Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-02

required, be acquiesced in, the chief OBJ
Ject of entering into the treaty would be
thereby frustrated; that, by one of its
provisions, the United States govern
ment agreed to pay, on account of Spain,
to their own citizens, for spoliations COM
mitted 10y her subjects, or in her ports,
contrary to treaty, FIVE millions of dol
lars out of the proceeds of the sales of
lands in the coded territory; but should
this grant, said to include very large
portion of those lands, be confirmed, the
sum assigned for that purpose would
fail, and, of course, this provision of the
treaty could not be complied with.
He appeared to feel the full force OF
the remark, giving his assent to the con-
clusion drawn, and proceeded to Observes
it was to be regretted that Spain did not
understand her own interest better than
she seemed to do; that it was difficultto
conceive, in her present situation, what
could induce her to take the course She
had done, refuse to ratify treaty favora-
bic to herself, and concluded by her mi
mister vested with full power for the
purpose. He then remarked on the
great importance of preserving peace,
as far as practicable, among the civiliz-
ed nations of the world, inquired what
Spain could now do in regard to the bu-
siness by sending minister to WASH
ington, and what course our government
would be likely to adopt on the occasion.
| replied, that, as to Spain, | could
form no opinion of the motives by which
she was governed. ! did not perceive
what she could do, unless she receded
from her objections to the treaty; and as
my government, though l was satisfied
of its strong desire to preserve peace, I
could not pretend TO say what cou rse it
might conceive itself called on to take
OH the present occasion, though / pre-
sumed no decisive measures would be
adopted to change essentially the rela-
tons between the two countries until
congress should convene, early in De-
cember; and the course then pursued
would probably depend upon what Spain
should in the mean time do.
He then inquired, how soon l expect
ed to hear from my government after it
had been advised of the refusal on the
the part of Spain to ratify the treaty; and
being told that could not state the pre-
else time, with any degree of certainty,
but that it would undoubtedly be as soon
as dispatches could reach this from
Washington, he expressed, with some
earnestness, his wish that should make
known to him, at as early a day as might
NC
might receive from my government on
this subject"
Extract Of letter from Mr.. Forsyth
to the Secretary Of State, dated Ma
drid, January Sd, 1920.
GA few days after the date ofmy last,
numbered 10, | had visit from the
count Bulgary, the Russian charge
d'affaires. He came to see me in con-
sequence of conversation he had just
had with the duke of San Fernando,
respecting my official letter of the 18th
of October, and the subsequent COR
respondence in relation to it. He stated
to me, that the duke regretted the me-
cessity of sending back the letter, but
that it was SO harsh in its terms he could
not place it before the king; to this was
added a great many assurances of per-
sonal kindness and good will, not neces-
sary TO be repeated. ! replied, that it
was very Notifying to me, to be obliged
to send the letter in the first instance,
and not less SO to insist on its being re-
ceived; that the duke had put it out Of
my power to act otherwise than ! had
done; but that there was no difficulty in
avoiding the unpleasant consequences
likely to ensue. The duke had nothing
to do but to give me such assurances in
regard to the grants as would render it
superfluous for ME to say any thing
about them. His answer was at once
curious and Unsatisfactory; he said that
the duke could not give me any assuran-
ces, such was the predominating inf1u-
.ence of the grantees with the king. He
was sincerely disposed to settle all the
differences with the United States, and
hoped in a short time, to have power to
effect it; had authorized count Bnlgary
to say to the Russian government, that
general Wives was going Immediately
to the United States, and would have
competent powers; and that every thing
would be amicably arranged. l made
the Russian charge d'affaires sensible
that one part of this statement contra
dicted the other. General Wives could
not receive powers competent to the
purpose of amicable settlement, if the
| l.