Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-19

had declared invalid for want OF the fulfil
ment of their essential conditions, tact
which is now explicitly admitted by you. y
single exception to the principle that the
treaty should give no confirmation TO any
imperfect title, was admitted which ex-
ception was, that owners in possession Of
lands, who by reason of the recent circum-
stances of the Spanish nation, and the revo-
Iu.ions in Europe, had been prevented from
fulfilling all the conditions OF their grants,
should complete them within the terms limit
ed in the same from the date OF the treaty
this had obviously no reference to the above,
mentioned grants. the grantees of,which
were not in possession Of the lands. who had
fulfilled none of their conditions, and who
had not been prevented from fulfilling any OF
them by the circumstances OF Spain, OF the
revolutions of Europe.
The article was drawn by me, and, be-
fore asserting to it, Mr.. Ons enquired what
was understood by me as the import OF the
terms = shall complete them" told him,
that, in connec ion with the terms = all the
conditions they necessarily implied that
the indulgence would be limited to gran
tees, who had performed some OF the con-
ditions, and who had commenced settle
ments, which it would allow them to com
plete. These were precisely the cases tor
which Mr.. Onis had urged the equity OF ma
king provision, and he agreed to the ar
ticle, fully understanding that 1t wonlo te
applicable only to them.
When, after the signature OF the treaty.
there appeared to be some reason ier sup
nosjng that Mr.. Onis had been mistaken
in believing that the grants to the Duke OF
Alagon, Count Punon Rostro, and Mr. Var
gas were subsequent to the Oath JAM 1918,
candor required that Spain and the gran
tees should never have shadow OF ground
to expect or allege that this circumstance
was al al:matesial in relation to the bearing
of the treaty upon those grants. MT. Onls
had not been mistaken in declaring that
they were invalid, because their conditions
were not fulfilled. He had not been mista
ken in agreeing to the principle that no
grant, invalid as TO Spain, should, by The
treaty he made valid against the CHted
States. He had moi been mistaken, IN the
knowledge that those grantees had neither
commenced settlements nor been prevented
from completing them, BIZ the crcumsian'
ces of Spain, or the revolutions in Europe.
The declaration which Mr.. Forsyth was IN
structed to deliver, was merely TO caution
all whom it might concern. not to lnter,lro
an unimportant mistake of Mr.. Onis,. as to
the date of the grants, other important mis-
takes which he had not made, and which
the u S. would not permit to made by any
one. twas not, therefore, to annul or 10
alter, but to fulfill the 9Th article, as l;
stands, that the declaration was to be DELI
vered and it is for the same purpose that
this explanation is now given.
1t was with much satisfaction, therefore mat
learned from you the determination OF your
povernne nt to assent to the total nudity q
the above mentioned grants.
As 1atter myself that these explanations
will remove every obstacle TO the ratItlca-
ton of the treaty by H. C. NJ. ii is much to
be regretted that you have not that rat'ilca-
ton to exchange, nor the power to give
pledge. which would be equivalent to the
ratification. The six months within WHICH
the exchange of the notifications were stlpu-
lated by the treaty having elapsed, by Inc
principles of our constitution, the question
whether it shall be now accepted, must be
laid before the senate for their advice ana
consent To give last and signal proof OF
the earnest wish of this government to
bring to conclusion these long standing and
unhappy differences with Spain, the Presl-
dent will 20 far receive that solemn promise
Of immediate ratification upon the arrival OF
your messenger at Madrid. which, IN your
note Of the 18th ultimo, you declare your
self authorised. in the name of your sove-
reign, to give, as to submit 10 the Senate OF
the U. S. whether they will advise and
consent to accept it, for The ratification OF
the U. States heretofore given.
But, It is proper to apprize you, that If this
offer is not accepted, the L. S: besides be-
inc entitled to resume all the rights, claims,
and pretensions, which they had renoun-