Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-04-06
The Standard
UNADJUSTED DIFFERENCES WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN
MIR, BRANCHB kE1ORT.

GOVERNMENT VI MAIN =
MR.. DRANCHB kEAORT.
z. The Csmsittee on Foreign 41aiss to wkom srers
referred House Blu, No. 67S III biz aRpropria-
tim money to eadb1e The Rvsideat to sette s'sad-
jasted differences wisA Tie government Of Spatn and
for other purposA;" ard also House BiH No. 6SA
" a bill authorizing the President to o6taM 1'a"
of money for certain purpose hace Aad inc same
under co1ssdeFution' and roc report: AT the close
of their struggle with Great Britain for indepcnd-
lcnce, the United States possessed no territory on
tie Gulf Of Mexico, their southern boundary being
nearly coincilent with the present northern 6oun-
Diary Of Florida extended to its intersection with the
Mississippi river at 81 deg. Of north latitude
The Mississippi river, then their western bounda-
ry was far west Of the extreme frontier settlements
and their productions being entirely cast OF the Al
leghanies, commerce needed no ports except on the
Atlantic seaboard
In 1795 Spain held all the shores of the Gulf;
but in 1900 ceded Louisiana, from the Perdido to
the Sabine, to France.
After the close of the war of independence our
settlements spread westward and the rich valley be-
tween the Alleghauics and the Mississippi soon re-
ceived hardy and enterprising population. under
whose industry its fertile soil and unequaled re-
sources were beginning to furnish material for an
incalculabc commerce. This commerce necessarily
sought the through the Mississippi and as the
mouth of the river in possession, first of Spain,
and afterwards of France, jealousy and illfeeling
were engendered between friendly nations, constant
" threatening hostile collisions against which the
prudence Of rulers could furnish no guaranty.
Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then at the head of
the French nation is known to have cherished no
policy more arlcntly than that of building up for
France commerce that should rival that Of Eng
land; and though fully alive to the importance of
Louisiana a means toward accomplishing this Oh
ject he did not hesitate in 1903 to cede it to for
the sake Of preserving amicable relations between
the two nations. He well knew that every consid-
Grafton of justice demanded of him the cesson and
that the pride and obstnacy Of rulers ought not to
stand in the way of the prosperity of large bodies Of
the human race He also knew that however solic-
itous this government might lie to restrain its citi
zens from aggressions it not possible for it to
do 50 under circumstances well calculated to in
vito them. IfNapoleon had been less statesman,
and had attempted to block up the mouth Of the
Mississippi, It cannot be doubted that long and
bloody wars between France and the United States
would have ensued, and that Louisiana would have
been added to our Union at an enormous expense of
blood and treasure.
BY the acquisition Of Louisiana We became one of
the powers of the Gulf Of Mexico and by the subse
quent purchase Of Florida from Spain and the an
nexation Of Texas We have become the paramount
power, having the unquestonabe right to demand
that on its waters and around its borders our peace
ed Around it social and political institutions
prevail, and on it floats the commerce Of fifteen
States Of the oonfederacy. No other commerce
worth mentioning is found there except ours, and
we have a right to regard it. in all matters involv
ing our security, as an inland sea-
Since the acquisition of California passengers and
mails in passing between the Atlantic and Pacific
seek point Of transit across the continent where it
is narrower than at any point within territorial
limits. There are three points at which it may be
conveniently traversed each presenting some advan-
tage peculiar to ITSELF The first or most northerly
is at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec within the repub
lie Ct Mexico the second in the territory of Ncara-
qua, and the third at the Isthmus of Panama, in
New Granada 1t is important to us that all these
routes should be kept open, as the competition be-
tween rival lines could not fail to be advantageous
to our citizens. But the Tehuantepec route, being
within the Gulf of Mexico We had Just right, as
the predominant power in the Gulf to claim a free
and exclusive right of way over it for our citizens,
mails, and property passing between the Atlantic
and Pacific portions Of the Union. The government
of Mexico with a clear appreciation of its in
terest and liberal sense of what due to us has
authorized the construction of railroad at this
point and by the treaty of the 3Oth of December
1858, guaranteed to the United States the full and
unrestricted right of transit it. with the privi
lege to extend its protection it shall judge wiss
to it when it may feel sanctioned and warranted by
the PuohC Ut lnIeTIaIOnal law, anu WIN the Iurtn
er stipulation, nor shall any interest in said tran
sit way, in the proceeds thereof be transferred
to any foreign government" BY this liberal ant
enlightened course on the part of Mexico We hav,
been enabled TO secure within the Gulf of Mexico
transit route as free and every respect as advan
tageous to US as If it was within our own limits.
BY securing the Tehuantepec transit right "
between the Atlantic and Pacific, and thereby adde
intellectually to the large commercial interests "
already have there.
1t will be seen from this brief review that Spain
France, Texas, and Mexico have voluntarily place
us in position, territorially on the Gulf which ha
made it to us almost an inland sea- Having thu
voluntarily, and for ample consideration, made II
free use necessity to us, they justly Withhold
any additional concessions that experience has show
to be indispensable to our peace and securityy
1t is worthy of remark that Spain has at all tint
shown more reluctance to make amicable territori:
arrangements with us than any other nation wit
whom we have been coterminous Its pride seen
only to have revolted against cessions to us, and
have presented no obstacle to cessons to other pov
-ers Louisiana and Florida were time and aga
transferred and transferred between SPAIN Franc
and England, SO that it is almost as difficult to tra
their history as it is to date the various transfers
apers0nal chattel. Yet when Florida became ndi
pensabe to the security of the United States, nj
we proposed to purchase il, Spanish pride instant
revolted. Our government so scruplously rcspec
the territorial rights of neighboring nations, III
SO hcnorably discharges all the duties Of 90,
neighborhood, that few persons are aware how sore
the patience and forbearance of the generation pr
cctng ours was tried by the obstnacy of the SPANS
rulers in regard to Florida. All the efforts to pu
chase it having failed, Congress, in 1911 and 1871
in secret session, passed the following acts, viii
were not printed and promulgated until after 4
lapse of several years.
Resolution and acts relatirc to occupation Of I
F1oridas ty the United States Of American
Taking into view the peculiar situation Of Spa
and her American provinces, and considering
influence which the destiny Of the territory ado
ing the southern border Of the United States m
have upon their security tranquility, and CONNER,
therefore =. -. 4. - -
Resolsed By the Senate and Hoass Of Rsprssea
tioes Of tie United States Of Ameriea in Cong,
assembled, That the United States, under the De
liar circumstances Of the existing crisis, cam
without serious inquietude see any part Of the 8
territory pass into the hands of any foreign pow
and that due regard to their own safety comp
them to provide, under certain contingencies, for
.~rkl -