Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-06-10

allied with England, they soon became
parties in the confederation of despot
against the liberties of France. Th'
political connections existing at pres
ent between Spain and England, will
not, it may be apprehended, be an ad
vantageous event to our negotiations
at the court of the former; for it hal
rarely happened that the interests o
the United States have been remarka
blv patronized in countries where
British influence has preponderated
Notwithstanding the embarrassment
which it was feared a combination Of
political incidents in Europe might
produce, our commissioners were never
theless, unremittingly assduous In
pressing the ministry to enter fully
into the leading principles of the nego'
tiation, which they had come to Madrid
for the purpose of reviVing After
some ceremonious delays, Mr.. Gardo
qui was reappointed by the Spanish
court to recommenct the business.
The American commissioners brought
forward our claim to the navigation of
the Mississippi and the extent of our
southern boundary, sustained by a
memorial replete with we'll arranged
and irlefragible arguments drawn from
the stipulations-of~-treaties and the
laws of nature and nations. To this
memorial the Spanish agent did not
return an answer and the discussion of
the merits of the above memorial, tho
not positively denied, has been eau,
tiously and rather vexatiously avoid
ed bv the Spanish minister by restoring
to every species of evasion and pro-
crastination which the pompous parade
and ceremonies of European courts
can readily supply.
This unwarrantable and dllatory
conduct of the court OF Spain was per-
ceived and considered in its proper
light by the executive of the United
States, whose determination it had been
from the first to pursue our claim to the
Mississippi with temper and fruuess,
and to prevent if possible an abrupt
schism, of negotiation which had
been with so much difficulty rein
stated on the tapis, until every princi-
pie of reason and argument appendant
to it should be fairly discussed and ex.
hausted. In order therefore TO cut off
all further retardments which might
originate from ceremonious and formal
exceptions, flowing from the alleged
incompetency of powers aud the dignity
of diplomatic office, it was determined
to despatch an envoy extraordinary to
the court of Madrid, most unexceptionl
ably and copiously authorized in every
particular, to bring this tedious nego-
tiation to an end. To effect this the
concurrence of the Senate was neces.
sary, which was at that time not in
session. Yet the executive, anxious to
procure in time, a proper character for
so important an undertaking, caused
an application to be made first to
Thomas jefferson, and Patrick Henry.
two citizens equally illustrious for
patriotism and great talents, and well
known to be warmly devoted to the
prosperity of the western country, to
enter upon this embassy. They having
both declined this offer, for the sake of
expedition, among other weighty con-
siderations, Mr.. Pinkney, the Ameri
can minister at the court of Loudon,
was ordered to hold himself in a state
OF preparation to repair most expe-
ditiously to the court of Madrid, who
1t was probable was at that moment
occupied in the arduous affair of the
Spanish treaty. AS his powers only
waited for the sanction of the Senate,
which had been at that time long since
convened, his instructions would be
similar to those given to Messrs Short
and Carmichael. He will press not
only our rights, but will derive all the
aid to our interests which may arise
ESSENTIALLY from the events of the pres.
ent war in Europe, or any influence
which other circumstances may give to
the United States. At this distance.
and in our present state of informa-
tion, it will be difficult to assert what
may be the immediate event of this
negotiation. which seems to be CAPABLE
of being aft cted by variety of con.
tingencies beyond the control of the
American Government. We had In
disputably, right on our side, which it
was much to be wished, for the happi.
ness of mankind, should ALWAYS form
the rule Of decision among nations.
But perhaps there is much reason to
lament, that in the old governments of
the world, right is too often resolved
into power. AS young nation, Just
taking our stand among the empires of
the world, before we have arrived at
maturity of strength and vigor. which
a thousand combined events promise
We shall speedily attain, it has been
deemed the wisest policy, rather to
establish our rights by negotiation than
by premature resort to the ultima
ratio, the first being a safer and more
certain mode of redress, and such a
one as the present situation Of the
United States lays them under an