The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-05-23


After the failure of His Catholic Majesty for
so long time 10 ratify the treaty, it was expect
cd that this Minister would have brought with
him the ratification, or that he wonid nave been
authorized 10 give order for the delivery OF the
territory coded by it, 10 the u. States. 1t APP
pears however, that The treaty is still unratihed,
and that the Minister has no authority TO surren-
der the territory. The object OF his mission has
been, TO make complaints, and TO demand ex-
plantations, respecting an imputed system OF hos
.ilty on the part of citizens of the u. states, a
ga inst the subjects and domninns of SPAN, and
an unfriendly policy in Their Government, and
TO obtain ne " sfipulations against these alleged
injnries, as the condition on which the treaty
should be ratified.
Unexpected rs such complaints and such
demand were, under existing circumstances, II
was thought proper, without compromising the
government az 10 IFS course to he r"rsued, 10
meet them promptly, and TO give the expla-
nations that were desired, every subject, with
the utmost candor. The result has proved,
what was sufficiently we'll known before, that
the charge Of systematic hostility. being adopted
and pursued by the citizens of the onlted states,
against the dominions and sub ects OF spain, ~
utterly destitute of foundation, and that thcir
Government, in all its branches, has maintained,
with the utmost rigor that neutrality IN the civi
war between Spain and her colanes, witch they
were the first TO declare. NO force has been
collected, nor incursion. made. from within the
( United States against tho dominlons OF SPAN !;
nor have any naval equipments been permitted,
in favor Of either party, againstthe other. Their
citizens have been warned Of the obligations In-
cdent n the neutral condition of their country ;
the public officers have been instructed 10 see
that the laws were fully executed and severe
examples have been made of some who violated
them.
In regard TO the stipulation proposed, as the
condition Of the ratification Of the treaty. that
the United states shall abandon the right to re-
cognize the Revolutionary Colonies in South A.
merica, or TO form other relations with them,
when in their judgment il may be Just and ex-
pcdient so to do, il is manifestly so repugnant to
the honor, and ven to the independence OF the
United States, that il has been impossible TO
discuss II. In making this proposal, j; is per.
ceved that His Catholic Majesty has entirely
nni.cnnceved the principles on which this gov
eminent has acted, in being party to nesota-
ton 50 long protracted, for claims 50 well found
ed and reasonable, as he iikewi has the sacri-
fees which the United States have made, com
paratively. with Spain, in the treaty to which it
is proposed to annex so extraordinary and i'm
proper condition.
Had the Minister of Spain offered an uuquali-
fed pledge that the treaty should be ratified by
his sovereign, on being made acquainted with the
explanations which had been given by this gov.
eminent, there would have been strong motive
for accepting and submitting It IL the Senate for
their advice AMI consent, rather than 10 resort TO
other measures for redress, however justifabIe
and proper. But he gives such pic ige.-On
the contrary, he declares explicitly that the refu
sal of this government 70 relinquish the right of
Judging and acting for itself hereafter, according
TO circumstances 10 regard to the Spanish colonies
"A right common to all nations-bas rendered it
impossible for him, under MS instructions, to
make such enga gement.-fie thinks that his
sovereign will be induced by his communications,
to ratify the treaty; but still he leaves him free
either to adopt that measure, or to decline it,
lie admits that the other objections are essen
tally removed, and will not, in themselves, pre-
vent the ratification, provided the difficulty on
! the third point is surrounded. The result, there
fore, is, that the treaty Is declared TO have no
obligation whatever, that its ratification is made
! to depend, not on the considerations which led
10 its adoption, and the conditions which It con-
tans, bat a new article unconnected with it,
resre oting which new negotiation must be o.
pened, Of indefinite duration, and doubtful issue.
Under this view of the subject, the course to
be pursued would appear to be direct and ohvi-
ous, If the affairs of Spain had remained n the
state in which they were when this Minister sail
ed. But il is known, that an important change
has since taken place in the government of That
country which cannot fail TO be sensibly felt, in
its intercourse with other nations. To- Minister
Of s ain has essentially declared his inability 10
act, IN consequence ofthat change. With him,
however, under his present powers, nothing could
be done. The attitude Of the United States must
now be assumed, on fall consideration Of what is
due to their rights, their interest AM honor with
out regard to the powers or incidents of the late
nilsson. We may, at pleasure, occupy the ter
ritory, which was intended and provide by the
late treaty as an indemnity for losses so long since
sustained by our citizens, but still nothing could
be settled definitely, without treaty be-
tween the two nations. Is this the time TO make
the pressure If the United States were governed
by views of ambition and aggrandizement, many
strong reasons might be given in IFS favor. But
they have no objects Of that kind TO accomplish
none which are not founded in justice, and which
can be injured by forbearance. Great hope is
entertained that this change will promote the
happiness of the Spanish nation. The good order,
moderation, and humanity, which have oharac-
terised the movement are the best guarantees of
its success. The IT, States would not be justified
in their own estimation, should they t. ) any
step to disturb IFS harmony. When the spanish
government is completely organized on the prn-
ciples fthis change, as il is expected il soon will
be, there Is just ground TO presume that on diff
fercnces with Spain will be speedily and sstis-
fac,orily settled. With these remarks, submit