britain. liie British Go
vernmeut, rs must be wei! known 10 YOU,
have declined ihc offer of their mediate
ON, unless il shonld be requested by boil,
! parties; and have communicated 10 The
| government al the United States this
| overture on The part oil Spain. HE Pre-
| Sldcnt has thought proper, from motives
| which he has no doubt will be deemed
| satisfactory. both to Grcat Britain and
| Spain, TO decline uniting in this request.
| He is indeed fully persuaded that, not
outstanding amy preposSessions which
| the British government MAY heretofore
| have entertained with regard TO any of
| the points in controversy, they wou'd
! have been entirely discarded in assuming
the Office oil a mediator. BUTT has hither-
| 10 been the policy, both of Europe and of
| the United States, 10 keep aooi from
| the general federa;ive system Of each
other. The European States arecombin-
| ed together, and connected with one an
other, by multitude of important in
terests and relations, with which The u
| nited States have no concern, with hich
| they have always manifested the deter
| mination not 10 interfere, and of which
no communications being made to them
! by the governments of Europe, they have
not Information competent 10 enable them
| to, stimaie theircxtent and bearings. The
| United States, III justice 10 themselves,
| III justice TO that harmony which they
earnestly desire to cultivate with all the
| powers of Europe, i'll justice 10 that fun
damenial system of policy which torbids
| them from entering The labyrinth of Eu-
ropean politics, must decline soliciting
| ar accedIng To the interference OF ANY C.
| Their government OF Europe, for The set
Element of their differences with Spain
But however diSCouraging The tenor
! and character of Your recent notes has
| been To the hopes whichihe promises aud
| professions of your government had eX-
| cited, that the time for adjustment OF
| these differences with Spain herself, had
al length arrived, lie United States will
not abandon the expectation that more
correct views of the subject will ultimate
! iy be suggested 10 your government, and
they will always be disposed to meet them
IN the spirit of justice and amity. With
! regard TO those parts OF the Province of
Louisiana, which have been Incorporated
within the state of that name, 1t is time
that the discussion should cease forming
part of the territory of a sovereign and in
dependent state ofihis union, to dispose
OF them is not within the competency
of the executive government OF the Uul!ed
States; nor will the discussion be hereaf-
Ter continued. But if you have proposals
TO make, To which it is possible for tie
| government of he u. States 10 listen with
a prospect of bringing them To any prac-
tIcable conclusion, ! am authorized 10 re-
ceive them, and TO conclude with you
a treaty for the adjustment of all the
differences between the Two nations, up
OIL terms which may be satisfactory to
both.
With regard TO the motives for the oc-
cupalion OF Amelia Island, the Messages
from the President of the United States
to Congress, and my letter TO you Of 18th
January, have given The explanations
which, ii is presumed, will he satisfactory
TO your government. The exposed and
feeble situation of that Island, as well as
of the remainder OF East Florida, with
their local position i'll the neighboThOOd
of the United States, have always been
among the primary inducements of the
United States for urging TO Spain the ex-
pedlency TO the interests of both nat-
ons, that Spain should cede them for a
Just and suitable equivalent to Tie United
States.
In the letter Of the 2slh of January,
1903, from Messrs. Pinkuey and Mon
roe, to Mr.. Ceyaios, the following pas
sage stands prominent among the argu-
| ments used by them 10 that Effect
sc Should Spain" say they, not place a
! strong force III Florida, it will not escape
your exceIlency's attention, that il will be
much exposed TO the danger of being
taken possession of by some other pow
err, who might wish 10 hold it with We.
2 nv different views towards Spain than
those which animate the government Of