The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-12-29
AMERICAN STATE PAPER.
7he Secretary Of. STATE 10 Joan For-
syfh. Esq. Minister Plenifotsnfiary
offie United States, Mad,id. 81

Sir:--Captain Read, OF the Hornet,
has delivered to me your dispatches OF
the l III, 18th, and 22d of June, which
have been submitted to the consideration
Of the President.
However extraordinary the conduct
of the Spanish government, in relation to
the treaty signed on The 22d oTFebuary
last, has been, the President is unwilling
to abardon The hope, that, within the pc
riod oi-y months. allowed ror the ex-
changc ol tie ratiiications, a sense ofius-
tice and Of decent regard for the public
faith OF the king and nation, solemnly
pledged by the treaty, will prevail over
tbs individual intrigues and lurking in
fue'ice which prompted the delay that
has taken place. Should dis expecta-
tion, however, be disappointed, and
should the treaty remain unratifcd by
Spain at the time when you shall receive
this dispatch, you will immediately make
an Official communication to- the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, stating that The ra,if-
cation Of Spain, with the explicit under
standing on her part, ~t,at the aiedged
grants TO the Duke of Alagon, Count
Puncn ltostro, and Mr.. Vargas, and all
others which may have been made under
the same circumstances, are, 10y the 8,h
article of the treaty, null and void, and
win be so held by the United States,
will be accepted as valid; aud ihat you
are authorized TO receive the Spanish rat
ificaGon in exchange for that oi the Uni
ted States, though after the lapse of the
stipulated six months; provided the ex-
change siEh be immediate and in such
time that you can dispatch the ratified
treaty by the messenger who will be the
bearer OF this, in season to arrive here
before thc mee.ing OF Congress. on the
first Monday in December; that, IL the
ratified treaty should not arrive here al
that time, a full communication will be
made by the President to Congress, Of all
the transactions relating 10 the taeaty.
and such measures will be adopted by
that body as they shall think required by
the exigency of the case that, whatever
their determination may be, the Spanish
Government will be responsible to the
United States for all damages and expen-
ces.which mpy arise from the delay or
refusal OF Spain to ratify, and from the
measures to which the United States
may resort. to give efficacy to their
righis and that, for the indemnities to
which they win be justly entitled, for
this violation OF faith by Spain, the U.
States viii look to the territory west OF
the Sabine river.
The cnly reason assigned by the Min
lister Of State, ad interim, Salmon, for
the postponement of the Spanish ratifica-
ton, was the determination of The king,
founded upon the great importance OF
the treaty, to act upon it with full delibc-
ration. This may have been sufficient
to justify delay within the period stipu-
lated by the treaty but after the cxpira-
ton Of that period. can no longer be al.
legged. Delay beyond that period will
be branch Of faith; for the treaty, IN
all its parts. from the moment Of ;,s sig
nature by Mr.. Onis. and the ratification
of the United States, was as binding up
on the honor and good faith Of the span
Z ish king and nation, IS it would be after
the ratification. 1t is scarcely supposa.
bk that Spain will contest this position,
or that II should be necessary to present
it to her view in the following terms, ol
the iul power Of Mr. Onis, the origina
Of which, signed by the King Of Spain
was delivered to me before the signature
of the treaty. The words of His Catho-
lie Majesty are. after authorizing Mr.. O.
MS 70 treat, negotiate, and conclude q
treaty, whereby past differences may be
adjusted, and a firm and lasting peace
established between the twogovernments;
obIiging ourselves, as we do hereby O.
bIigc ourselves, and promise, on the
faith and word of King, to approve,
raiify. and fulfil, and to cause TO be IN