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

retarded that event, end all disquisition upon
the perfect + ght which the United States
have had to that ratification.
am now instructed to repeat the assn
rance which has already been given you,
that the representations 'ch appear TO
have been made to your government OF
system of hostility, in various parts OF 'his
Union against the Spanish domInlons, ana
the property Of Spanish subjects; OF deer
s;ons marked with such hostility by any OF
the courts of the u. States, and OF the tole-
ration in any case OF it by this government
are unfounded. In the existing unfortunate
civil war between Spain and the South Ame-
rican provinces, the U. States have constant
" avowed and faithfully maintained an I'M
partial neutrality. No violation OF that neu-
lrality by any citizen OF the u. States has
ever received sanction or countenance from
this government. Whenever the laws pre-
viousIy enacted tor the preservation OF neu-
trality have been found by experience in
any manner detective, they have been
Strengthened by new provisions and severe
penalties. Spanish property, illegally cap
tured, has been constantly restored by the
decisions Of the tribunals of the U States,
nor has the lifs Itself been spared of indlTI-
duals guilty Of piracy, committed upon Spa
nish property on the high seas.
Should the treaty be ratified by Spain, and
the ratification be accepted by and with the
advice and consent oil the Senate, the boun-
Diary line recognized by it, will be respect
ed by the United States, and due care will
be taken to prevent any transgression OF it.
No new law or engagement will be necessa-
ry for that purpose. The existing laws are
adequate to the suppression OF such disorders,
and they will be. as they have been, faith
fully carried into effect. The miserable disor-
derly movement OF number not exceeding
! seventy lawless individual stragglers, who
never assembled within the jurisdiction OF
the United States, into territory TO which
his Catholic Majesty has no acknowledged
right other than the yet unratifed treaty,
was so far from receiving countenance or
support from the government OF the United
States, that every measure necessary tor IT'S
suppression was promptly taken under their
authority; and from the misre presentations
| which have been made of this very insignitl-
cant transaction to the Spanish government,
there is reason 10 believe that the pretended
expedition itself as well as he gross exag-
| geratons which have been used to swell its
importance. proceed from the same sources,
equally unfriendly to the United States and
| to Spain.
As necessary consequence of the neu-
| trality between Spain and the South Anne
rican provinces, The United States can con-
tract no engagement, not 10 form any rela-
ton with those provinces. This has ex-
plictly and repeatedly been avowed, and
made known to your government, both at
Madrid and at this place. The demand was
resisted both in conference and written cor
respondence, between Mr.. Erving and Mr..
| Pizarro.
| Mr.. Onis had long End constantly been
informed, that persistence in it would put
an end to the possible conclusion OF any trea-
ty whatever Your sovereign will perceive
that such an engagement cannot be con-
tracted by the United States consistently
with their obligations of neutrality, it can
not Justly be required of them, nor have any
of the European nations ever bound them
se.res TO Spain by such an engagement.
| JVith regard to your proposals, 1t IS pro-
per to observe, that his Catholic majesty in
announcing bis purpose Of asking e1plana'
tions of the United States, gave no 10
| timation of an intention 10 require
new articles to the treaty. You are a
| ware that the United States cannot con-
si.tently with what is due 10 themselves,
| stipulaie new engagements, as the price OF
ott ming the ratification of the old. he
declaration which Mr.. Forsyth was instruct
ed to deliver, at the exchange OF The ratlfl-
| cations of the treaty, with regard to the 9th
Article, was not intended to snnul, or in the
Sill htest degree, to alter or impair the sti-
/ pulations of that article its only object
| was to guard your governm ent, and'all per-
sons who might have had any interest in a
! ny:of the annulled grants, against the pos
| sible expectation or pretence that those