North Carolina Newspapers

. : s . - - .--v . . and ' V '- -yvi r - -- ( r; :rwi 'ulf St t ' .. w - 1 4 - . , - N . , . 1 ?. l ' " i. f AN EXPOSITION or THE ..c; A'P CHAtlACTBR OR T Al, . t V All t I Til r.. UUITAIN. TUB Tu? were the United States, in a a r! rcputco prate, iuiui.u t'cofa stale of trar arid ihu, 5V r rhich- had been recently i i... faith of & solemn nct abstained from vindi- ' 3- it riaht&, and from avenging re '"Vf-" v an ippeat lr armn. It . ...... f not an insemibditf , to those z" i vot dread of Hritish pow ,; ' nor a suhservienqr to B itiah in Uf$,tHt urrvailcd, at that period, '--cvjnci's of the United Suites : vl micr XiU t;UK the Generic ah j:vi-rcnt aAt. ined from the ap p .i w thsni as it his -epeatedly ye iJi-ne if collisions witi , si well wi;h C,rr--t Bittain, :"t 4 the purest love uf peace, while ... t Ad be rendered co.Tr.'.ible h?cor and ludcpcnucocc oi : Di.sr ;r.e prriotl whh hJia hith o-.-r' 1 r. !.: e p.nirua- iy tuiciu-, i h the dcrlar.itinn ofhotil - ! j car IT9-, timd the ahort-livcd jC.t'01 i .e treaty of Amicna in ?g2i thtr were not wantiug occa-, ti,t. tei the consistency and the iipvtuii-.y of the American govern tcf t, bv a c :mp:riaon of its conduct cirJ Ci cat Britain, with its con cxi tovrJs odier. nations The ccilstaticc ot the extreme jealousy cfthc F ench government, and of the sKapfrate zcat of its ministers near ts Ucitrd States, were co-evul with tt prochrratif-n of ocuirality ; but ihjf the ratification ot the treaty of Lcdjo, the ce"ne of violence, apo hCjx, icd contumely, opeord by Fritce, upon the United State, be caridcn, as to admit, perhaps, of MpmUel, except in the cooterapo recui scenes whid) cre exhibited bj thi ioj'i!;ice ok her great competi tf. I he American government act ed, iaboth case, oa the same pacific joiuy; iq the sanru'bpirit of patience lid io-hcarance ; but with the detrr dioiun abo to assert the henor and Dccpeodccce of the; nation. When, j r.5rtfjre, every conciliatory effort fcii failed, and when two successive alio .sof peace had been contemp-tjj-u y repulsed, the American go v.rencQt, tu the year 1793, annulled trcjtiri witii France, and waged a rantimt vr against that nation, for t Jclencc of its citizens nd of its xcJerce, passing on the high sc&u Ii-t2s eooa as the hope was conceiv- 3, of a satiifactory change in the jpotiiious ot me Frcncn govern- f tcoi, itiz Amcicn g-jvernmeaths- 4 azc to ccna aaothrr frai-:!icn to J rcr ce, :u avconvcnuon sigced in 6e veir icon, terminated tbc subsist gdi fcrencc between the two coun ties. vis-re the .United States able, tie tme period, to ;void a u a w i i i 1 1 c y o v e m m e c t o f S p w c?cn i.y irorrtaat U cr.tu-al ques- ;j nda v ntifl tomini-ife i of za:z nurfaie and maritime spolia Pfcserfio, however, their 'JUSMf moderation, io the asjer P2 or thvir ri gilts, a coui se of amica ly din.usa":oo ad explanation, pro-0d-t'l mutual satislactioQ ; and a lJty tf triendship, limiu and navi-p-oa uaa formed in theSyear 1795, b) which the citizens of the U. States 1:quu.d arightifor theapace of three! to ccpoit their merchandixe fcTtctsin the port of New.Or V11 5 with a promise, cither that the J7rntnt of that right should be in ctmteiy continued, or that another Jd be assigned for an equivalent hlrshmcnt,. But, whco,ia the leotheportbf New-Orleans bruptry dosed against theci. of the Uaitcd Suus, wirikhit .the Anjencnfl gannovca Dy a 9i-iiA pr f'fi 10 cherish the '"'"-.Niki mU'u.d Tf'tendihip and an assignmcntof any other equivalent jilace pt deposit, the harmony of the two countries was again most serious ly endangered ; until the Spanish go vernment, yielding to the" rem on uraucea of the United States,, d ia vowed the act of the Intenriant of N. Orleans and ordered the right 6f de pom to be reinstated, t)n the terms of the tretty ot 795. The effects produced, even by a temporary uspenaioo of the right of deposit at Ncw-Orleans, upon the interests and