Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-02-15
From the National Journal.


cuments from the Department of State,
intended to accompany the Presidents
Message at the opening of the present
session OF Congress, but which were una
yoidably delayed until few days ago,
will be found to contain much matter
for speculation, by those who take an in
teres, in our foreign concerns. Being
too voluminous for the columns of the
Journal, while SO many current domes-
tic affairs demand our attention, and be-
ing at the same time too important TO be
wholly neg lected, we have attempted 10
give brief abstract of the correspon-
dence contained IN the volume, which
we trust will put our readers in possess
sion OF all the material facts in relation
to our present standing with Spain. II
will be seen, that, Notwithstanding our
treaty OF amity, settlement and limits,
concluded at Washington on the 22d OF
February, 1919, we are still very far
from being upon the most friendly terms
with tina: power, and that there is proba-
bly, no prospect Of mutual good I'M
derstanding between US, so long as the
independence oil the South. American
ST ates remains unacknow lodged in Eu-
rope. This is, no doubt, the secret cause
OF all the bitter feelings which Spain
seems to cherish towards US. but il her
good will is only 10 be gained by our
abandonment OF the ground we have ia
ken in relation to her former proyincesy
we should prefer to want it forever.
The principles OF our revolution are too
dear TO US, and the rights of man, as set
Forth in our declaration Of Independence
TOO plain and incontrover,ble, TO allow
us to hesitate moment between an act
OF Justice to those who have but followed
our example, and an act OF mere cour-
tesy to a sovereign even more despotic
than him whose chains we burst in
pieces, and whose tyranny we laughed
10 scorn. This must ever be the RESULT
when the struggle is between man con-
scious OF his birthright, and the oppressor
who seeks to hold him in bondage.
The two first letters contain instrnc-
tions to Mr.. Forsyth from tho Secretary
of State, on the subject of yielding poss
session of the Floridas and the archives
OF lis former government, and are no
otherwise interesting than as they show
the lnsincere and procrastinating tenn D ey-
of Spain.
No. 3 is letter from the same to the
same, nsIructing him to communicate
to the Spanish government certain trans
actions disclosed in correspondence
between Captain Downs, of the Macedol
man, and the Vice-Roy of Peru, =" in
which several persons belonging to the
Macedonian los. their lives, and others
were wounded"
No. relates altogether to our CON-
mercial intercourse with Spain and her
possessions, most of the contested points,
OF which have since been settled
No. S is letter from MIR. Brent to
Mr.. Forsyth, enclosing copy OF let.
ter from Mr.. Adams to Gen. Wives, in
relation 10 the surrender OF the FIoridas.
and certain "public prints" giving q
statement Of the arrest and imprison-
ment of the Ex-Governor, Callava, by
order Of Governor Jackson"
No. is short letter from Mr..
Adams to MIR. Forsyth, enclosing the
communications made by the Presidens
10 Cungress during the session of 1921,
2, in relation to our affairs with Spain,
as also letter from the President to
His Catholic Majesty, on the recall Of
General Wives.
No. 7. An extract of letter from Mr.
Forsyth to the Secretary Of State, in
forming him that the Presidents Message
to Congress, of the 9th March 1892, had
been forwarded 10 the Spanish govern
ment by special messenger, from their
Minister at london, and that il seemed
to have " created great sensibility."
No. 8, is another extrac, of letter
from Mr.. Forsyth, in which he speaks
more at length Of the effect Of the Presi-
dents message upon the Spanish 60
vernment. He represents their Mimi
ster as having spoken with a great deal
of warmth on the subject;" that he res
garded the recognition Of the indepen=,
dence Of the South American provinces
as an unfriendly act on the part Of tho
United States, which Spain, from her
| friendly conduct towards us, had no
| right TO expect, and that she conc luded
by expressing an opinion, that the Spa
| nish Americans we're unequal to SELF
government, and that their indepen-
dence, instead of being accelerated,
would be retarded by this act OF our 60
vernment." This is the language of ala