The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-12-21

- Onis, As the basis OF the pending neg0tia-
~ The argument on the part ofthe u. States
" hyour Of right TO West Florida, is simply this
' 1765, France being in posse..ion Of Louisiana
"a West-fl florida, by treaties Of that year ceded
eusiana 10 Spain, and West Florida TO Eng
&nd. By the treaty Of 1888, Englsnd coded
18th Floridas including that before coded to
balm; but Spain retained possession Of Louisia-
- which was ceded to her by France, until Oc-
bier 1st, 1900, when, by the treaty Or I. Ilde
hnso. she retroeeded to France Touisiana such
- il was when France possessed It, which It i
s.rgued, is the disputed part Of West Florida.
1This same territory was coded 10 the United
bates by France, April so, 1903. Our govern
nent therefore, maintain, that the whole terrific
~ which originally belonged 70 France, iucu-
Ging florida far east a. the Perfido, was con-
! reyed to her again. by the word retrocession.
and consequently belongs to the Uai'ed States,
BIZ the cessian Of 1909. Mr. Adams AMI the
Ministers who previously discussed the subject,
have supported this position throughout. After
tbe opening tho negotiations ia 1917, some little
delay was occasioned by Don Onis finding his
Instructions not sufficiently adequate upon some
Of tie subjects ofdispute, he however obtained
more ample powers, which related principally 10
grants oflsnd made in the Floridas, and the in
fercoufse was renewed and carried on until all
The points IN dispute were amicably adjusted by
the treaty signed al Washington on the 29d day
Of February 1919. The new points which arose
and witch have not been noticed were Concern
ing grants CT land made in Florida after uegot:a
lions commenced Don Onis wished that the
sovereignty only should be yielded and not the
property, and contended that his King had right
10 make grants until the treaty should be conclu-
ssd; both these POints however were waved,
and as compromise il was concluded that all
grants made after the gath Of ian. 1918, should
Be- null and void. This treaty was duly ratified
!. BY the United states; but Spain has refused her
assent, obiecting to the article principally which
anuuls any Of the Kings grants. new minister
isto be sent to give explanations and after de-
Ray Of 90 years. in which negotiations have been
several times renewed the field of discussion is
again to be entered and more delay is to ensue.
The treaty has lately been published il viii be
seen that ii is founded on the basis OF the propo-
sitions made TO the Spanish minister of state in
1905, by Messrs. Pinckney and Monroe except
that our territory is extended by the 400 Of North
latitude to the South Sea and a few other terri
torial alterations on the Western and Southern
border Of Lo'isians.-It is impossible with SO ma
ny facts as this subject presents to US and in the
confined limits efa newspaper, to give an enlar-
sed view of all the arguments and positions to
which different points of controversy have given
rise, during more than 90 years, that these ne
eotiations have been depending. We hope,
however, that we have given such an account
rs viii convey TO Those who may read it the lea
ding features Of the discussion and the principal
facts upon which our claims were founded and
resisted.