feelings- of the nation, :iaturalJv suggested to the American ) vernment, the expediency of nu ird ing against their recurrence, by the acquisition of a permanent property n the province of Louitian The minister of th United States, at Ma drid,was,accordingly,instrucedto ap py tew he government of Stainiponthe subject ; and on the 4th of May, 1803, he received an answer stating, that hy the retrocession m de to France, of Louisiana; that power regained the province, with the imits it had, sav ing the rights acquired bv otuet pow- dJress themselves to the French go vernment, to negociate the acquisi tion of territories, which might suit tneir iutcrcst.TI Bai efore this re. ference, oflicial information of the, hi me fact had been receivedby Mr. Fiuknev from the G urtof Spain, in the month of March preceding ; -ml ;j tne tmencan government, naving in stituted a special mission to negociate I the purchase of Louisiana from ! France, or from Spain, whichever ihould be its sovereign, the purchase was, accordingly, accomplished for a valuable consideration (that was punc tually paid) by the treaty concluded at Pris oa the SO;h April, 1803. The Ame ican government has not seen, without some sensibility that a J transaction, accompanied by such cir cumstances of general publicity, and of scrupulous good faith, has been denounced by the princ: regent, in ' his declaration of the 10th January,' 1813, as a proof of the 4 unen?roua j conduct of the United States towards Spain."1 In amplification of the roy al charge, the 3rit;sh negociator at Ghent, have presumed to impute "the acquisition of Louisiana, by the United States, to a spirit of aggan disi ment. uot necessary to their own security; nd to maintain fcthat he purchase was made against the known conditions, on which it had been ce ded by Spain to France that 41 in the face of the protestatioa of the mi nuter of his catholic majesty at Wash ington, the President of the United Siatea ratified thetreaty of purchase;'1 and that 44 there was good reason to believe, that many circumstances at tcnding.thc transactions were indus triously concealed." The Ameri can government cannot condescend ?n retort aspersions so unjust, in lan guage so opprobrious,; and peremp mri'y rejects the pretension of Great Britain, to interfere in the business ot the United States and Spain ; but it owes,' nevertheless, to the claims of truth, a distinct statement of the facts which have been thus misrepre- sented. When the special mission i k was a chase tnc m Americao minister, at London, was instructed to explain the object of the mission ; and having made the ex planation, he- was assured by the Bri tish government, that the commu nication was received in good part ; no doubt was suggested of the right of the United States to pu sue sep4? rately and alone, the ojijects they aim ed at ; but th?. British government See tb letter from TJoa Pedro Cemllos, the mirCstcrof Spiin, to Sir. C. Pminey, the minister of the United 3itej, dated the 4th of Mty, 1803, from which the pisisge cited it literally translated. 6 See the prince rejjeot'a declaration of 10th of Janvury, 1813. ; . ; , cSee the note or the OntirT commissioo -- r; dated ttveh of 8epteTnber;18U.' . 4 dee the note of the Uru-sh cummlialoa. er. datd the ITA of September, 18 U. See the. note of theBntuh commissioa tx m, dated Oie ih of.coer 1814. ppointcu to negocuu the ' pur-h JL.ouisiana.tp me umtw:wiw.-u of Louisiana from France, io the amicable dispositions, tin thepart sutler aireauv rurnLioneu. mc ,oi uicmjk. ma fi - , f ... W appeared to bd satiafied with the Pre sident's viesj on thi4,imrortant sub ject."f As soon, too, as the tr eaty of purchase was concluded, before hos tilities were again actually commenc ed between Qreat Britain and France, and previously, indeed, to the depar ture of the "French ambassador from London, the (American minister J pcnly notified to the British govern ment, that a treaty hd been signed, by which theomplcte sovereignty of the town and! territory of New-O- ; leans, as well as of all Louisiana, as j the same was heretofore possessed bv I Spain, had been acquired by the U- uited States of America ; and that in drawing up the treaty, care had been taken so to frame the same, as not to (infriuge any right of Great Britain, ! m the navigation of the river Missis J sippi."