The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-12-15

would bc despatched tothe United States,
to obtain such explanations of this gov
ernment. The Minister OF the United
States offered to give full explanation on
any point, on which it might be desired;
which proposal was declined. Ha,ifg
communicated this result TO the Depart
ment of State, in August last, hc was IN
struo. ed, Notwithstanding the disappolnt-
ment and surprize which it produced, TO
Inform the government OF Spain, that, IT
the treaty shouk! be ratified, and trans
mi,ted here at any time beiu'e the meet
ing Of Congress, it would be received,
and have the same effect as ifit had zen
ratified in due time. This orderwas exc
cuted the authorized communication
was made to the government of Spain,
and by its answer, which has Just been
received, we are officially made acquaint-
cd for the first time, with The causes
which have prevented the ratification OF
the treaty by his Catholic Majesty. leis
aledgrd by the Minister of Spain, that
this government had attempted to alter
one OF the principal articles of the treaty,
by declaration, which the Minister OF
the United States had been ordered TO
present, when he should deliyer the ratl-
iication by his government in exchange
for that OF Spain; and of which he gave
notice, explanatory OF the sense III which
that article was understood. 1t IS iurth-
cr allcdged, that this government had re-
Gently tolerated, or protected, an expe-
di,ion from the Unitc' States, against the
province of Texas. These two imput-
ed acts, are stated as the reasons which
have induced his Catholic. Majesty to
withhold his ratification from the treaty,
to obtain explanations respecting which
it is repeated that an Envoy would be
forthwith despatched to the United States.
How far these allegations will Justify
the conduct of tho government of spain,
viii appear on a view of the following
facts, AID the evidence which supports
them.
Il will be seen by the documents
transmitted herewith, that the declara-
alton mentioned relates to clause in the
eighth article, concerning certain grants,
Of land. recently made by his Catholic
Majesty, in Florida, which it was ulI-
dcrstood had conveyed all the lands,
which lil then had been ungrantcd. 1t
was the intention Of the parties to annul
these latter grants, and that clause was
drawn tor that express purpose, and Tor
none other. The date Of these grants
was unknown, but 1t was understood to
be posterior to tina; inserted in the arti-
Gle , indeed it must he obvious to all,
that, it that provision in the treaty had
not The effect of annulling these grants,
it would be altoge,her nugatory. I'M
medateiy ufter the treaty was concluded
and ratified. by thi, government. an inti-
nation was received that thesa grants
, were OF "a, anterior date to that fixed on
BY the treaty. and that they would not.
oil course, be affected BY it. The mere
possibility of such case, so inconsistent
with the intention Of the parties, and the
nearing of the article, induced this gov
ernmcnt to demand an explanation on
,hc subject, which was immediately
granted, and which corresponds with this
statement. With respect to the other
act alledged, that this government bad
tolerated or protected an expedition a.
gainst Texas, it is utterly without foun-
dation. Every discountenance has IN
valiably been given to every sucn at,
tempt within the limits Of the Y. States.
as is fully eyinccd by the acts of the 60
vcrnment. and the proceedings ct the
courts. There being cause, however,
to appreknd, in the course of the last
summer, that some advenWrers enter
,ained views of the kind suggested. the
attention of the constituted at.thorities in
that quarter was immediately drawn to
them, and it IS known that the project.
whatever il might Le, has utterly failed.
These fIcts will, it is presumed. satis-