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

From the ti,uc which tie establishments Of
common, and their respective claims of terri
tory under the charters OF their sovereigns
were found to interfere with one another, re;,-
con, Justice, aud necessity Concurred in point
ing ont 20 them certain rules and principles
for the adjustment of their conflicting claims
By these rules and principles, we are willing
that the question of TIE western boundary OF
louisiana may be decided. Till SPAIN who
has repeatedly acccded TO them heretofore.
shall be prepared 10 abide by them on this
occasion, it viii hc Of little avail TO rm,sue "a
discussion, upon which The principles ct the
parties ATE utterly Wreconci!ab,e together.
With regard 80 tie third of the subjects of
difference between Spain ana the United
states, that remains 10 be adjusted, the claims
o; decentralization for injuries, losses and dam
ages, suffered by American citizens from
spanish authorities aud subjects, aud within
Spanish jurisdiction, Halter myself from The
tenor ut your note, devoted particularly To the
consideration OF this poiat, thar il is not abso-
lutely rnsusccptik'e OF beng brought 20 Il
favorable issue. You express the Willingness
of your government 10 resume the unratified
convention of 1902, aud to extend its pula-
lions In the OF cOmpiaint OF II similar
character TO those provided for init, which
have since that time accrued. 1t is undoubt-
cdiy the Intention of this government, that it's
engac ements should be reciprocal aud il this
WIS not expressly declared in my note of Inc
10Th of January, il was merely because the
President was not aware that any such claims
OF Spanlsi; subjects, from lndennities from the
American government were in existence. |
am authorized 10 assure YOU that there will be
no difficulty ia including any such as may
exist in the conventions and in making the
United States answerabic for all nGemnites
which may he justly que by them. AS YOU
have also been empowered to include the
cases of injuries and losses of citizens of the
Uuited States, IN consequence OF tue snppres-
sion by the Spanish intendant of the deposte
Orleans 81 o. II
9th October, 1873, ii cannot be necessary for
me TO reply to your objections against the ad.
mission OF those claims. the more readily
pass over that argument, because, 1t Is
merely a repetition of what was urged on the
same point hy Mr.. Cevallos in 1905, il may suf-
fee 10 refer you, for a full and complete refu.
tation of IL, 10 the letter from MesSrs. Pinck-
ney and Monroe 10 him, of 2cih February of
that year.
Bat even upon this branch of the negotiation,
1t is with regret that the President perreives
perSevering determination OF Your govern
ment, 60 exclude from the consideration of the
cases of American sufferers by French spolia-
tons committed w.thin the jusisdction of
SPAN. In answer 10 your reference TO the
arguments OF Mr. Ccvailos on this point i'm his
notes 10 EIessTs. Pirckucy and Monroe, of 10th
February, aid ) q March, 1898, il will be suf-
icIent tor me to refer you TO their letters TO
him of 2Sth January, 18th and zGth February
stI March, 9th April. aud 18th Nav. with the
lures of American vessels carried into the
ports Of Spain, aud The demonstration that no
indemnity for any one of those cases had even
heen demanded by the American government
of France, much less provided for IN the con,
veuiions between the United States and France
OF 1850 anu 1903 When YOU that no re
ply was made oU the part of the United States
weakening In the least the ieTce of the princi-
Piles and the truth of the facts. on which the
opposition ~ Spain to a responsibility for those.
damages anu injCrieS was founded" IL IS no
possible To account for your assertion, but bN
surprising you have not been furnished BIZ
yOnr government with copy OF tile above
mentioned statement. | therefore now en-
close p. 5.)a copy of it, in which you will fiud
how grossly mistaken, with regard to the facts
are all the allegations in the letter of the
french minister q fereign relations to admiral
Grdvina. of 9th July, 1904 of which YOU have
inserted IN yOur note entire copy, and of
which Mir. CeSailoS had already fayore =.
MeSSrs. PWckuey u Monroe with an extract
~ may he proper here TO present some obvi
Gus reMaiks npon tine frequent appeals to the
opinions and sscriiOus of France (under the
government OF Ne poeon) in reference To the
controversy between the United States ami
Spain, which were made by Mr.. Ceyalos at
Nranjuez. in sos. and which are BOW repeated
BY you, with as niuch confidence as if YOU CON
sidered France, as then governed, the mest
impartial Oi umpires, and the most disinterest
ed nf friends.
At that time, when these opinions aud repre-
sensations OF France were alleged by Mr.. Ce-
vallos, they were answered by the American
ministers with the hfmneSs which became the
representatives, OF great and independent
nation, and with the sentiment, at once of their
countrys dignity, and OF the respect due To
the government OF France, with which the
United States were III amity. With regard to
the eastern limits OF Louisiana, they observed
that the question depending npOn the cor
strnction of treaty to which the United
States we're party, the opinion of France
concerning il cDulI be OF no more weight in
Itself than Chat af the United States. That in
adopting the phT,seoIogy of the treaty of ST
lldephonso, when France declined substituting
more specific definition of boundaries the
United States cOnld not be supposed TO have
subjected themselves to the subseonent ex.
pla6atoTy restriCtiOa by France of that which
she then chose to leave standing npon the force
OF the terms themselves; and that, the delivery
of the province by the commissioner of France
TO the United States having been without any
limitation, il was obvious that he had received
it alike without linutatiOn
With respect to the French spoliatous with
in Spanish jurisdiction, while the interest of
France was so immediate aud direct as TO TAX
from her opinion AZ iight to the consideration
due to an impartial arbitrator, it was supposed
that tile proper view of the subject had not
been presented to the emperor aud the most
unequivOcal demonsiI alton was given, that no
indemnity ar satisfaction had been received
oy even demanded from Franco by The United
States. fer this descriE ,ion of Injuries
A. this day. your government must be- aware
that the umpraSe, and even The opiuiOus
o. France npon these questions. was liable to
e'her and si,Il more decisive objections OF
tire nee vI,iclI France was already making.
and was further contemplating TO make of
Spain. OF her revenues aud possessions not on
- ~ Europe, INT III every other quarter of the
globe, b;iIe needs to be said. That she was
! converting 10 purpose Of her own all the re-.
sources 81 Spain, has been, since then, too sig.
naly manifested 10 tie world to rcopire CnT.
ther eincidaiiop Il was in'possibc Tor her to
recognize that spain was bound to indemnify
the ~. ed Nfnie lnf tire srnnli atnna Of Ifrnnrh