Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-03-02
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.

|
| HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
From the National Intelligencer of Feb. IS
1t is seldom that We have had so accept
able an office to perform, as that of an
nouncing to our readers the unanimous rat
| ifcatiom by the Senate, Of TREATY
IOF AMITY, SETTLEMENT, AND
LIMITS BETWEEN THE UNITED
Estates AND SPAIN, as recently
concluded at this place between Mr.. Sec
rotary Adams and Don Luis de Onis.
AS the Treaty, though ratified on our
part, will not be promulgated officially
until it has also been ratified by the sove-
reign Of Spain, we shall state the princi-
pal provisions, as distinctly as we have
been able to ascertain them, of this im-
Iportant instrument.
By this Treaty, we understand that
FLORIDA, including all the claims OF
Spain to territory East of the Mississippi,
is CEDED IN FULL sovereignty to the
United States.
That the Western boundary, between
1.-THE territory of the United States and
that of Spain, is adjusted as follows: Be-
ginning with the mouth of the Sabine riv-
er, and running with the west bank thre-
of TO the north west limit of the state of
Louisiana; thence by direct line north
to the Red river; thence along the south
hank of that river to the one hundredth
degree of Longitude; thence on that me-
ridisn to the Arkansaw and thence along
the Arkansaw to its source, in the forty.
second degree of north latitude and
thence upon that parallel to the Pacific.
A sum not exceeding fiue millions q
dollars, is to be paid by the United States,
out of the proceeds of the sales of lands
in Florida, or in stock or money, as the
Congress may prescribe, to our own citi-
zens, on account of spoliatious and other
injuries received by them from the gov
lernment of Spain, or from the governments
of the Colonies of Spain.
To liquidate these claims, Board is to
be constituted by the government of the
United States, of American citizens, to
consist of three commissioners, who are
to make their report within three years.
There is mutual remuneration, on the
part of the two governments, Of further
claims Cd each other for spoliations, &c.
Spanish citizens are TO enjoy, on the
lprinciple Of the Louisiana treaty, the same
privileges as American citizens 10 the
lports of St. Augustine and Pensacola, fol
Il the term of twelve years.
These are the essential provisions Of
| the Treaty, which is to take effect on the
exchange of the ratifcations, within six
months Of the present date.
| 1t is probable that Mr.. Forsyth, OIL
newly appointed Minister to Spain, viii
be the bearer of this Treaty, and that the
notifications will be exchanged long before
the commencement Of the next session o
Congress in contemplation of which
event, it is probable that congress will, be
fore they adjourn, pass an act authorship
the Executive to receive the surrender
of the Provinces of Florida from the Span
ish authorities, and to establish an indie
pendent government therein.
4 We felicitate, the country on this ami
cable and satisfactory termination of tn,
tedious, and hitherto unpleasant negocie
tons with Spain The attainment Of eli
Their Of the three objects, the cession o
Florida, the settle ent of the western
boundary, or the rec ignition and provis
ion for the adjustment of the claims Of oul
citizens on Spain, would have been con
sidered as an epoch in the history of oul
Foreign Relations. The, union of the
three will make his Treaty trebly &C
ceptable to the American people.
1t terminates the only existing contro
versy with any of the European powers
1t rounds off our Southern possessions
and for ever precludes foreign emissaries
from stirring up Indians to war and Ne.
groes to rebellion, whilst it gives to the
Southern country important outlets TO the
sea. 1t adjusts the vast Western bounda,
ry, acknowledging the United States TO be
sovereign, under the hitherto contested
Louisiana treaty, over all the territory we
ever seriously commended for. 10 word,
| it is treaty than which the most sanguine
have not anticipated one much more ia.