The telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1815-1818, February 13, 1816, Image 1
rtHMNuk'n wccftkv
HY THOMAS W. LORKAIN,
? , in tub ir-ooxii ?To*r (ipTMKMOtraKOcritriKD a* uiru ard
WOODWARD, ON niCHAMIIXON AT.
Term* ?/ Siibtcrlfttitn.? Three l>ollar? per Annum, pay*
i Mile tn ailvun<v..,.Ni> p?|>cr to Ihj discontinued, but at
tliconl.nn ol'tlKS KUUor, until all arreai aire* arc paid.
? w1ih\-rti*-:inrnii not cxcccdm# fourteen lines, inverted
tlto tlr?t nine for ?eventy-five renin, and forty ccnufor
ea?:l? K^bwjticnt insertion i ainl In the mip.u proportion
for a lnrj?er number of line*.
<;l STATE 1'AI'KRB.
OUU HKLATIONS WITH SPAIN.
Translation r.f a letter from the MinMerqf Spain
l i' tu the Secretary of State.
Wiuliinglon, IK-cembcr 30, 1815.
SIR ? 'Hie diplomatic relations between the
ling, my master, and tho United State*, being
7 happily ?e*torcd,>and both government* being
t di?poM?d, mutually* to aticngtheu the ties of the
h *nost pure and perfect friendship, it is iny dutf
to inform the president of whatever may con
tribute to so dfestrable an object, and removes
li e obhtucletf which may prevent it. On the
), important |Hiints on which this note muHt turn,
1 have written to you undor other circuinxtaiiccu
leu* favorable than the present. I will now
k confine myself to a plain and simple explanation
of them.
. The. first of these points is : That tho direct
("'and official relations between (Spain and the
?' United .States, having been broken off, since
the year 1808, the- affairs of both nations, as
veil an their respective frontiers, should now
be placed in the same stute and sitnution in which
the) were at that period | and that, in confor
mity to thisprincijiie. the part of \N cst-Klorida,
winch the United States took posttession of iln
xing the glorious insurrection of Kpuin, and re
tained until this day, should be restored to his
Catholic majesty. This just and conciliatory
measure, at the same time that it will convince
the kinj:, my master, of the purity and sincerity
of the sentiments of the American government,
and of their disposition to arrange and terminate
amicably the several points of negotiation, will
not, in the least, impair the right which it may
believe it has to the whole, er a part of the ter
ritory occupied, since it will remain subject*
cxactlv as il was before its occupation, to a (rank
and friendly discussion between the two govern
ments.
The second point is as simple and obvious as
the first, and I will treat of it with that confi
dence* with which I ought to be inspired by the
indisputable justice of my importunity, the jus
tification of the American government, ana the
importance of the affair. It is known to you,
? tnd It is universally public and notorious, that
'luihtinue with ifnpumty, in the province of Igu
ana. and especially in New-Orleans and Na
?Mvhos, tho uninterrupted system of raising
il arming troops* to light the flame of rtvolu
un in the kingdom of New-Spain, and to rob
?.ie pacific inhabitants of tho dominions of the
/jbingftny master. The iuyelioit of the intcrnol
provinces, tho horobleassassinations committed
in Han Antonio tie Ifexar, and the names of tho
perfidious perpetrators of such unheard of crimes,
have acquired the publicity which great crimes
"v ill always acquire. All Louisiana has wit
\ nested theso, armaments ; the public enlistments
(los engauchae pnblicos) ; tho tran?portuti6? of
arms} tho junction of tho insurgents, and tlieir
hostile nun wurlitn hh??I. f??"? 4l * * ? "
)y ami neighboring power j neither threats, nor
tlie I.iv. h, nor the indignation of well disposed
citizens, nor even tho proclamation of tho jire
sidont of tho first of fVptember last, intended
to restrain these highway robbers, have been
sufficient to stop their nefarious plans. On tlie
contrary, they prosecute them with the greatest
ardor and rancor, more and more exasperated
at seeing the glorious triumphs of the Spanish
nation, tlie adhesion of his subjects to anudored
monarch, nod the approaching re-establishment
fif tho relations between our res|iectivc nations.
