Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-03
From The National Taieiligeacer.
DON LOUIS DE ONIS'S MEMOIR.

rom The .NlHioau Iiieiii
DON LOUIS DE ONIS'S MEMOIR
translation of the Memoir upon the negotiation
setween Spuin and the United States of America.
winch led TO the treaty ofl8i9, has just been publish
ed IN this city from the pen of Dr. Watkins il, whose
Character and abilities ha,e a satisfactory plcdre
oi the fidelity and accuracy of the translation.
We have looked over this work, in the expectation
o finding it full of the sophiss ofdipIomacy and We
~ unfescrSed III the tranness OF the authors views
oi the United States. We have moi been dsappoint-
ei IL Is both the one and the other. Of the cha
taeter OF our people, and their beseung ioibles,
re speaks with unsparins severity, and with more
freedom, we think, than sincerity. OF our nstitll-
Nois, and ~ our resources, he has given ilaierng
f.cw rs could he expected from representative of
hionarchy, who mas no longer motive for decepty q
language, or mental reservation respect TO us it
h:ing perfectly evident from the whole tenor of the
hlemor, that Don Louis De ons has not the least
expectation OF ever revising the United States in n
public capacity. Ofthe polioy of our royernmcnt he
as furnished such distorted view as suited the pur-
pose Tor which he wrote which was by dDrDpoS SUI
seStions To induce the CoItcs of Spain To raii(y the
treaty OF 1919, the necessary assent 10 which had
bcen, and WAS NJ the date Of the Memoir withheld
hy the King Of SPAIN
rs we do not feel ourselves justified in making any
extracts from this book which might Interfere with
The profits OF the sale oft due To- tie labor ard enter
prise OF the Translator and Publisher we shall con-
tent ourselves with brief account of its plan and an
extract two calculated 10 slcw the ,eneral con,.
exon oi It's contents.
The character Of the book is well described in the
following extract from the tr,nslators preface
he reader of the following pages will soon find
reason 10 pronounce them most extraordinary pro-
ducon he will perceive that t!cy contain a singular
"iNttre OF the yerIcst SANDER and the most eXtrya-
CANT eu'oSy. OF our country and counrymen, that was
ever heaped upon them by foe or friend The dom
be object which the author had in view, led him. of
.lecessN, INTO many contradictions and aiIs,irJ;;ies
lie had been accused %: suilying the dignity of his
royal MASTER and woun,!ing the interests OF his nation
by disSTncefm treaty and this charge naturally in
Vowed the suspicion t:n; he had been influenced mi
his negotiation either by fer plr'iality for the A.
mer!cans In combatting this woiod accusa;ion il
was important that he should show the p1cai and
physical s:reagth of the United States in It's utmost
magnitude that he Should demonstrate the possibiii-
~ oil defending the Spanish Provinces in Amefic;,
from the ambitious grasp of this colossal power: and
tuat nc should draw such picture of the people a,
Highi lead 10 t'le inference that Contempt rather than,
s6aiil alton or dread, supplied him with the CO.
ioi!iS IL VIII be seen, from the ingenuity with
wnch lie has managed his arguments, that Don Louis
&c OniS was willy politician, OF the d;,lo-
matte art ad however Elusive some of his reason
ioS may appear, there are strong grounds believe
thar The Spanish Cortes influenced by il 10 con-
son. 10 the ratification of his treaty. and that his main
object was thus accomplished"
The Memoir commences with history of the
Jons diplomatic residence in the United States, from
me year l809 to the year 1919 Of his arrival
here the refusal of our government 10 receive him
and his vigilance and faithful services nevertheless
IL then takes view OF the territories of the United
states oil their Population; OF the of the rapid
Increase OF population and of the public and indiyd
nni wealth OF these states of our relations with tIc
Indians on our borders of the Agricultural maDufac
tories, and industry OF the United States of te;r
commerce OF their military force which he sc,nd,-
lousy deprcciales OF the navy of the national re-
venue OF our internal policy of our political system
and the relations OF the United States with the differ
ent powers Of the globe. The Memoir then concludes
with brief account OF the negotiation, and of the
motives which induced him to close IL AS he did. the
Duke OF Wagons grants in Florida In the contrary
Notwithstanding. The statistical part of the work
shews TINT Mr. De Onis was no, Idle or uuolscryinr
during his sojourn here, though many of the state
menti and arguments founded Oh erroneous or
detective data.
