Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-24

himself must be aware that there is little
danger of our speedy recognition OF any OF
the South American States. II laudabie
prudence and the uncertainty OF the iate OF
those states, baye induced hitherto rigid
system OF neutrality, the same causes which
are now heightened In the degree OF EVIL
dence and force, cannot fail to prove equal
| Iy operative with the American government
| until il shall be driven by the injustice OF
SPAN iuto different policy.
Although the general tenor and scope OF
| the Presidents message uisy meet universal
appreciation. we entertain some doubt whe-
Their exception will not be taken to particu-
lar passages-We are not satisfied with the
allegation that the complaints OF The Spanish
government, :" respecting all imputed sys-
TEN OF hostility on the part OF the citizens OF
the u. States against the subjects and domi-
Mons of Spain,'' were unexpected. -
| That such system has existed, nay does
exist is certain otherwise why should we
hear al this moment of numerous patriotic
priyateers owned in our ports ? Why would
portion of the more upright and honorable
citizens Of Baltimore be now petitioning
| Congress to nterdict the waters OF the Che
sapeake, and the port of Baltimore especi-
ally, to all pliyateers They know well
I" the system OF hostility" carried on from
I thot nd III hot hou
and what they have read in the decision OF
Judge Bland in The case OF the Nereyda,
| have been convinced of the utter ineticacy
| of all legislative measures OF prevention,
short of those which they solicit. twas ma
tural tor any European government to sup"
pose that il could have teen otherwise sup
pressed by the American Executive, and
therefore natural for Spain to complain. We
have been discourieous and violent towards
her at Madrid, let US not be uncandld at
home. As regards the treaty, our cause is
too sound and plain 10 require any such
aid.
If there be-, as the President af6rms, and
as we fully believe, "just ground to pre-
sumo that our differences with Spain will be
speedily and satisfactorily adjusted" when
her new organization is complete, it is ma
nfestly right to pursue the plan Of modera-
ton and abstinence which is recommended.
But it's possible that under the new order
of things in Spain, there may be an irwin
chile reluctance to yield Florida--that an
attempt may be made TO put that province
against the American power, before the
next session of congress. fit be still look
ed to by US as the indemnity for The losses of
our citizens-if our claim to it be still re-
garded as indefeasible, ought not provision
to be made against the contingencies just
mentioned Mr.. Lowndes stated in congress
in his reply to Mr.. Clay on the third Of
April last, that " it would be more easy 10
obtain Canada by force, than it would be
to obtain Florida by force, if the power to
whom it belonged, was determined to hold
it :" and that it would be an error fatal to
the best interests of the country to refuse to
receive Florida into our possession, whilst
we can /; of course MIR. Lowndes would
have added, {" and an equally fatal error to
abstain from preventing it being put beyond
our reach, or SO prepared as TO cost US much
blood and treasure in the acquisition. We
do not coincide with Mr.. Lowndes in either
of these opinions. but to those who think
with him, it must appear improvident not to
guard against the bare possibility Of the last
evil. The only suitable precaution is to in
vest the president with discretion as to the
occupation of the territory. This, howeve,,
is not desired, to judge from the language.
OF the message.
Mr. Clay has at last, on the South Anne.
rican question, gained a quasi victory, upon
which the National Inteligencer puts the
best face for the Administration. Hissmo- |
ton 10 appropriate money for al outfit or sa-
larry OF minister or ministers to one or more
Of the independent governments OF South
America, succeeded by a small majority.
The,vote arose, no doubt from the DISPOSE
ton produced by the tenor and result Of the
late negotiation, to enable the President o
be ready for the recognition of Buenos Ayres
by the new government of Spain; or TO arm
him with the means of negotiating upon
better footing with til at government for our
rights { aonears 10 us singular that tbnse