It is know n to me, that they aro now enlisting,
|n New-Orleans, men for other expeditions, both
by land and water, to invade a^um the dotuini
ons of his ('atlmlic majesty, under the direction
or the ringleaders Jose Alvarez, do Toledo, anil
5oftf. Manuel#!* Herrcra, who had just arrived
at that city, with the appointment (as he says)
of Minister to the United .States, froin the sell
stvled Mexican Congress, who has delivered
to" Toledo fifteen hundred commissions in blank,
from that body of insurgents* that ho may confer
them on a like number of officers, which he is
recruiting in tho territory of this Union. 1 omit
mentintiiuu: to you other innumerable acts of this
kind, which prove the publicity of these arma
ments, add the impunity with vvliich they con
tinue. I will ('.online myself to stating to you,
that the most common practice of nations, ami
the authority of the best writers on public law*
' to gi\e a right to the king my master* would re
2u ire of this government to deliver up these
?aitors, as incendiaries, enemies of nil social
harder, and disturbers of the peace of his sub
jects ) but as the object of my sovereign is not
to avenge himself or this banditti, but to shield
Ills subjects against their barbarity. I confine
fnyself to asking of yon to obtain of the Presi
dent orders for the prosecution of the princij al
Jersons concerned in this sedition, that is to say J
one Ah are/ do Toledo \ the self-styled minister*
Manuel de llerrerai Doctor Itobinson) Hum
bert i Majors Otirie and Preire and their follow
eis, that they may be punished with all the ri
tor which the laws prcscrihc in cases of this
kind. That the troops which they have raised,
may he disarmed. and dispersed, and that the
necessary measures lie taken to iirevcnt, in fu
ture, these evil spirits from having an opportu
nity of pursuing their designs, and attempting
to compromit tho good intelligence which sub
sists between our respective governments.-? The
President cannut but have seen with o-msibilitv,
** well the total want of effect of his procla
mation, of the lenient measures which ho had
adopted against theso criminals, who boast of
re6ogui*/.iiig no law, subordination or moral prin
ciple, Ah the protection and support which they
have received and do receive from the authori
ties at New-Orleans, contrary to his express
orders. 1 1 in excellency ? as ho is encharged by
tin* republic with watcliing over iu security an',r
tJio observance of it? treaties and lann, cannot
but consider himsolf authorized to restrain the
projecti) and hostile iitcami!?* of n set of adven
turers, .who make wnr auninHt a friendly power
from tho territory of tln? confederation* com
promitting its tranquility and high character* by
availing himself of tho imcuiih which tho consti
tution, the lawn, and hit prudenco offer to him
lor obliging these persons to abandon their de
BignB* and to manifest to his Catholic imijestv
the just indignation w ith which the United State*
view the hostile plans, and the sedition of thnt
band of inccndiaries. I am ccrtain that it can
not be concealed from the distinguished talent*
of the President and yourself, that the point of
which 1 treat, is not one under the civil (or mu
nicipal) law, in which case my sovereign must
have recourse to the ordinary tribunals ; but that
it is a manifest and flagrant violation of tho most
sacred laws which bind together nations mutu
a|v"~"P?rIJctratcd by the citizens, or residents
ol the I/nioti, of wliich the king, my master,
gave information, with positive anil notorious
proofs, to the government under whose juris
diction it has been executed, that they may cive
him competent satisfaction, with a knowledge
or ac*? by causing the delinquents t?? he
punished as guilty of high treason uirainst both
governments.
The third and last point is reduced to this ?
that the president will be pleased to give the ne
cessary orders to the collectors of the customs,
not to admit into the port i of tho United States,
vessels under the insurrection of Carthagcna, of
the .Mexican Congress, of llueno* Ayres, or of
the other places which havo revolted airuiust the
j"nJS? ??y master, nor those coming from them.
W .7 8,,ou,,! sot permit them to land. or to
sell in this country, WMSl shameful proceeds of
their piracy, or ntrocW% and much less to c
themselves in these pons, as they do, for
the purpose of going to sea, to destroy and
plunder the vessels which the* may meet with
under tho Hpanixh flag. Thft-toferance, sub
vereiveoftrie itio?t eolomti atiputalioim in (he
tmtiw bttwwo 8p?ln ?inl Unl(?|
liainetHcally opposgftjo tlie general principles
?I public ?eciiritj?&<Kond faith, and lo^t?
^produces the most melancholy
, r , . -Jt crests and property of the sub
jects of his catholic majesty. Certain it is, that
neither C nrthagctia, nor any othfer place in tl?e
Spanish dominions in this hemisphere, which
has revolted, can be in communication with any
power friendly to Spain, sinco neitheir on ftt
part, nor oil that of any Other government, has
their independence been acknowledged I and
it is, consequently, an offence against the diuni.
ty of tho Spanish Monarchy, and against the
sovereignty of the king, my miwter, to admit
vessels from such places, manned and command,
ed by insurgents, and armed iu the dominions
of this confederation j particularly as they arc
all pirates, whojlo not respect any 'flag, are just
ly considered the disgraco of the teas, and are
execrated by all nations.
