Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-04
From the Washington Gty Gazette.

A view OF the negotiation heween the Uni
ted States and France, which resulted IN
the treaty of cession Of 1903, from M ).
work, entitled "Sketches OF Diploma
ic History"
(Concladed.)
Statement on the part OF the United States.
S.l"Tbe third provision has an object E.
auslly distinct and ls more important, be-
cause by giving it its intended effect, the
construction given 10 the others is fully
confirmed, such as il should be after the
tre9lies subsequently entered into between
Spain AMI other states. By the treaty be-
tween the United States and Great Britain
in 1888, and the free navigation OF the
NJ sissippi, are confirmed with the right
Of 'euosit at New Orleans. This provision
applies to this treaty, and likewise to the
treaty nf 1888 between Great Britain and
Spain, by which West Florida was coded
to the latter, whereby she was enabled 10
restore it in the extent contended for, TO
France. In regard to its operation on the
treaty OF 1875, between the United States
and Spain il was provision which The T.
nitrd States had right to expect from the
good faith Of Spain.
This view of The subject, which was in
substance, taken by the ministers ofthe U.
States in 1905 in a negotiation at Aranju-
ez appears to be conclusive"
With regard to the western boundary of
Louisiana the government of the United
States never doubted since the treaty Of
1888 that il extended to The Rio Bravo,
The discovery OF the Mississippi as low
down as the Arkansas in 1873, to is mouth
in 1880, and the establishment Of settlers
on that river and on the Bay of ST. Bernard,
on the western side of the Colorado in 1885
under the authority of France when the
nearest settlement of Spain was in the Pro-
vince of Panuca, are facts which place the
claim of the U. States on ground not to be
shaken, it is known that nothing occurred
afterwards on the part of France TO weaken
this claim. The difference which after
wards took place between France and
Spain respecting the Spanish encroach-
ments there, and the war which ensued,
t. which they contributed, tend to confirm
It." (36)
Statement on the part Of Spain.
81 The third clause, like the second,
qualities the first. According 10 this, Lou
isiana must be, as to extent, not merely
"what it was in the hands of SPAIN or
when France possessed il; but such as it
ought to be under the treaties subsequently
made by Spain with Other powers" THAT
are the treaties here alluded TO? Those OF
1873, of 1888 and Of 1875. BY the first,
Spain became party to the dismemher-
ment of Louisiana ana to the caS>ion of the
eastern section thereof to Great Britain
by the second, she received this eastern
section under the name Of West Florida,
10 Great Britain with the limits it had as
British Province and of course with the
Mississippi aud fberville rivers as its west
ern boundary which, in effect, was decla-
ring anew, that these rivers form the east
ern boundary OF Louisiana BY the third,
was vested in the United States right Of
deposit in her principal port Of NewOr
leans and TO keep good her faith on this
head, this provision became necessary.
On the subject Of westeta boundary, We
but remark that the pretended rights CT
France to the Bay Of St. Bernard, did not
survive the treaty of 17l9. between France
and Spain that from that period to 1852
(rnore than forty years. .37l while louisa ,
ria remained in the hands Of the former, the
of the latter was constantly and
openly exercised. without question or con
troversy, from the Mermen;as TO the Bravo;
that this long and quiet possession, rndis-
turbed by France and scquiesced in by all
the world, was, as il ought 10 be, a sure tile
10 her, and not to be shaken by obsolete
yetentions-tounded on mistake and OBJ
.rusion, and long since abandoned by the
power which made them. 1881
Our confidence in this reasoning Is in
creased by the consideration. that this con-
,truction of the third article ofthe treaty of
ST. Ildefonso, is not ours alone, but that al
20 of tine power to which Spain had made
he cession that this power when standing
IN the place now occupied by the United