IL remans for Us 10 give an extract or two from ,
work The irstis his portrait of the people of the
United States, not very fllttering ccrtainy-yct in
which, mangre It's irighdul daubing and hideoGs CO.
Tors. one can plainly discover odd traits of re-
semlllnce TO those who sal for the likeness:
HIS people, however, do not appear capabIe of
raising themselves to that colossal greatness to which
they aspire, nor to any solid 'nd lasting glory.
compound o Individuals OF variou; nations they have
no true national character aud devoted o commerce
and speculation, interest is their idol They carried
WIN them to the deserts oi North America the cor
rupiion aud the vices OF the degenerate peopIe in
Europe and this corruption and these vircs b,vc
met with no barriers in country where all are free
and where luxury atd msGj0bie thirst of roll are ne
predominant passions eriyene epo,isp nr,rice and a.
ter soydd passions, distinguish The character of me
H9,ericus. Their in general resemble thosr
OF the English, though they are always accompanied
WIN certain rustcity, aud a provoking arrogance
that pariicuarise them The inhabitants of the Init
Ell States are dcscepdci fr he most prt fran, Ey;sb
JqmEeS and although multitude OF individuals from
oher nations are Incorporated in their popu1tion the
dngf0aru'ia Is always prevalent. The institutions of
The country, copied chiefly from those of Enolnnd
the same laws for the administration of Justice i'm ci-
vi and ciimlna cases the same Ianguagc the same
Shthusihsm Tor commerce, aud the spirit of
domination aud pride, render the two pcoplc very a.;
mllar The Anglo-American books upon every nation
WIN dsfain or contempt, admirng the English on!y
and mixing II u glory to draw his orpin from h,.r
But thcir situation at the head OF the View World
without rivals to impede Restrain their march an
i1rcnse and varied surface of territory their ranJ
ana astonishing progress IN population, the arts and
industry the brilliant series Of their prosceritv the
powerful success Of their n the late war ,gant
tTfea Britain aud the respect which thev fancy Inc,
nave inspired ~ IN principal powers of Europc have
raised llcr VANITY 10 extreme Of whic his scarce
~ possible tn form an idca.-Jhey consider them
selves superior To the rest Of nanknd and look upo,
thcr Itcpubc rs the only establishment upou eaytL
founded upon grand and solid basis einl,elis,ed bc
Wisdom, and destined one day to become the r,os,
slh1mc colossus OF human power, and the wonder of
INC universe It's not only in the mouts N ci,hns;.
nsis, or dcnagOgues, who seek to nnanc fhc ;r,a,
atoms OF the mob with seductive and cyalfed dos
tia fhls language IS heard it resonnds from every
sue The work ofal The Anglo American writers |
arc sirewcd with these naughty sentiments these !
brhiant productions, suggested by an ogcrwccnino 1
vanity Their public monuments attest the oxcess al
tbs pride aud Oster;atious confidence The hot,se IA,
wnich The Congress hold their sessions they call He
CIPHol little rvuietncart abont three ylr,ls wide
ana loufth deep, they denon,intc Tie Tibsr Many
OF the mcshcsi settlements have the names Of liz /
most celebrated cities Of Greece and Rome Evcrv
hing brcati'cs c'irene aHctaon and VANITY IN the
Untod STATES but tic sensible man, who examines
t"hSS "Ei imP'Htii'y I'D profound reflection can