The three preceding points are of such estab
lished equity snd justice, that it would be offen
Sive to the dclicacy of this government to sup
pose, that it could delay, under any pretext* to
determine on them, in the manner 1 have pro
posed, and which I havo qn express order to re
quest, (solicitnr) in the nanto of tho king, my
master. . The prompt interposition of the presi
dent, that his majesty piay be gratified, v/ould
be a ntw testimony of liis friendly disposition
towards Spain, an evident proof that he is'de
?erunncd to put an end to the incalctilablo ex
tortions nnd injuries which Spain has suffered,
lor the space of soven years, from the tame of
adventurers -who have assailed her from tlie bo
som of this republic! a means of fixing the
frank and sincere system of good neighborhood
which so much interests both states | and final
v, o sure preliminary to the removal of all dif
tlculties which inay present themselves in the ne
gotiations, which ought to terminate all tlie
pending di?ru**io?is between the two govern
ments, and to fix forever between them u newel
ual and solid friendship.
If, as I flatter myself, tho president gives all
tho at tention which is due to affairs of such tran
scendant importance, and yields to my solicita
tions, 1 can n^uro his excellency, anil yourself,
that there will lie nothing which tho king, iny
piaster, will not be disposed to do, to satisfy
this republic, which may lie compatible with his
dignity ?nd with the interests of his subjects.
I renew to you the assurance of my particular
respect, and of my constant desire to pleas* you, I
und pray Mod to preserve your life many years.
Signed, UT1S ])K 0N1S.
Hon. James Monroe, &c. &c.
Tranitattoni which accompanied a J\V<? nf the
tol January, 1816, from the Chevalier tie On is
to the Herniary of State. ,
8IR<~-ffince the lust note I had the honor to
nddrem* you, under the date of the .10th of De
cerning, I have received positive information
that the expedition which the traitor Toledo wan
preparing in New Orleant*, aj<ai?iHt the domin
ion* of the king, my minder, h?s been Mtigpended
until Uie arrival at that city of two bodieu of
troop*, one thousand men (rotn Kentucky, and
three hundred from Tennennee, commanded by
two Amei iran citl%eii9, that were to be united in
twenty four days to the ?rmy of the insurgents.
I abstain, ?ir, from offering to you any observa- 1
tionn on a subjcct of such nigh importance, anil |
oa 4.?n - -
tng their titi'/.un* to commit hostilities against o
friendly power, notwithstanding tho orders lie
has issued lur dispersing and disarming the gaii*
of dcyinadwti, headed by Toledo, Humbert, An
aya, iWnartio Suteirier, lstri. doctor llobiusoti,
majors Ourie ntul Preire, and tbeir follower s,
the kins, iny master, will have reason to uus|>cct
that if those meetings arc not authorized by the
Sovcrnment; tliey are'* at least tolerated. ? All
ic osstirancos I nmy give to> my sovereign, of
the friendly dispositions of his excellency the
president will not unlike, when compared* with
the evident proofs I had the honor to communi
cnto to you in this and my former note t particu
larly when his majesty is well convinced of the
resources and authority of the federal govern
ment, and the promptitude with which their or
ders *???* strictly observed in tho whole union. ?
I do not entertain any apprehensions of the rcult
of the expedition of these incendiaries. The
European wars being terminated, his majesty
will be ble to direct all his attention and In* i
powerful armies, to stifle at once the growth of
thstinsurrertion { but the philanthropic heart of
mv sovereign, the humanity by whicn he is dis
ti> 'ished, and which constitute* tho chararler
of the Spanish nation, induce him to wish to re- 1
establish order anions the seduced, rather by
mildness than by the force of arms, which cunnot .
be effected without the effusion of tho blood of
his l>elovcd subjects. This object cannot fail to |
be obtained as soon as the Mexican insurgent**,
and those of the internal provinces, cense to l>c
furnished by the citizens of this republic, with
arms, ammunition, and troops.
I shall never have the vain presumption to of
fer you, or the wise magistrate that is at the
head of this administration, any observations on
the consequences that might result uuuiust the
interests of this republic bv the. independence of
Spanish America. Mv wishes are only direct
ed to equal you in moderation, and to re-estab
lish, on the most firm and permanent basis, the
relution* between our government. This sin
cere desire will 1 hone, serve as an apology for
me, while I take the liberty to present an hypoth
esis in this note.