? In the answerof the British ; government, it was explicitly declar j ed by lord Hawkabury, that he h d I received his mjiesty's commands to , . express the pleasure with which his ' ' majesty had received the intelligence; j I aod to add, that his majeiy regarded J ; the care, which had been taken so to Irame the treaty aa not to infringe any right ot Great Britain in the naviga tion of the Mississippi, as the most satisfactory evidence, of a disposition on the part of the government of the United States", correspondent with that which his majesty 'entertained, co promote and improve that harmo- ny, wrucn so nappiiy suosistea oe tween the two countries; and which vas so conducive to their mutual be nfcfi The world will judge, whe ther, under such circumstance, the British government had any cause, on it own account, to arraign the con duct of the United States, in making the purchase jof Louisiana, ; and, cer tainly, no greater caue will be found for the arraignment, on account 'of j Spain. The Spanish government "ia apprized ol the intention of the United States to negociate for the purchase pf that province : its ambas sador witnessed the progress of the negotiation at Parix and the conc'u si a ot the treaty, on tne 30th of A iril, 1803. was promptly known aud understood at Madrid Yet,the Spa nish government iuterposed do ob jection, no protestation, against the transaction, iu Europe ; and it was not until the mouth of September, 1803, ihat the American government Heard, with surprize, from the' minis-H ter of Spain) at Washington, that his catholic majeitv wa dissatisfied with he cessVi of Louniana to the Unit ted States. Js'oujvithstanding this di nlooaatio remonstrance, however, the Spanish government proceeded to de ! liver the possession of f-ouisiana to France iu execution of the treaty ot St. Ildefonso j saw France, by an al most simultaneous act, transfer the possession to the United States, in execution otthe treatyjof purchase ; and, finally, instructed the'marquis de Casa Yruj to present Jto the Ameri: tan vernment, the declaration of the 15th of May, ld04, acting 44 by the special order of his sovereign, that the exnnatiotK, which the govern ment u France had given to his ca tholic. majesty, concerning the sale of i sta cs. determined turn to aban- don the opp'sitioni which, at a prior period, andj with the mostsubstantial rnotiveo,ne had mafiifestedt against the traosac ion Uut alter this amicable and decisive arrangement of A d fferenCeSj in latJan.to the validity cf the Lj uisi re- uisunai purchase, a1 question or some embar rassment rematnea, in reiauou to inc boundaries! of the ceded, territory. f See the letter from the Secretary of State, lo Mr. Kins', Itbe American minister at Lkw don,da;edihe 21?th of January, -180), and Mr. Kti'i Mtr to the aecretary of tateda ted the 28th of April, 1803. ; ; r . f See the' Settee from Mr, Kingy to lura llaVkabafy, fluted tht 15 01 ay 1803 ; a See he letter from lord Hawksbury, tr Mr. Kog dated .tlie l9th of. May, 1803. t letter of tne marquis de l Ca Yrtxio. to the . American secretary Of states dated tne ISUi 01 May, ' - J7 . This question, however, the Ameri can government always hasibeeri and alwai will be willing to discusfrTh the most candid manner, and to settle upon the most liberal' basis,, with the government of Spain. '. It was pot, therefore, a fair topic with which to inflame the Prince Regent's declaration-; 'or! to embellish the diplomatic notes of British negociators at Ghent;k The period haaf arrived