The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-09-07
SPAIN AND TIE UNITED sqAres.

SPAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.
Whatever relates to the history of the \
American Revolution is or ought to be OF in- I
terest TO the American reader. Partly with
this feeling we annex some extracts from
An OF july Grafton, delivered in Boston on
the last National Anniversary, by George
Sumner, Esq. which we find more at length |
in the National inteliigencer Of the goth
inst. There are other considerations, how.
ever, inducing the publication. We are &C
Customed, very generally, in this country to
look upon Old Spain with mixed feeling Of
adherence and contempt--abhorrence for
the cruelties which. we have been taught,
were practised by her people in the name OF
religion both 10 the Old World and the New;
contempt, for the position which Of late years
has been occupied by the once powerful
Spanish race. Yet it was not always so
with our people. And it may not be amiss
for the present generation to know that il was
not ever so, and phy il was not so. Few,
comparatively, are aware Of the services rem.
dered to the United Colonies by the Spanish
Government and people in l776. Is count
ing too much upon National gratitude, al
most preverbially the expectation OF favors
to come, to hope that the knowledge Of those
services made general may induce better
feeling among our citizens, and more hon.
orable and torbearing conduct than has here
tofore distinguished the administration Of our
Government that the helping hand extend
ed TO Us in oar day of need may serve to re-
strain the hand Of coyetousness which
many Of our people are disposed to stretch
towards the valued possessions Of the now
weakened spainl Fly. o5s
EXTRACTS FROM Mr. SUMMERS GRAFTON.
In 1915 the great Powers Of Europe were
at peace, and England was at full liberty to
threw on cur shores the whole force Of her
arms.
" 'fhe struggle was long and unequal; and
when the enemy succeeded in gaining pos
session of New York the timid began TO fall
ter. All eyes were now turned to Europe.
But il was not France alone which
came TO our aid. During the summer Of rs
one Of these brave men who was the creators
OF the naval glory Of our c0untry-Captain
Lee, of misunderstanding under a com
mission from Congress, having taken and
sent hume Eve valuable prizes. finding il
necessary to re6t and obtain supplies and
munitions of war. entered the port OF Bill
boa, in Spain. The captains Of two Of his
prizes and a part Of their crews were on
board. These officers Immediately protested
against their capture, and had Capt. Lee ar
rested on charge OF piracy. The local au.
thorlties sent the documents TO Madrid, to-
gether with the commission granted BY this
new and unknown power. Here was criti-
cal iuncture in our affairs. On the decision
Of the Spanish Ministry depended not alone
the fate OF Capt. Lee, but whether sumo Of
the most important ports in Europe should
be opened or closed TO our cruisers and pri-
vateers. The English Minister in Spain
brought all his influence 10 bear against Us.
At this moment the Declaration Of the 4lh
of July reached Madrid. The complaint
against Capt. Lee was dismissed, supple;
foo his ship and aid in repairins - s.s-s f.-
nished, and public declaration made that in
Spanish ports the new flag Of America wa:
as free and as welcome as the old and naughty
flag Of England.
This act Of friendship was soon followed
by present Of one million francs in hard
cash to the commercial agent Of Congress
then military stores were sent to Us iron
BIlooa; then the hint was given that tire,
thousand barrels Of powder stored at New
Orleans were at our service Havana wa
opened 10 Us On the same terms as 20 France
and the further hint gwen that if an Ameri
can ship should look in there occasionally j
would find the door Of certain magazir
open, and something 10 il useta! TO the Col
onies Blankets fer the regiments we're sell
as present 20 Congress, ship loads Of mill
fary stores were dispatched, aud on JOh
jay appearing al Madrid a. Minister Of ID
new States. without any provision By Con
gress for money 10 pay even his house reni
another git Of $3.50. 200 10 hard cash va
made 10 him Tor Us.
More yet. Though the declaration j
regard 10 Capt. Lee was the earliest act ,
recognition By any Power except Franc,
Spain abstaiued from making treaty wit
our Minister, for 20 do so would have bee
tanfamount 10 a declaration &c war againl
England, for which she was not prepared
But that eminent man then in power
spain, Florida Blanca, was not idle. "
commenced building new ships and arIbin
those already built; tke annual expenses /
the navy, usually about IS 00O,O0e, wer
suddenly raised 70 $40 900, 900; and in ID
spring u 70 thirty-six stips.of.the. lin,
moanting more guns than any fleet she eve
had, being ready Tor sea, she declared wa
against England. This immense feet joine
the French feet, and during that and u
succeeding year intercepted the troops az
supplies sent to aid in our conquest.
s.Florida Blanca did not stop here, bu
while engaged in his naval preparations, mad
treaty with the Emperor ~ Morocco whiS
closed his ports 10 the English, opened rel
tisDs With Hsder Ali 10 India, and loments
the war ~hich that powerful prince mail
tanned sgainst Hsglsnd. Benjamin RIOS
writing shortly alter to Gen. Gates. say,
Heaven prosper our allies Hyd.r Ali
the standing toast II nv table" Florit
Bianca did not rest content with this. b
used all the wiles Of diplomacy and al q
fvfcs VI spain 10 make difficulties for Eal
land in every patt Vi tie globe.
" But the laDOrs u spain did not step he's
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