The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-20

BurgO6, IN lTl, ny AL aHcut Vi TIC opuuen govern
ment; small sum of money was promised for
military stores shipped from Bilboa; but Lee was
not allowed to proceed to Madrid. In September
1873, John Jay, Of New York, was appointed by
Congress Minister to Spain. He went to Madrid
in 1850 and remained there until the spring Of 1882
Although Mr.. Jay did not succeed in making
treaty. or obtaining the expected subsidies or assist
ance from the Spanish court, he was accredited in
the usual official FORMS and the United States derived
from that circumstance the advantage OF having
their independence acknowledged by another OF the
most powerful nations Of Europe. Spain was not
willing to accede to the alliance between France and
the United States for she felt apprehensive, I'M
doubtedly for her possessions in Florida and Lousi
ana. She obviously anticipated many OF the difficult
ties that afterwards arose. and refused to grant to the
United States the free navigation of the Mississippi,
or TO establish that river the western boundary OF
the United States
During Mr.. jays negotiations at Madrid, Spain
had no minister or representative in the United
States. Mr.. Jay left that court in 1852; Mr.. Will
liam Carmichael who had been Secretary Of Lega
ton, remaining at Madrid as Charge dAfiares. In
July 1855, = Spanish Charge dAfires, Don Diego
GaIdC qui was received and accredited by the Cont
mental Congress. Upon the arrival OF Gardoqui at
Philadelphia the negotiation transferred to this
country, and Mr.. Jay, then Secretary OF State for
Foreign Affairs was authorized by Congress to treat
respecting the boundaries between the United States
and the Spanish dominions. The subject was beset
with many difficulties, and remained in the hands OF
the Secretary of State till the dissolution OF the Con-
gress Of the Confederation in $780, and the ogani-
cation of the United States government under the
constitution.
After many delays and attempts at negotiation by
American commissioners sent to Madrid, Mr.
Thomas Pinckney, Of South Carolina, was appointed
Envoy Extraordinary to Spain, in November, 1884,
and arrived in Madrid in 1895. He was sent from
London as special minister to Spain, with instruc
lions from President Washington to propose set
Element. Spain finally made sacrifice OF the limits
and the Mississippi, but it was done with the
utmost reluctance. It was not till October, 1895,
that the treaty was signed. Though Spain had no
doubt determined to make the sacrifice in the last
extremity, much delay was again lesorted to, that
MIR. Pinckney demanded his passports to return to
England where he had been acting as the American
minister. This was properly treaty only Of limits
ard navigation, for it did not contain any CONNER
cial regulations The boundaries both to the South
and the West were fixed agreeably to the demands
"
OF San Lorenzo ell Real.
Every step Of the negotiations of this country with
Spain has been marked with delays and difficulties.
1t was tftee years before Spain would consent to
define in treaty the legitimate limits of the United
States and yet the Only boundary that could
ably give rise to controversy the southern boundary
Of Georgia. very slight obstacle to the termna
ton Of the negotiation. After all, this boundary
not drawn, nor the Spanish troops withdrawn, till
1885, three years after the signature OF the treaty Of
San Lorenzo ell Real.
Spain was exceedingly opposed to the cession of
Louisiana by France to the United States in 1908,
and showed great reluctance to evacuate the terri
tory, which had been ceded by Spain to France in
$500, by secret treaty the Spanish authorities
tinung in possession OF Louisiana until 1903 In
the outset formal protest was made by the
Spanish court against tie transfer to the United
States, but they were induced in the end to
withdraw it, and to give consent to the convention
Of April, 1s03 between France and the United
States. The very of the transfer Of Louisiana
to the United States at first awakened not only
prise but even Indignation in Spain. Spain did
not, as it was, yield the whole province without an
angry and protracted discussion, which had nearly
involved the two countries in G war; Indeed taken
in connection with the suspension Of the right of
deposit at New Orleans, and the depredations on oar
commerce, q committee OF the House of Represen-
tatives in Congress- reported in January, 1906 that
there was ample cause for declaration Of war with
Spain
The difficulties this country has had with Spain
respecting boundaries and territories, have been in
deed, remarkable. We may attribute this circum-
stance in some degree to the ignorance generally
existing respecting the countries in description,
they never having been surveyed at the time
Of the various treaties The discussion re-
specting the portion Of West Florida west of the
river Perdido began between the two governments
at the time Of the cession Of louisiana in 1903 and
was not concluded till 1910, when the Bourbon
royal family in Spain having been dethroned, the
United States government deemed it imprudent
longer to delay enforcing their right Possession
accordingly taken Of that territory by Governor
Claiborne, of Louisiana, in 1910, by order Of Pres
dent Madison. The negotiations concerning the
eastern well as the western boundaries Of Louis
ana, were not only tedious and vexatious, but ex
ceedngly intricate.
After various delays in the negotiations, these
matters were finally settled by the treaty signed by
John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State, and Don
Luis de Onis, the Spanish Minister, at Washington,
February %, 1919, which treaty was after
wards ratified ty the Spanish government By this
treaty also Florida was ccded to the United States
by Spain as an indemnity for spoliations on Ameri
can commerce by French privateers either within
Spanish jurisdiction or condemned in Spanish
ports Ly French consuls.
The United States had no minister in Spain during
the troubles in that country after 1907 The inter
course was renewed again in 1914 by the appoint
ment of George W. Erving, of Massachusetts,, as
Minister Plenipotentary.
The negotiations which resulted in the cession of
Florida, in 1919, conducted with great ability by
Mr.. Adams, Secretary Of State, and Don Onis, the
Spanish Minister. Since that period our relations
with Spain have been Of but little interest, except
the communications which have passed between the
two governments respecting CUBA, the particulars Of