I grant, for a moment, that all tho Mexican
empire erects itself into an independent state)
lliat it adopts the wise constitution of this confed
eration j establishes a complete system of legis
'H^on ) and, finally, that it enjoys all tho bless
fliberty, in the same full extent as this
lift -1? 1? beyond question that the climate
Meets more temperate than that of the I Jni
Itatcft ) tho soil richer and more produc
tive; the productions and fruits more abundant,
rich, and of a superior quality ; and that provi
sions, labor* wooil, houses, clothing, &c. are in
0nse(iuence of the mildness and regularity of
the climate* much cheaper than in this country.
Jf this event should take place, do you not think,
sir? wIdo?tHfti Ho many alluring prospects and so
miitty evident advantages, will deprive this re
public Qfthesucccssive emigrations from Kurope
ami what is more* of a very considerable part of
the mostnsefW and industrious inhabitants of
this confederation! who would carry with them
their flour nud saw milli? machines, manufuct
ures, their entcrprUinty genius, in a word, their
general instruction, ***0*11 the means that act
ually promote and vivify the commerce of these
States ? I (latter mysentHftt this event will not
happen } but I am fully convinced, that the con
sequences of this hypothesis can bo demonstra
ted almost with n mathematical certainty ) and
that if the citizens of Kentucky, Tennessee,
Louisiana, & Georgia, should relfect deeply on
this subject, fdr front giving any aid to those vag
abonds, greedy of the tfcqiitsKion of gold, and
regardless of the happiness of their country, they
wotdd unite themselves with tho authorities of
tho king my master to punish that gang of perfid
ious traitors that hide themselves in these State*
with the criminal design of devastating their
country* I hope sir, you will havo the goodness
to overlook this digression to which 1 havo been
carried bra warm desire of strengthening the
most perfect friendship between the two nations
and to inform his excolloncy the president that
the orders I claim in his catholic majesty's name
directed to the trial ami punishment of the ring
leaders of thane armies, and to tho prohibition of
exporting arms, of any kind, from this country to
the provinces, against my sovereign's authority,
are of the greatest importance and are support
ed by the existing treaty of friendship, limits and
navigation lietween Spain and the United States,
especially tho 16th article.
I expect, sir, your answer to these important
points, ana 1 have the honor to be &c. &c. &c.
The Secretary of State to the. Chevalier de Out i.
l)c|?:irlmei?t of 8tuU>, .tummy 19, 1810."
MIR ? I have had the honor to receive your
letter* of the .10th December, ami 2<l of Janua
ry, and to tiubmit them to the Preaident.
Ymi demand that your sovereign he nut in po**
sensioti of NN'ont -Florida | that certain persona
whom you have mentioned nhnll he arrested aiftfc
tried on the charge of promoting ifoilri^ction
in th<> Spanish prminces, ami excitiiijr citizen*
of tho Initcd States to join in it t anil thirdly*
that the fingsof ('arthagena, the Mexican Con
gress, ItuoiiOH Ayren, and other revolting pro
vinces shall lie excluded from tho port* of the
United Statex.
On tho re?CHtablishment of the diplomatic rc
latiofis between the United State* and :ipain, it
wit* hoped Ui?t your government would not
have confined itn attention to the object* in which
Spain in alone interested, but have extended it
to the injuries of which the United Stated have
no long and so justly complained, with a view
to such reparation as it might now lie able to
make. llic subjects ore, iu their nature, inti
mately connected. |p somo important circum
stances, indeed, it it impossible to separate them,
since the exposition of the ,wroug* of the United
? tates affords the proper answer, in those in
stances, to the compiaintH of Spain. It i* my
duty to bring these wrongs into view, that the'v
may bo duly considered and provided for, in
fuse your government has, n? I am bound t?> be
lieve, invested you with adequate powers for
tlio purpose.
