Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-05


ary, 1894, The Governor Of Kentucky expressed
his apprehension that no enforcement of the laws
could restrain or punish the threatened enterprises
against New Orleans. In May, 1894, an act was
passed authorizing detachment from the militia OF
the United States, consisting Of eighty thousand
men and certain States were enumerated which
we're required to hold their respective quotas in
/ dness to march, at moments warning whenever
required by the President of the United States By
an act approved the 9th of May, 1894, corps OF
artillery was authorized to be raised, consisting Of
seven hundred and sixty-four .non-commissioned
officers, musicians, and prvates, with proper pro-
portion of commissioned officers to command the
same to serve for three years and bill was also
reported to the Senate the 2Sth Of May, 1894, and
passed by the Senate the day following, by the
| first section of which the President of the United
States was authorized to raise and equip, during
the ensuing recess OF Congress, such additional
military force as circumstances shall in his judg-
ment render necessary, not exceeding ten thou
sand non-commissioned officers, musicians, and
prvates, with proper proportion of commission
ed officers
! Nothing but the strongest necessity would have
moved so firm mind as that OF WASHINGTON to
the adoption of the vigorous measures recommend
ed in this message The documents accompany
inc it, however, show that the danger was not un-
Il
Secretary of State to the Governor of Kentucky, he
informs him " that the Commissioners Of Spain, re-
siding here, have complained TO the President of
the United States that certain persons at this place
are taking measures TO ercite the inhabitants of
| Kentucky to join in an enterprise against the
Spanish dominions on the Mississippi" In No
vember, of the same year, Mr.. Jefferson specifies
facts and gives the names of the individuals impl-
Gated, and in the of the President charges the
Governor of Kentucky g to have particular eye
upon these persons in order that they may not be
permitted to excite within our territories or carry
from thence any hoses into the territory of Spain
to adopt at first peaceable means of coercion such
as binding over to their good behavior indicting
them - and, should these fall he informed him that
recourse must be had to military force.
I The Governor of Kentucky, however,b letter
dated November 6, 1893, informed the Secretary of
State that although two of the designated indvi
duas had come into the State. and "had declared
publicly they are daily in expectation of receiving
a supply of money, and that they do re-
ceve it they will raise body of men and proceed
down the river he had doubts if they manage their
business with prudence) whether there is any legal
authority to restrain punish them, at least before
they have accomplished their design" That ift was
lawful for citizen to leave the State it was equal
ly SO for aly number; that it was lawful also for
them TO carry with them any quantity OF provisions
arms, and ammunition and that intention only was
not punishable.
In March of the same year Mr.. Randolph, who
had succeeded Mr.. Jefferson as Secretary of State,
little satisfied, it would seem, with the information
communicated by the Governor Of Kentucky, in
structs him more fully as 10 his legal powers and
constitutional duties makes known to him the
means possessed by the Government of the Union
to suppress illegal enterprises endangering the
| he snlici 10
efforts of the Government, from its earliest exist
ence, to throw open for Western commerce the
river Mississippi, and communicates, as far as was
then prudent the actual state of the pending nego-
tiation
While the vigor of Washington Administration
was thus exerted to restrain illegal enterprises
against the dominions of Power who had, for
period of ten years, withheld from our citizens the
enjoyment of an important territorial right, il
determined to make another, perhaps a last appeal
10 the justice of Spain.
For this purpose the President of the United
States, by message dated the 2lst November
1894, while expressing his confidence in the at
tenon and ability displayed in his negotiation by
the resident Minister at Madrid, .charged with
powers as Commissioner Pienipofentiary nom-
mated to the Senate Thomas Pnckney to be Envoy
Extraordinary of the United States TO his Ca
thoic Majesty, for The purpose ofnegotiatng Of and
concerning the navigation OF the river Mississippi,
and such other matters relative TO the confines Of
their territories the mutual interests and general
harmony Of neighboring and friendly Power
require should be precisely adjusted and regulated"
Mr.. Pnckney was then the Minister Of the Uni
ted States at the Court Of London, and was not
more distinguished by his official station than by
the prudence and ability which had marked his
public conduct No citizen, perhaps, could have
united greater respect abroad with the esteem and
attachment with which he was regarded at home.
This judicious nomination was confirmed by the
Senate and after four previous failures, Mr. Pinck
ney renewed the effort to adjust this ong-pending
controversy.
Mr.. Pinckney arrived at Madrid the 2sth OF
June, l795. He soon became apprized Of the diff
Guilty of bringing his mission to successful issue,
not only in consequence Of proposed guaranty Of
Spanish possessions, and the long-conhrmed preju-
dice against yielding the right of deposite their
own territory, by which foreigners were placed on
an equal footing with their own citizens, but also
| from other important subjects which were mingled
with it.
After many conferences, altogether fruitless, he
at length addressed memoir to the Duke Of Aleu-
dia, dated the 10Th of August, l795, enforcing, in
an elaborate but condensed form, the Just rights Of
the United States Still, however, the objections
and difficulties appeared insuperable. Months were
4 afto concunod IN concnra,car nro;atc and