when Spain, relieved from her Europekn labors, may be expected to bestow her atten- j tion more cffectually-upon the state of her colonies ; and,- acting' with the wisdom, justice and imagaanimky, of which she has given; frequent exam- pie, sne win hod no tlmicuitv n meeting the recent advances of the American governmentvfor an honor able adjustment of every point ip cob-J trove ray; between the two countries, with ut seeking the aidoi the British J imdiauon, or adopting the animosity of British couof its. ' . But still the Unacd States, feelipg a constant, interest' in the opini eniiirnteneu and impartial nations nions,:-j c)nnot hesitate to embrace the 'oppor ttinity for re pre3entinir, in the simpli-j city of truth, the events bywhich they j have been " leu to take possessioa ot a pirt of the Florida, notvlthstand. ing the claim of Spain to the sove reignty of the ssme territory.. In the acceptation and understanding of the United States, the cession of L;'uisir ana embraced the country south of the Mississippi territory, and eastward of the river Mississippi, and ' extend ing to the river Perdido ; but 44 their conciliatory views, and their confi dence in the justice of their cause, and in the success of a candid discus sion and amicable sfrgociation with a just and friendly, power, induced them to acquiesce in the temporary continuance of that territory undrr the S panish authority."1 When, however the adjustment of the boundaries of Louisiana, as well as a reasonable in demnification, on account of maritime spoliations, and the suspension of the right of deposhe at New Orleans," seemed to be indefinitely postponed, on the part of Spain, by events which the U. States had not contributed to produce, and could not control ; when a crisis had arrived subversive of the. order of things under the Spanish au? thorittes, contravening the views of 9 both parties, and endangering the tranquility ana security ox tne adjoin ing territories, by the intrusive estab lishment of a government, indepen dent of Spain, as well as of the Unit ed States ; and when, ata later period there was reason , to Relieve, that G. Britain herself designed to occupy the Floridas, (and,she has, indeed actual ly occupied Pensacola, for hostile pur poses,) the American government, without departing from its res pect for the rights of.Spain and even consulting the honor of that state, un equal, as she then tvaa, to the task of suppressing the '-intrusive establish ment, was impelled by the paramount principle of self-preservation, to res cue its own rights from the impend ing danger. Hence the United States in the year 1 8 1 0 proceeding ste by step, according to rjie growing exigen cies of the time, took possession of the country, in which the standard of independence had been displayed ex cepting such places as were held by a Spanish force. In the year 1 8 1 1 , they authorised their, president, by law, provisional y to accept, of the posses sion of East Florida from the local authorities, or to ore-occupy it against . See ' the letter frq m the secretary of state to gnVernoc Claiborne, and the procta niation. dated the 27th of Odfober, l810.Ni See die proceedings of the cooveiition of Florida, transmitted to tne secretary of aiate, by the gorernor of the Miasiasippi territory, in his letter of, the 17th of October 1810 ; and the aniwer of the Secretary of State, da ted the ,15th Norember, 1810 ; : ' Seethe letter of Mf. iMorier,5ritUh charge d'atiairea, to the aecretary4 of 'state..-dated! the '"15th of December, "1810 and the Se-vj-elarj'aanavrer -x t c' ' ' " See the correspondence letweeii Ir Jfon- s-4 'oe dd MrvFoater the BrhUh minister, k tie months of July, September and iNovem bef: 1811. i See Ihe letter of MrKing; to fhe secre. tary of state, dated the 16;b et May, ISfTS. - the?" 