The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-12-12


libel which had been instituted againstiher.
The principles Of this system ofreciprocity,
founded on-the law of the Sd of March, 1915,
have been since carried into effect, with the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sweden, Prus-
STA, and with Hamburg, Bremen, Lubbock,
and Oldenburg, with provision made by SUBJ
sequent laws, in regard to the Netherlands,
Prussia, Hamburg, and Bremen, that such
produce and manufactures, as could only be,
or most usually were, first shipped from the
ports of those countries, the same being inn
ported in vessels wholly belonging to their
subjects, should be considered and admitted as
their own manufactures and productions.
The government of Norway has, by an or
dinance, opened the ports of that par. of the
dominions of the King of Sweden, to the YES
sells of the United States, upon the payment
of no other or higher duties, than are paid by
the Norwegian vessels, from whatever place
arriving, and with whatever articles laden
They have requested the reciprocal allowance
for the vessels of Norway in the ports of the
United States. As this privilege is-not within
the scope of the act of the Sd of March, 1915,
and can only be granted by Congress, and as
it may involve the commercial relations of the
Union with other nations, the subject is SUBJ
mitted to the wisdom of Congress.
have presented thus fully to your view our
commercial relations with other powers, that,
seeing them in detail with each power, and
knowing the basis on which they rest, Con-
gress may in its wisdom decide, whether any
change ought TO be made, and, if any, in what
respect. If this bass is unjust or unreasona-
BILE, surely it ought to be abandoned; but if
it be just and reasonable, and any change in
it will make concessions subversiye of, the
principles q equality, and tending inits con-
sequences, to sap the foundations Of our pros
perty, then the reasons are equally strong
for adherig to the ground already taken, and
supportingit by such further regulations as
may appelr to be proper, should any addition
al supporibe found necessary.
The QUESTION concernmg.the construction of
the first article of the treaty of Client, has
been, bya joint act Of the Representatives of
the Unitd States, and of Great Britain, at
the Cout Of St. Petersburg, submitted to the
decision IF his Imperial Majesty, the Emper-
our of Russia. The result of that submission
has not yet been received. The Commission
ers undo the 5th article of that treaty not
having been able to agree upon their decision,
their reports to the two governments, con-
formally to the provisions of the treaty,
may be expected at an early day.
With Spain, the treaty ofFebruary %, 1919.
has been partly carried into execution. Pos
session of East and West Florida has been Civ
en- to the Unitel States; but the officers charg-
ed with that service, by an order from his
Catholiok Majesty, delivered by his Minister
to the Secretary of State, and transmitted by
special agent to the Captain-General of Cuba,
to whom it was directed, and in whom the
government OF those provinces was vested,
have not only emitted, in eontravention of the
orders of thcrsevereigny the performance of
the express stipulation, to deliver over the ar
chives and documents relating; to the property
and sovereignty of those provinees;-a al of which
it was expected would have been delivered Ell
Their before or when the, troops were With
Drawn, but defeated since everygeffert of the
United States to obtain them, especially those
of the greatest Importance. This omission has
given rise to several incidents of painful ma
ture, the character of which will be fully dis
closed by the documents which will hereafter
be communicated.
In every other circumstance the law of the
Sd OF March last. for carrying into effect that
treaty has been duly attended to. For the
execution of thatpart which preserved in force
for the government of the inhabitants, for the
term specified, al the civil, military, and iu-
dicial powers, exercised by the existing gov
eminent Of those provinces, an adequate num-
Der OF officers, as was presumed, were appoint
ed, and ordered to their respective stations.
Both provinces we're formed into one territory,
and Governoura appointed for it,; but, in con-
slderation of the pre-existing division, and of
the. distance and difficulty of communication
betweenaPensaccla, the residence of the Gov
ernourof West Florida, and St. Augustine, that
of the Governor of East-Florida; at which
places the inconsiderable population of each
province was principally collected, two Secre-
taries were appointed. one to reside at Pensa-
cola, and the other at ST. Augustine. Due at
tent;on vas likewise paid to the execution of
the laws ofthe United States relating to the
revenue and The slave-trade, which were ex-
tended to these provinces. The whole terri
tory was divided into three collection districts :.
that part lying between the river St. Mary's
and Cape Florida forming one, that from the
Cape to the Apalachicola, another, and that
from the Apalachicola to the Perdido, the
third. 70 these districts the usual number of
revenue oiEeess- we're appointed; and, to Sc
cure the due operation Of these laws, one Judge
and District-Attorney were appointed, to re-
side at Pensacola and likewise one Judge and
a District-Attorney, to reside at St. Augustine,
with a. specified boundary. between them !;
and one Marshal for the whole, with au-
thority TO appoint deputy. In carrying
this law into effect, and especially that part
Of it relating to the powers of the existing
government of those provinces, it was thought
important, in consideration Of the short term
for which it was to operate, and the radical
change which would be made at the approach
ing session.of Congress, to avoid expense, to
make no appointment which should not. be abb