Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-03-20

| pdIts PtoSSS0A"6 W 6S'Sf
ty. But Spain must be responsible to the
| United States for every wrong done by her,
| after the signature of the treaty by her Mi
| mister and the refusal to ratify his act is the
| first wrong for which they are entitled to
redress.
l have the honor TO be with great respect,
sir, your very humble and obedient sery't,
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
The Secretary q Estate to Mr.. Lov"de',
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
z1st DECEMBER, 1879.
William Lowndes, Esq. Chairman
of the committee of Foreign Relations.
Sir-In answer to the questions contained
in your letter of the 10th inst. | have the ho-
| nor 20 state, for the information of the COM
| mittee.
1st. That information has been received
not through direct channel, nor in anthem
| tic form, that another motive besides those
| alledged in the letter of the Duke of San.
Fernando to Mr.. Forsyth, did operate upon
the Spanish cabinet, to induce the withhold
ing of the ratification of the treaty, namely,
the apprehension that the ratification would
be Immediately followed by TIE recognition
| by the u. States Of the independence of one
or more of the South American provinces.
1t has been suggested; that probably the
most important of the explanations which
the Minister to be sent by Spain, will be in
s'ructed to ask, will consist Of an explicit
declaration ofthe intentions OF this govern
| ment in that respect. There is reason also
TO believe, that the impunity with which
privateers, fitted out, manned, and differed,
in one or more Of our ports, have committed
hostilities upon the Spanish commerce., will
be ~alledged among the easons for delay. and
perhaps some pledge may be required of the
e%tfectual execution against these practices,
OF laws which appear to exist in the Statute
Book.
Ii may De proper to remark that. during
the negotiation of the Florida treaty; re.
peated, and very earnest efforts were made,
both by MIR. Pizarra. at Madrid, and Mr..
Onis here, to obtain from the government OF
the u. States either a positive stipulation OF
a tacit promise, that the u. S. would not re-
cognize any of the S. American revolutiona-
ry governments-and that tie Spanish nego.
ciators were distinctly md explicitly inform
ed that this government would not assent to
any such engagement, either express or i'm
piled.
2. By all the information which has been
obtained Of The prospective views of the
French and Russian governments, in rela-
ton to the course which it was by them
thought probable would be pursued by the
U, 5. it is apparent that they strongly ap-
pretended the immediate forcible occupa-
ton OF Florida by the U. s. on the non-rati-
hcation by Spain, of the treaty within the
stipulated time. France and Russia both
have most earnestly dissuaded Us from that
course. not by any regular official commune
cation, but by informal friendly advice ;.de-
preeating immediate hostility, on account Of
its tendency to kindle a general war, which
they fear would be the consequence ola war
between the U. s.. and Spain. 1t was al
lodged that. in. the present state OF our
controversy with Spain, the opinion of all
Europe on the point at issue was in our ia
vor and against her.
That by exercising patience a little Ion
ger, by waiting at least to hear the Minister
who was announced as coming to give and
receive explanations, we could not fail of OBJ
tanning ultimately, without resort to force,
the right TO which il was admitted we were
entitled. But that precipiate measures of
violence might not only provoke Spain to
war, but would change the state of the ques-
ton between US would exhibit as to the
world as lie aggressors, and would indispose
against US those now the most decided in our
favour.
1t is not expected that in the event Of a
war with Spain any European power will o.
pen!y take a part in it against the United
States but there is no doubt that the prin-
cipal reliance of Spain will be upon the en-
ployment OF priyateers in France and En-
gland. as well as in the East and West In