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

the treaty of 1919, BY which provision was made
Tor the appointment of Commissioners and Sur
vcyors TO fix the boundary line between the
United and the then Spanish Viceroyaity of
Mexico. The relation IN which Spain and
Mexico stood towards us, at the date of these
instructions, made IL unnecessary that Oh, Min
lister at Madrid should press the subject further
upon the attention of the Spanish government.
though IN compliance with the stpulations OF
the treaty, the government of the United States
had appointed commissioner and surveyor
and an appropriation had been made to carry
that article into effect; aud accordingly Mr..
Adams directed MIR. Nelson not to revive The
subject unless it should be brought up bv the
Spanish government itself. He presses upon
nm, however, the Importance of following NJ
the correspondence which had becn carried ON
between Mr.. FORSYTH and The Spanish Depart
inent nj Foreign Affairs, with view 20 Obtain
the admission ot Cunsuls from the Uuilcd states
IN the ports oi the colonies, and especial, in the
Islands OF Cuba and Porto Rico. The ptom,,I,
upon which Alr. Adams desires the subject to
DC pressed. are TO be found in the following re-
marks to MIR. Nelson:
at WAS incidental TO the old colonial system
oi Spain, which excluded all commerce of for
eign nations with thelr colonies, to admit in
their o'ts no foreign cuI.s,ris. The special du-
ties and functions OF those officers cpnsi ling in
u.
and scanen, nf their respective countries in the
ports where they reside, il was :, natural and
necessary consequence of the exclusive colo
mai principle, that where no commerce was al
lowed TO foreign nations, there couLi be no tiu-
ties for a foreign consul to perform and no oc-
casion for the acknowledgement of sirch an of
iicer.-But, when tue colutial ports we're OPEN
ed 10 foreign trade, all the reasons which recon-
mend, all the necessities which urge. the ap.
and adj Of
reside IN them, apply as forcibIy 10 those POETS
as to any others. Tie commerce between tha
United States and the Havana Is of nre;tfcr
ainoant and valnc il!an with all ill., Spanish do
'ninions in Europe. The numb II of Amer
can vessels which en' er there, is, annually. Sc
vcral hundre Is. Their scanicn from The un-
heathiness oil the climate, are peculiarly expos
ed to need there the assistance which il is a
primary purpose of tie colsu ar Office to sunpIy:
nor Is there ans conceivable motive Tor cunlinu-
Ing TO maintain the prctcnsiUn 10 exclude them.
and to refuse the formal acknowledgement OF
Consuis- Informal agents have, 10 many of
the ports, been allowed to reside, aud PARTIAL,
TO perform the consular duties bat AS they are
thus left much dependent OF the " III of tie 10
cal governments, and subject 10 control at its
pleasure, they have Iieithcr the dignity nor au-
tho'ity which properly belongs 10 Tie Office.
The next subject TO which the attention of
TONS Is letter from Mr. Anduaaa TO Mr..
Meade, a copy of which had been enclosed TO
MT. Adams by the Spanish Charge d'Afaires
Mr.. Salmon, on the subject OF Mr. Meade
claim, then pending before the Commissioners
under the Florida treaty. We have etetofore
mentioned, when speaking of this subject that
Mr. Meade had presented memorial TO The
present Congress, IN which a full and authenti-
called history IS given of the origin, nature and
Ia is Lain
eminent. This memorial has been. within =
lew days past, referred bv Congress to the Sc
cretaIy OF Slate, who Will probably make his
report upon ii before the close of the session
In tins state of The affair, ii would not only b..
unnecessary, but peri'as inptoper to make any
remarks upon the view Which AIR. Adams ha
taken OF IT, ID his letter OF Instructions To Mr.
Nelson.
The part taken by the Spanish Minister here.
IN the first instance, aud afterwards by the
Charge d'iiairs. both of whom ,.,r,ri,tcd
themselves To use the most musli!iab!te Ian
guage when speaking of the tribunal before
whoh 'he clam was pending, was well ,.aicu-
ialeh 10 Sur the blood of American ,vI11 +, II
jusi confidence lin the purity and honest i'm
teri'0ns OF ms government, and who from exne
tieIce was tauglit 10 rep0se the most inpiicit
uuSt 10 tne luslIcc and iInpariaIity of tie CON
STUFFED authorities We are not therefore ~
Tor, the indignant warmth with which he re-
pici To the several communications from the
spanish agents hero, animadvcrtinr ON the con
dnct or the commissioners under the Florida
treaty, IN regard 10 this claim. Thcy had i'm
properly interlered, even before any decision
iai been made b. tins high and die,nilied tribn.
nal, and they had intcricrcd TOO, without riv;ng
themselves the trouble To inquire into The. course
OF proceedings which this tribunal had marked
out Tor itself. But notwithstanding the strong
cause OF irritation to be found in this imnroprr
Interference, we are well persuaded that MIR.
adams viii suffer no influence to operate unoD
h'in IN bis report, but that of conscientious
sense OF justice towards the Individual ,vI,nsc
claim IS referred to hiin.-No doubt. we believe.
exists as to the fair and equitable grounds Of
clam which MIR. Meade presents; the only die
ncuity seems TO be in determining whether his
demand ought to be satisfied by nlir own govern-
ment' or through IFS agency by that Of spain.
We had hoped 10 conclude our abstract to-
day, but arc reluctantly compelled TO postuore
1t until another day.]