Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-26
ALEXANDRIA,: ,
FRIDAY FEBRUARY &c. 1919.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASHINGTON
WedaesduQ. February 95.


to the time consumed by debates on the U.
States bank business. ! cannot truly say,
as often have good reason for saying Of
days employed in debate, that yesterday
was wasted; for Mr.. Sergeant made very
able speech-yigorous in argument, and
replete with substantial information. He
paid the compliment Of warm appreciation
of his conduct to Mr.. Jones, the president
of the bank, whom he represented as hav-
ing distinguished himself in that Office by
his zeal and industry-indeed to an amount
that impaired his health. He justified the
banks selling drafts for profit, on the
ground that they were authorised to sell
drafts by the charter, and had as good
right to take profit as any private indi-
viduals; and be considered the large per
centum on the dividends to be sufficient
evidence of the good management of the
bank. He denied the right Of Congress
to break up the charter, as it was fair
contract over which the Legislature had no
rightlul controul {; and he said that to the
courts of law alone authority belonged to
interpose on the occasion. Mr. Pirdall and
Mr.. Barbour spoke in favor Of the repeal,
and Mr.. Storrs against it-when the COM
mittee rose, and the house adjourned.
From the National Intelligeneer, Feb. rs.
II is seldom that we have had so accep-
table an Office to PERFORM las that OF announ-
cling to our readers the unanimous ratiifca-
tion, by the senate. Of TREATY of A.
NIFTY, SETTLEMENT AND LIMITS,
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND SPAIN, as recently concluded at this
place by Mr.. Secretary Adams and Don
Luis de Onis.
As the Treaty, though ratified on our
part, will not be promulgated officially ,un-
til it has also been ratified by the sovereign
of Spain, we shall state the principal pro-
visions, as distinctly as we have been able
to ascertain them, of this important instru-
ment.
By this treaty, we understand that FLO.
RIDA, including all the claims of Spain 10
territory east of the Mississippi, is coded in
full sovereignty TO the Uniled States.
That the Western boundary, between the
territory of the United States and that of
SPAIN. is adjusted as follows: Beginning
with the mouth of the Sabine river, and
running with the west bank thereof to the
north west limit of the state of Louisiana
thence by direct line north TO the Red ri.
YER; thence along the south bank of that
river to the tooth degree of longitude
thence on that meridian TO the Arkansaw
and thence along the Arkansaw to its
source, in the forty degree of North
Latitude, and thence upon that parallel to
the Pacific.
A sum not exceeding fve millions ofdol-
lars, is to be paid by the United States, out
Of the proceeds of the sales of lands in Flo
rida. or in stock or money, as the congress
may prescribe, to our own citizens, on ac-
count ofspoliations and other injuries re.
ceived by them from the government of
Spain, or from the governments of the CO.
lonies of Spain.
To liquidate these claims, "a board is 10 be
constituted by the government of the U. s.
of American citizens, TO consist Of three
commissioners, who are to make their re-
port within three years.
There is mutual remuneration on the
part Of the two governments, for further
claims on each other for spoiations, &c.
Spanish citizens are to enjoy, on the
principle Of the Louisiana treaty, the same
as American citizens in the. ports
ofSt. Augutine end Pensacola, for 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 our new
ly appointed Minister to Srain, will be the
bearer Of this Treaty, and that the ratiica-
tons will be exchanged long before the
commencement of the next session of Con-
gress in contemplation Of which event, it
is probable that Congress will. before they
adjourn, pass an act authorsing the Exeeu-
tive to receive the surrender Of the provin-
ces Of Florida from the Spanish authorities,
and to established an independent govern
ment therein.