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

DOCUMENTS ACCOMPANYING TIE LATE MESSAGE
OF THE PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS.
Extracts Of a letter from Mr.. CAN'T
bell to the Secretary Of State, dated
st. PetersburgA, 2oM October, ( lst
.Novem5er) 1919, containing details
ola conversation zvith Count Wessel-i
rode.
"Your despatch, No. 8. of June Sd, l
had the honor to receive few days ago"
"After some general conversation,
he's inquired, Gas l presumed he would
do, and waited for him to introduce the
subject if had any certain account of
what Spain was doing, or had done, re-
speeding the treaty lately concluded by
her minister at Washington with our
government. I had shortly before re-
ceiyed from Mr.. Gallatin letter con-
frming the account which had already
reached me through the newspaper, tina.
the king had refused to ratify the treaty
until he should obtain some previous
explanations, relating, as stated by MIR.
Gallatin, to two points: lst, the deciar-
alton MIR. Forsyth was instructed, on
exchanging the Publications, to put in,
that the grant to the duke d'Alagon for
lands in the coded territory, which,
though intended to be, was not by the
terms of the treaty made null, should be
considered as null; and, I'd, an engage
ment, required by Spain on the part of
our government, not, to recognize the
independence Of any of the Spanish colo-
MES; and that, to demand these expla-
nations, q minister extraordinary was to
be sent to Washington, though Mr.. For
syth had offered, as instructed, to give
full explanations on any point connected
with the treaty. Therefore informed the
Count, l had authentic information,
though not frem my government, that the
King had refused his assent to the treaty
until he should obtain explanations on
certain points, for which purpose, he
proposed sending minister extraordi-
nary to Washington. / took this occa-
sion to remark further, that, by official
information from my government, l felt.
myselfauthorized to state, that Mr.. Onis,
the Spanish MINISTRY was fully empew-'
cred to conclude the treaty, and might
have yielded more than he did without
exceeding his authority and that the
points on which it was now proposed to
ask explanations had been fully discuss
ed before the treaty was signed, and their
extent and meaning explicitly understood
by both parties; of which the Spanish
court was fully informed; and our mi
mister there was instructed to give am
pie explanations, which he offered to do,
on any points relating to the treaty that
might be supposed to require them. l
added, that the treaty was undoubtedly,
under all circumstances, highly favora-
BILE to Spain, and that, | was satisfied, a
strong desire on the part of my govern
ment to preserve peace alone induced
them to agree to its provisions that
presumed he had been informed respect
ing the terms of the treaty by Mr.. Pole
tica, with whom ! had understood you
had freely communicated on the subject.
He said Mr.. Polctica had advised him
that, from the explanations received from
you respecting it, the treaty was by him
considered feUorahle to Spain. i then
referred to the grant to the Duke d'Ala-
gon, briefly stated the nature of it, as
made known to me, and observed, that,
should the views of the King, as now
4H
! sCount Ncsselrpde.