The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-05-17
Tsp alDaii.-
THE MESSAGE.

70 she Senate and House Of Rehresensafiye.
effhe u. Sfsfes.
communicate to Congress cores
pondence which has taken place between
the Secretary Of State and the Envoy Ex-
raordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Of his Catholic Majesty, since the mes
sage Of the 9th March last, respecting
the treaty which was concluded between
the United States and Spain, ON the 22d
February, 1919.
After the failure of his Catholic Ma
Jcsty for SO long time to ratify the trea.
", it was expected that this Minister
would have brought with him the ratif-
cation, or that he would have been au-
thorized to give an order for the delivery
of the territory ceded by it, to the United
States. 1t appears, however, that the
treaty is still unratified, and that the Mn
lister has no authority to surrender the
territory. The object of his mission has
been, to make complaints, and to de-
mand explanations, respecting an imput-
ed system of hostility, on the part of Cit
Nens Of the United States, against the
subjects and dominions Of Spain, aud an
unfriendly policy in their government,
and to obtain new stipulat;ons, against
these alleged injuries, as the condition on
which the treaty should be ratified.
Unexpected as such complaints and
snch demand, were under existing cir
cumstanccs, it was thought proper, with
out compromitting the government as to
ehe course to be pursued, to meet them
promptly, and to give the explanations
that were desired, on every subject, with
the utmost candour. The result has
proved, what was sufficiently well known
before, that the charge of systematic
hostility, being adopted and pursued by
citizens of the United States, against the
dominions and subjects of Spain, is ut
terly dcstitu,e Of foundation, and that
their government, in all its branches, has
maintained, with the utmost rigour, that
neutrality, in the civil war between Spain
and her colonies, which they were the
frst to declare No force has been COL
lected. nor incursions made, from within
the United States, against the elominions
OF Spain nor have any naval equipments
been permitted, in favour of either party
against the other. The citizens have
been warned of the Obligations incident
TO the neutral condition of their country;
the public officers have been instructed
20 see that the laws were fully executed;
and severe examples have been made OF
some who violated them.
In regard to the stipulation proposed,
rs the condition Of the ratification ct the
treaty, that the United States shall aban-
don the right to recognize the Revou.
sionary colonies in South America, or to
form other relations with them, when in
their Judgment it may be just and expe-
dient so to do, it is manifestly so repug-
nant to the honour, and even to the in.
dependence, of the Unitei States, that j,
has been impossible to discuss it. In
making this proposal, it is perceived that
his Catholic Majesty has entirely mis-.
conceived the principles on which this
government has acted, in being a party
to negotiation so long protracted, for
claims SO we'll founded and reasonable as
he likewise has the sacrifices which the
United States have made, comparatively,
with Spain, in the treaty to which it is
proposed to annex SO extraordinary and
improper condition.
Had the Minister of Spain offered an
unqualified pledge that the treaty should
be ratified by his sovereign, on being
made acquainted with the explanations
which had been given by this govern
ment. there would have been a strong
motive for accepting and submitting it t"
the Senate, for their advice and consent,
rather than to resort to other measure,
for redress, however justi6ablc and pro-
per But he gives no such pledge. o.
the contrary, he declares explicitly thr