The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-12-14

- - y eI"aiiy oPch 70 OOtn parties, and on
the same conditions, and our citizen, b..~
been equally restrained from interfering !.
favor OF either, TO The prejudice Of the Other
The progress of The war has orrrs,.a
manisestly In favor Of The colonies. Bu-no.
Ayres still maintains unshaken. .b,. ina.
pendence which il declared in 1916, and bss
enjoyed since lSl0.-Like success ~. i.
so lately attended Chill, and the bro,;pc..
north OF The La Plata, bordering o. il. ana
likewise Venezuela =
This contest has, from its cnmmanr
ment been very interesting to other powe,.
and TO none more so than to the Unued
States. A virtuous people may and will
conhne themselves within the limits of !.
strict neutrality; but ii is not in their now
TO behold conflict so vitality important r.
their neighbors, wilhout the sensiblIity which
naturally belong to such case Il has been
the steady purpose of this Government to
prevent that feeling leading to excess ana
II It's very gratifying to have i, in my power
10 STATE, that SO strong has been the sense.
throughout the whole community, OF what
was due TO the character ard obligations &C
me nation, that few examples Of coptr,ry
kind have occurred.
! he distance Of the colonies from the
mother country, and the great extent Of theic
population and resources, gave them advan,
ages which, il was anticipated, at very
early period, it would be difficult for Spain
TO su' mount. The steadiness, consistency.
and success, with which they have pursued
heir object, as eyinced more particularly by
the uhdistuIbed sovereignty which Buenos
Ayres has SO long enjoyed, evidently give
them sttong cl~im 10 the favorable consid-
Grafton of other nations. THESE sentiments
IN the part of the United States, have not
been withheld from other powers, with
whom il is desirable TO act in concert.
Should it become manifest to The world,
hat the Efforts of Spain to subdue those
provinces, will be fruilless, il may be pre-.
sumed that the Spanish government itself
Will give up the contest. In producing such
4 determination, il cannot be doubted that
The opinion of friendly powers who have tax.
en- no part IN the controversy, will have
their meri,ed influence.
1t is of the highest importance 10 our ia
tional cha acter, and indispensable to them
rality of our cilizens, tina, all violations of
our neutrality should be prevented No
door should be lefi open for the evasion of
our lsws,nv opportunity afforded to any who
may be disposed to take advantage OF it, TO
oompromit the interest or honor of the ma
lion. Ii is submitted, therefore, 10 the con-
sideraiion of Congress, whether il may not
b. advisable 10 revise the laws, with view
to this desii able result.
II is submitted, also, whether il may not
be advisable to designate, BY law, the several
ports or places along the coast, at which, on
ly, foreign ships of war, and priyateers may
be admitted he difficulty of sustaining
the regulations of our commerce, and of
other important interests, from abuse, with
OUT such designation. furnishes strong mo-
tive for this measure.
At the time OF the negotiation for the re-
newal Of the Commercial Convention be-
tween the United States aud Great Britain,a
hope had been entertained that an article
might have been agreed upon, mutually sat-
lsfaciory to both countries, regulating, upon
principles OF justice and reciprocity, the
CONNER ial Intercourse between the United
States and the British possessions, as well
in the West Indies ss upon the continent OF
North America. The plenipo,entiaries OF
the lwo governments, not having been able
10 come 10 an agreements, on this important
interest, those oS the Uuited States reserved
for the consideration of this governmentthe
which had been presented TO them
as the ultimate offer on the part OF the
British government, and which they were
not authorised to accept. On their trans
mission here they were examined with due
elaboration, the result OF which was new
{ fort to meet the views OF the British gov
eminent. The minister OF the United
States, was inst ucted 70 make further pro-
posal, which has not been accepted. II was
however. declined in an amicable manner.
/ recommend to the consideration OF Con-
e ess, whether further prohibitory PtovI-
5 sons, in the laws relating to this intercourse,
may not be expedlcnt. l. is seen with IN
lerest, that although ii has not been pIacn:
cable, as yet, 10 agree in any arr ngemebs
OF This important branch OF their commerce.
such is the disposition oil the parfies' tna'
each will view any regulation when inc
other may make respecting It IN the moss
friendly light.
b, the 5th article of the Convention con-
cluded on the 9oth Of October, 1878 II was
stipulated that the differences wnlch hsu
arisen between the two governments, Wild
regard 10 the true intent and meanihe %
4. ct o. liz M. In re