Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-20

ticles 10 b. obligatory on them. and had
| never pretended TO possess any iull power
q that effect. That any communication
interesting 10 The Supreme Director, or
| To The people Of Ruenos Ayres, would
readily be held With MIR. De Forest, but
THAT the recognition Of him, as a consul
! general Tor the United Provinces of South
America, could not be granted, either up.
on The stipulation of supposed articles,
which were's nullity, or upon the COM
mission, or credeniial letter of the STU
preme Director, without recognizing,
thereby, the authority from which II
en,anaied, as IA sovereign and independ-
| eni power.
With this determination, MIR. D. Forest
| then declared himself entirely satisfied.
But, shortly after tile commencement OF
lie present session of Congress, he re-
| nrwed his solicitations, by the note-iatcsi
the 9th OF Decembrr, 10 be accre, .ited as
| The cersni general ~ The United provin-
ces of Souii, America. foundinghis claim
on The credentials from his government,
which bad been laid before The President
| hast Nav.
A conversation was shortly afterwards
held with him, bv direction of The Presi-
denf, in which tue reasons were fuily ex-
planned 10 him upon which the formal
acknowledgement Of the government Of
Bmcnos. Ayres, for the present, MAS moi,
deemed eXpedieni. They were aiso, al
his request, generally stated in the note,
dated The 3lsi oil December.
1t has not been thought necessary, on
the part Of this government, To pursue
the correspondence With MI. De Forest
any further; particularly as he declares
himself unauthorized 10 agitate or discuss
| The onecfiop "a ifh royard IN fbe ra<n,,,,,
ition of Buenos Ayres as an independent
nation. Some observations, how ever,
may be proper. with reference 10 circum-
stances all ged by hins, as arguing that
consul general may be accredited without
acknowledging the Independence of The
government from which lie has his an
pointment. The consul of the United
States, who has resided al Burnos Ayres.
had nc other creden,al than his commits.
sion. II implied no recognition hy The
United States Of any particular govern
menf; aud il was issued before the Buenos
Ayrean declaration of independence, and
while all the acts OF the authorities there
were in the name of HE King of Spain.
During tue period while ihis govern
ment declined to receive Mr.. Onis as the
minister of Spain, no consul received ar
eXeqnatnr under a commission from the
same authority. The Spanish consuls
who had been received before Tie contest
for the government of Spain had arisen.
were sufferedto ccniinnc The exercise Of
their functions, for which no,pew receg-
milton was necessary. a sIsailar rcmark
may be made with regard 10 the Unequal
lity, alleged by Mr.. De Forest, TO result
from the admission of Spanish consuIs,
officially 10 protest before our judicial FRI
bunals, the rights Of Spanish subie Is gem
orally, while he is admitted 10 the same
privileges with regard to those Of the Gill
zens of Buenos Ayres. TIE equality Of
rights TO which the two parties 10 IA civil
war are entitled, in their relations with
neutral powers, does not ext nd TO the
lriglts enjoyed by one Of them, by virtue
) of treaty stipnlaiions contracted before
ihe war /; neither can il extend 10 rights,
the enjoyment of which essentially de-
: ponds upon the issue of tle war. That
: Spain is sovereign aud independent
, power, is not contested by Bnenos Ayres,
and is recognized by lie United States,
WHO are bound by treaty TO receive her
, consuls. Mr.. De Forests credential let
Ter, asks that he may be received by vir-
tue OF a stipulation, in supposed articles
: concluded by MIR. Worihington, bui
, which he was not authorized 10 make; ST
, that the reception of Mr. De Forest, upon
: the credeniial or which he Pounds his
; claim, would imply a recognition, uol
, only OF the government of The Supreme
: Director, Pueyrredon, bui a compact. as
: binding upon the United States, which i,
; a mere nnIlty.
, Consuis are, indeed, received by the
: government OF The United States from ac.
: knowledgej sovereign powers, with whom
} They have no treaty. But lie exeuuaiiii
: for Il consul general can obviously MOI h,
granted, without recogpIzirgthe authors
, " from whom lis appointment proceeds
as SOL ereigD. THE consul. says Vaiiel
tbook 2. chap. 2. 34) is not pubic
, minister but, rs heis charged with a con,
mission from ms Soveteiga, and received III
I that quality by him where he resides, be
should enjoy TO a certain extent, the pro-
lection OF the law ofnatioDs"
, II, from this state of things, the in!ia-
s blianfs OF Dnepos Ayres cannoi eHjoy The
advantage of being officially represented
before The courts of the United States
: Us consul, while the subjects OF Spaii
7, are entitled 10 That privilege, il is an inc
) quality resulting from The naiure Of Tho
{ contest in which they are engaged, aDC
: not from any denial Of their rights, u,
! parties 10 civil war. The recognition
= Of them. az such, and The consequent al.
mission of their vessels into lie ports o.
e tbs United States, operates with an inc
quality against the 0ilIer party 90 ihs
contest, aud in their favor.
" MAS stated, in conversation, TO Mr.
! De Forest, and afterwards III the note o
c 3lst December, that ii would be de.
sIrablc 10 the United States TO understand
, whether BurHos Ayrcs itself claims al
r entire, or only at imperfect Adcpen
5 dence. That The ne essily of ap expIa