Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-11

VI, y d
National lntsligencer Office, June 8.
In our paper of the 9Th inst. we stated the
grounds upon which we were induced to BE-
,ieye that the possession OF the Fiorloas
would have been transferred 10 the United
States without delay. Since that date, how
ever. circumstances have transp'red wen
calculated 10 excite suspicious hat the poll
.v of the Spanish government, which so un-
reasonably protracted the ratification OF the
Treaty by whi.h those territories were ced-
ed to the U. States, has been adopted ~
the local officers of Spain to whom its eaecu'
ton in this respect has been conhded.
By the Treaty, possession OF the eeded
territory /, to be given within six months al
fer the ratification, or sooner II possible
For this purpose, royal order directing the
Governor of Cuba to deliver the Florldas to
the United States, was communicated 10 the
American government BY the minister OF
Spain. Immediately after the exchange OF
rsti6catons. This order shortly after the
adjournment Of Congress was delivered 10
that officer, by Col. Forbes, the Agent oil
the Unit d States, who had been dispatched
for tina, purpose. in public vessel. fy IN
formation lately received; it appears that a.
late as the q2d ult no order for the delivery
of the Floridss to the United States had
been given by the governor. 1t has also
been ascertaiued that the commandments OF
St. Augustine aid Pensacola will not deliver
possession OF those places until they receive
an order for that purpose from the Governor
Of Cuba.
The motives Of public officers ought never
70 be impugned, but on the mos, explicit e.
violence. Every allowance ought 10 tie
made in favor OF the officers OF foreign GO
vernment, whose manner of acting differs
materially from ours. Making all due al
lowance for such difference. We are unable
10 conceive OF any legitimate cause OF the
DELAY which has occurred in making The
transfer OF the coded territory. The treaty
was ratified by the King OF Spain on the
e4th Of October. 1890. The course pursued
by the United States, through all the differ
emf stages of the negotiation, evinced the
s,edfast dete rmination Of the government to
avoid extremities If possible, and to accept,
at any time, of the terms which it bad pro-
posed or acceded to. The subordinate off,
GERS Of Spain to whom the transfer OF the ter
ritory was con6ded BY The King, must have
known long before the delivery Of the order
of the King for that purpose, that the trans
fer was to be made.
The order presented BY Mr.. Forbes.
ought therefore, to have been obeyed with
th utmost prompiiude. Why hes any delay
in its execution occurred The candor and
good faith which have characterized the
conduct Of the Minister Of Spain. forbids the
idea that il has originated with him. The
motive for delay. in making the transfer,
cannot be traced to the government oil Spain.
Why then has it occurred 1t is Impractical
bic to designate, with the precision necessa.
~ 10 bring home conviction to the public
mind, the real cause Of this delay As no
legitimate cause can with propriety be IS
signed, it is necessarily inferred that the
causeInust be Legitimate, unless it can be
.ascribed to the hsbitual representation
which has for ages characterized the pro-
seedlings o: the Spanish nation. We attri.
bue il 10 that cause, as the imputatian OF
a,wor,Ax motives v il thereby be avoided.