Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-03-19

and professions Of your g'ver.rc,.' had
excited. that the time for adjustment Of
these differences with Span l.r.ylf had
II length arrived, the United Sites WI
not abanAon the exppcfa ION that um-
correct views Of the subject viii uItima,..
Nv be suggested 10 your g",srnueH,. ard
they will always be disposed To me.
them in the spirit OF justice aud amity.
With regsrd 10 those pats OF the Pr.
vince Of Louisiana, which have Leen IT,.
rorperated within the state OF that ZANE,
il is time tina. the discussion should cease
-i.rming a part Of the territory Of
sovereign aud independent state # tn,
union. todi.po.e Of then. is not within tie
competency Of the executive government
of the u. S.-nOr will The Discussion be
hereafter continued. But II ynu have
prenosals 10 make. to which II is nnssi.
BILE for the governr' OF the Urited
States to listen with prospect Of biDg.
irg them to any practicable conclusIou,
| am authorized to receive them, aud 10
conclude with you treaty for the ad.
iustment of all the differences between
the two nations, upon terms which may
be sati.lactory to both.
With regard to the motives Tor the Oc
cupation of Amelia LAND, the Messages
from he President OF the United States
to Congress, and my letter TO you Of the
| 18th January. have gwen the expIanaion,
which, il is presumed. will be- satl'iactO
~ to your government. The exposed
ard feeble situation Of that island, asweI!
4, Of the remainder OF East Florida. with
their lnca! position in the EeishbcIhcot
If he United States, have ALWAYS Leea
among the primary inducements Of the
United States for urging to Span tue
expediencv to the interests OF both ma.
tiors, that Spain should cede them Tor
Just and suitable equivalent TO The Uni.
ted States.
In the letter Of the ssth Of Jan. 1906,
from Msssr.. Pinkney aid Monroe. to Mr..
CeyalIos. the following passage stand. pro.
rninent among the arguments used BY
them 10 that effect. Should spain" Say
they not place strong force in Florida,
it will no, rscap" your exceliency's at Ell
ton, that i. will be much exposed 10 the
danger Of being taken possession Of by
some other power who might wish TO hold
it with very different views towards Spain
| than those which anims!e the government
Of the United Safes. Without a tong
force being there, it might even become
an as, lum Tor adventures and freeboOl-
eFs to the great annoyance Of both na.
TORS"
You know, sir, how far the events thus
anticipated and pointed cut So early as
in January sos, 20 the prudent forecast
of Spain have been realized. Pensacola
has been occupied BY another power, for
the purprse OF carving on war from i
n ,aiu.t 'he United States, and Amena
Island hiss been occupied by Adventures,
q Inc great annoyance Of both narcas,
ard Il al o,h-rs engaged IL awful com
mescs eDcn The Gu!ph OF Mcxico. Be-
fue lhest ccc3'ree, the Congress Of he
L. ). .r2-e c. rhe great and growing
danger q '.ea, sh,cn had been so long
before Dis ac'!y ioreseen. had made il
the dut, Il the Executive government,
in the case Of such contingency. to
take the tenporsr, possession o! tie
conntiy, which might he necessary to a.
vert the iajuTies that must re,u!t from IT.
Amelia Island was taken, not from the
possession of Spain, but Of thO'e from
whom she had been equally incapable OF
keeping or Of recovering its pcsse'slon'
and who were using il for purposes N,
compatible with the laws Of nations and
OF the United States. n" purpose. ei'
Their Of takirg or Of retaining il IS a con-
quest from Spain, has ever been enter
tanned. and unless coded by Spain to NE
United States, il will be restored, when'
ever the danger Of it. being again thus
occupied and misused shall have ceased
II is needless to add, that the proposs,
thlt the United States should take any
further measures than those already pro.
vided BY law for preventing armament,
hostile to Spain within the territories o.
the u s. is inadmissibie. The measures
already taken, and the laws already eI'
listing az sinst all hostile arman ent. With
in our jurisdiction, incompatible with 'be
obligations Of neutrality, are sufficient
for its preservation, and necessary means
will continue to be used, a. they have
been, to carry them faithfully inc exc
cution.
have the honor to be, with great con
sideration, sir, your obedient AID very
humble servant.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.