The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-05-16

feelings on lbe subject. Not thai we wisl, II
produce excitement IN this country or 10 ar.
ray one portion OF it against another, or ID
make it "a stalking horse for the attainmen,
OF power"-God forbd--but before the de-
cision of the question we declared our firm con.
victions on that important subject, and after
wards we were called upon in manner TOO
imperious 10 be evaded, to vindicate our opin
ions and those who supported them
Spanish Treaty.-Prssident's Message.
A message was sent 10 both Houses OF Con. (
gress on Tuesday the 9th inst by the Pres.
dent on the subject OF our relations with Spain.
II informs Congress that Gen. Wives SO far from
having brought ratified treaty as was TO
have been expected. had come TO ask expl,.
nations upon old subjects Of complaint, such a.
encroachments upon the territory Of the Span.
ish government upon cur afIording assistance
TO the South American provinces. On these
grounds the President observes though we
were not under any obligation to give any er.
PLANTATION or hold any communication, vet in
spirit of caDdour this was done, by showing
the perfect neutrality, which from the COM
mencement of this struggle was explicitly de.
cIared and has since been strictly maintained
| The President declares The treaty 20
longer binding ,snd asserts our right to take
possession of The Floridss, for The losses sus-
tanned by our com,perce, but recommends Il
in consequence of the new posture OF affairs 10
Spain and under hope that our difhcuIiies
may be amicably adjusted under the new
government, that any measures Of hostile
character be postponed TO The next session.
From The exhausted state OF The treasury.
the la'eness OF The session. as we'll as The Pc
cuiar situation Of Spain, this policy is render.
ed highly proper at the present time. BIZ
the conduct Of that government is not 10 b
justified on any ground whatever it can only
be forbearance on our part, which prevents TIE
immediate occupation Of the disputed tern
tory. The sending this minister seems %
have been a new mode Of procrastnation,
adopted by that gose,nment---for we canset
discover that he has any new powers, or tbst
he was competent 10 make aoy de6nitiye ar
rangemeni, which could not have been done
by our minister at Madrid Such con.empli
Bile shifts in Diplomacy indicate sad state Il
affairs in the head and heart ola gosernmda..#
4#
The whole snii.comnerciai system, report.
ed by the committee Of manufactures, consist
ing OF the new Tariff bill, bill lay ing lax On
sales at auction OF 10 pr cent. and bill n
curing cash payments TOR duties. have bees
virtually rejected by a poslponenent 10 The
next session OF Congress.
Yesterday was the period appointed BY
both houses Of Congress for the termination o(s
their long and laborious session. II COM
meneed ON The 9Th Of December. which gisco<
log days for lis continuance. We recolleet
no session, unless it be one in the presidency
Of JOHN ADAMS, and anoiher in that Of WAsH-
IYcTos which has bad so stormy az aspect IS h
the present. 10 this the Vehement has been Il
perhaps of serious aspect. one which threaten
ed more danger to the continuance Of our
happy Federal UHien than any other. The
subjects of that excitement have been mote
alarming TO the integrity Of he federal COM
pact--rnore in violation Of the first principles
Of our civil liberty. and more calculated 10
array one portion OF the Union against anu'bes
than any question since the orgahiz ton a ibe
National Government. II Seemed 10 us 10 be
a struggle between principle aud political in
Auence on the one side, and the same j. husnce
connected strongly with rri,ai. .atelss on
the other. But The struggle IS over the
clouds are scattered from The pciiticsl aaos-
phere, and calm rests in our extensive evil
family. May heaven avert the danger winch
wise statesmen apprshended AMI posleiiy
never have cause TO regret the comprolifse
between freedom and slavery!