Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-11
OUR RELATIONS wIru SPAIN.

His atholic Majesty having determined to
abide bv the strict construction of the two ari
Giles of Ire treaty CONCERNING the delivery OF
the f1riifcntiOns in the two Flpri;las, and the
transports to he furnished for the prssqgc of the
Spanish, officers and troops tn tire Havana, after
an ariilrnctical calculation of the conpa rative
value of the cannon and the provisions, he pro-
posed that the former should he given up. and
that the expense incurred by the United States
for the latter should be repaid; that the Uni
ted States should purchase the cannon at an APP
praisenent, and pay to Spain whatever butdnce
there nil hit be Ter dcducting the amount paid
for provisions. Upon this contemplate traf-
ticking mode of conducting a negotiation to
which two nations were the parties, Mr.. Adams
makes the following just and dirnticd remarks:
SIN the compacs between nations, as in the
bargains of individuals, the most essential re-
quisitcs are candour aud fair dealing. The
comparative value Of the cannon in the forts,
and of the provisions for the passage OF tie
Spanish troops, formed no part of the consider
ations upon which the artillery was claimed bv
the United States, together with the walls of
which they formed the d. fence. 1t was 10 the
principle alone that our attention was turned.
The officers of Span, under a stipulation for
passage, claimed a supply of provisions. Ac
quieSCng in that liberal construction of our en-
gaGemcnt which would warrant them in The
tial'l, we thought IL IN blrnPSS ana rgclDTDCItN
applicable to another article, the benefit of
which would ensure to the United States. In
the course of this discussion, no distinction has
been shcwn on the part OF Spain, that could JUS
uiy different rule Of construction for the two
articles. In both cases the incident was - es-
sentia TO the main object of the stipuation as
Ia he mseparahlc from its existence and accom-
pliShment. The passage, without provisions
was impractcabe. The walls, wilhoul their ar
tllicry, were no notifications. If, in one case
the implication was just, il was indispensable i'm
the other. But we do not wish to press the
controversy further. You are authorized TO sig
nifN 10 the Spanish Government the accordance
of the proposal contained in Mr.. San AIianel's
note. and that, ON the repayment by the Span
ieh Government, of the money paid by the Uni.
ted States for provisions for the Spanish officers
and trooHs, from the Floridas to the Havana.
the Ordinance left behind. and receiptcd for bv
General jackson and Col. Butler, will be deli
vered up TO the order of the Governor of Cuba.
or to any officer duly authorized to receive t.n
In reply 10 the complaint, eesonewl,at pratni.
tous," as Mr. Adams calls il, made by MIR. San
Miguel IN the note referred 10 above that This
qlieStl"n had not been adjusted. i'm the first in
stance, between the American Government and
the Spanish Minister at Washington, or that the
former had not afterwards prevented the com
promise between the Commissioners of two
Governments, al the delivery of the Provinces
the Secretary of State remarks, that the CIV
eminent Of the United States " as moi informed
that the S3anish Minister here had any au,hor-
tv 10 discuss the mode Of execution, with re-
gard TO the delivery of the Territory; that the
royal order for the delivery was addressed. NOT
10 TIE Spanish Minister here, but 10 the Cover
nor AMI Captain General of Cuba: and flat tho
Government Of the United States had no r;ol,t
10 suppose that The Minister here had, or conl,l
nave, any instructions authorizing him 10 settle
any gu sion OF construction which might arise
IN the details of tie execution. Mr.. Admins
torsaw that question might arise both " in ra
gard to the provisions and TO tie artillery. but
there was an equal probability that il might mol
arlse; and to anticipate the former event b,
reference to the Spanish Minister. particulorly.
as he had no power 10 settle il. cOull have had
no "li'er effect than 10 dciqy fhe delivery itself
OF the Provinces, until he could receive in t.uc
tons from his government what answer in mako
to the reference. "1'he American Govern.
nent," says Mr.. Adams, chad no motive for
starting questions which might be turned TO-
purposes of delay. 1t was sufficient for them
to proceed upon principles fair and eouitahIe in
themselves, and to foresee questions of con.
5truction only so far as to preclude the ad,nis-
son OF one rule when its operation r,vo nd no
against the United States, and of another. when
ITS effect would be IN their favOnrD
AS TO the compromise upon lghie h the Com
agreed, Mr. Adams observes. that il
was not more in the power of this government
TO prevent it, than IL was i'm that of Spain nc
might have been made to Madrid al.
most as soon as TO Washington. Mr. San Mi.
sUci Intlinates IN his nste, too, that the unfor
nDate disputes in which the Elk. Governors of
81 Augustine and Pensacola were invoIvcd
originated IN the compromise concerning he
lrtillery. This, Mr. Adams declares fo no
ounded upon erroneous impressions; and while
ie Iamcuis the unpleasant occurrences viii, +
OK place IN relation 10 those officers. he at
routes thern-as the papers, which have alrea-
" long since been laid before the public will
snow TO be the fact-to the s'1on-deLise,7lu do
Ioerate' concerted, and syste natic by the late
Z aptain General Many, and by both fine Co
,crnors OF St Augustine and Pensacola. of tho
''t"'e'fS and documents which they were re-.
ln'reu' ny an explicit order from the Kinp of (
'pa'n, to deliver up.n The extraordinary ron.
'uct OF these three Spanish officers. in with. |
loIui'g rom the new possessors Of the terrtorv
i0t on'' Tie archieves Of its government b13 |
III tic records by which Individual ,itlee f., - |
we're known an secured, was the sole cameo rs .
ne unfortunate disputes complained of. and ,v.s /
$ u wen might be expected to be, e.fhe rr,i,'
~ source OF all those subsequent rnienntar-
landings and painful occurrences to which M
an MIguePs note alludcs, and it cornnenc.
q on the part Of The Governor of Cr,ba Iono
gore any question relating 10 me oleJjgey,, ,-gI