At a period anterior to either of the circum
stances mentioned in your letters, the United
States had suffered great Injury by the unlawful
seizure and, condemnation ol their vessels in
the ports of Spain. A treaty, providing an in
demnity for those spoliations, was agreed to and
signed by a minister duly authorized bv each iro
vcrunieift,but its ratification, though negotiated
and concluded in the presence of the Spanish
government, was afterwards declined by it. At
an anterior period, too, the deposit at New-Or
leans, stipulated bv the treaty of 171)5, was sup
pressed. As the United States had done nonin
jury to Spain, these acts, so hostile iti their na
ture and injurious in their e fleet, excited much
surprise. It had been the uniform object of this;
Sovnrnmcut to make such arrangements with
pain, respecting the free navigation of the Mis
sissippi, and the boundaries, as, securing to our
citizens the full enjoyment of their riglws, would
place the peace and friendship of the two coun
tries on a solid and durable basis. With (his
view it was nought to obtain of Spain, at a fair
equivalent, the territory eastward of the Missis
sippi. Overtures to tin'* effect were made to the
Spanish government, and rejected lU-iim re
newed, the minister of the United Slates was in
formed that Spuin had ceded Louisiana to
France, to whom he was referred for (he acqui
sition of such territory, in that quarter, us ho
might lie instructed to make. On the last very
important event, the suppression of the deposit
at New-Orleans, a special mission was institut
ed to France and Spain, the object of which was
to avert by amicable arrangement, the cula
unties of w ar. A (fairs had, more esiMScially by
this act of violence and hostility, reached a cri
sis, which precluded the idea of temporary pal
liatives. A comprehensive ami |wrmaneut ur
rangcuicnt had become indispensable, of which,
it was presumed, tf>e governments of France L
Spain would be equally sensible. The cession
of Louisiana bv Franco to the United States,
was the immediate consequence ofthU mission,
with such a description of its boundaries by the
treaty, as it waspresumed, would leavo no cause
of controversy with Spain.
^ Hie mission had thus succeeded in a very
important object, but there were others of a si
mdar character, which remained to be adjusted.
I l.e differences with Spain still existed, and to
them was added a circumstance of much inte
rest proceeding from the acquisition of Louisi
ana, the unsettled boundaries of tKe province,
which were now to be established with Spain.-!
Lnder the influence of the same policy, the spe
cial mission w-as ordered, suOn afterwards, to
Madrid, to invite a negotiation, for the art anire.
"I*1.1 i'\ . ? 8C ""Pwfant coucerns. Spain
still held territory eastward of the Perdido,
Which by her cession of Louisiana, add its trans
for to the I nited States, was separated from
her other dominions, and lay, except on the side
of the ocean, exclusively within our limits.?
I he importance of this territory to Spain, in
22S5T?? V'fr? my view
S?j ?. to Iwmucli iliii.in
cn,ircly in certain view,
PMmmm* ????pt<MfcitprovMi uiKiiiy i?.
o Tnai ^ *',c fontimianco
ot A Spanish colony there, might produce jeul
| (m By and variance between the two nations.?
On the other hand, the United States had ac
quired tomtory westward of the Mississippi,
adjoining thj provinces of Spain, which, it 1'aJ
supposed, sho might be desirous of obtaining.
Hy mutual cessions of territory, in quartern
most convenient to each other, and bv forming
an interval between their possessions, to remain
vacant, tho danger of collision mipht be avoided,
and their good understanding more effectually
preserved. Jly rendering justice likewise to
till* i:ij|/cni oi tlio Uliitcu nlfttou^ their citi/ontt
would l>o contented, and their government bo
better enabled to control their conduct beyond
tlicir limits. Hero then seemed to be a fair
ground for amicable compromise between the
parties. An opportunity was presented for ter
minating everv difference, and securing their fu
ture harmony, w ithout loss or sacrifice by either.
On the result of this mission 1 need not enlarge.
1 shall remark only, that the friendly policy
winch produced it, was not reciprocated bv your
government j it was perhaps not felt i it H?H
certainly disregarded, livery proposition o?
the American ministers!, having these objects i<i
view , was rejected, and none made in return by
your uoveriiment. J
Thia conduct of your government, would
have justified if it did not invite the innnt dccifiu*
Measures on the fmrt of the United States. Tim
rriiisal to make reparation forprecedinu, injuries,
ftwto surreudcHby iMirtiop wT.t ho territory, in
,thc possess^ of Spain, to w hich they considered
their title indisputable, or to accept fair and
liberal propositi mm for thn accommodation of
these, fliflPereocCe, or to make a iiroooHtinn of
any kind for the purpose, left the United Htuti h
perfectly free, to pursue such course, as in its
judgment a just regard to the honor* ri^litn and
interest.* of the nation, might dictate. In thn
condition of Spain there was nothing to excite
apprehension of the consequences, whatever
might be the courae deckled on. Of this, the
well known atate of the Peninsula at the time,
and since of the Hpanlah provinces in America,
a (lords amnio proof. The friendly policy hit It
thtfUniUfl State* have since puruvd', is t!i?