'attempt tf "a foreieb power; to , -, - if.' . , :. sehe iu 18 13 they obtained the J Ipossesfion of M obile, the , ocly. place1 . then held by a Spanish fqree in Wejit, Florida ; with a view to their ownf iDamediate security, bathwithout,va? rying the questions depending betweeQ them and Spain, in relation te "that provin e. And in the year 1.814 the-' American commaoder, ., ctmg! .una kf U: the sanction of the law of jnstiqts, butli unauthorised by the.ordetajof litsi vernment, d.rovse from Pebsacolathe ;f British troops, who in violation of thef " neutral territory of Spain! (a violation f which Spain it is believed rausttfier-fe ; eclf reaent, andiwbuld hvee.sisttd,r ; , if the opportunity had occurred), selzi- 1 ed and fortified that s;ation to aid in ' " military operations against the United V- States. But all these measures b " - i salety and necessity were frankly 'Xf v 4 plaintd, as they occurred,' to the gov ernment pf Great Britain, antecedent ' y ly to the declaration of War, with the ' s i nee rest assu ran ces, . tnai ,rie posses- ion ufl'sion of the territo-y thus" acquired c l 'M 44 should not cease to be si subject of rair ana inenaiy negociation -ana aa- juatment The present review of the conduct V of the United States, towards the , beU ngereni powers oi jrurupe, w-ui.oe re - C xi necessary medium, to vindicate their national character, from! the unmerit ed imputations of he Prince Regent's declaration, of the 10th January, 1313, and not as as a medium, voluntarily assumed, according to, the insinua- tirn hf that flprlararinrf.' frit h TfiiXL live passions, in reference to transac tions that-are"pas't. The treaty bf..A'i;-'.;.' m i v n Q xrVtirl acta m m r tavminat tiir C : I ";' war in Europe,. seemed also to termi nate the btraknebmA qne.ri ca but c tht hope of reposb ' waW. in both respects, delusive and transient The hostijitiea which were "renewed between G. Britain and France, in'the year 1793, were immediately followed by a renewal of the aggression of the belligerent powers, upon the cpmmer : ciaUights, and politicllndepebdencc of the United Sirites Trere was " scar(Jely,'therefore an interval separa ting the aggessions i of the jitst war,.,) fromjthe aggresjioni otKe ; second war and aluhoua&re the:ag-'; gressions continued Up1jrj ;.the,8ame in extent, they became incalculably -more destructive lt ) willv be ;seenf however,, that the American igovern ment, inflexibly maintained its neutral and pacific policy, in every extremity of the latter trial, with the same gbbd 4 ixiui auu lurucurautc, uiai iu tne lOr?i mer trial, had distinguished Its con duct until it was compelled to cfcooscU irom me alternative, oi nauocai de gradation, ornatinal resistance. And if G.j Britain alone then beame the ; object of th American rHitarariobif war, it will be seen, tHat Great Bntaib alone had b!mtnatelr''ctosed,tfie!'4oo-'i''' of amicable oegOciatiotu( i - i-i 1 The American mirsa4dbhY anticipating' the.rop.ture between :;G'f Britain and; France, hadVohaibed bs' surices from the British Vnyernmen" " that in the event ot war, the rosmicV tions given Ito their naval V bfficem should btTdrawn up' with plainness.- ; and precision iand, fn general, f that the rights Jbf lcUigerena should; j be exercised in moderation, and with t due retpect fori tnose'of;nebuaU;l And irrela$oa Jeet of impt6ismenf he haa acmly preparcfor sigiuntiieassent of lord H.iwkesbury sad lord &i4 frr&Qs cent, a cbnventioncontinueclbripg five years; declaring that ; Sno ssann, t ' bunseafaring person aiioiildIupbfivthel hign seasf s without. the urjsdieiioA; oi itheFartybedeodedu H J out of any shift breerbelbgiof toi $Z 'fe IpartieShy the public oriyate arjned ' t?$-p I shifbc meupb watraciwsnpuiaAgiireo fori - r if I. -r See; tettef of Kd6' fcaihe tferer :i A ffi tary df state, dasedluhr 1803.ii-J..tTc!.F' -iUi tary of tUtt, iatedfJoly.'ttQ 7 v A 5. - 1 mm .; 'it - I I . mm r- .-"J.i-?f.ni WW- fit 'mm 4 mm : r fl.f 1 if 0 $1 Cut. mm 'A- - 4 X 1 3 )2 r 3r t . 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