{"character_count": 6177, "word_count": 1017, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9703999757766724], "ccnet_perplexity": [1770.5], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
InsafEect'on.


Atan early period of the first session of the thre
Congress in 1884, President Washington SEN
them confidential message. communicating the
critical situation Of our affairs with Spain. The
negotiations attempted with that power in regarc
to the interesting objects Of Boundary, Navlga
ton and Commerce, had been exposed to much
delay and embarrassment, IN consequence O.
the changes which the French Revolution hac
effected in the political state of Europe. Mean
while the neighborhood of the Spanish Colonies
to the United States had given rise TO various
other subjects of discussion, one OF which had as
sumed very serious aspect


Having the best reason to suppose thdt ue
open war which was threatened by lhe ooutheih
indians and the hostilities actually committed by
then, were excited by the agents of Spain, the
President had directed the American Commls-
sioners at Madrid, Messrs Carmichae and Short,
to make the proper representations on the sub
iect, and 70 propose that each nation should with
good faith, promote the peace of the other with
these savage neighbors.


About the same time the Spanish Government
entertained, or affected to entertain, correspond
ing suspicious Of like hostile excitements by the
agents of the United States, to disturb their peace
with the same nations. The representations
which were induced by these real or affected sus-
picions, were accompanied with pretensions, and
made in a stvle, to which the American Exccu
tive could not be inattentIye. His Catholic Ma
jesty asserted these claims as patron and pro-
tector Of those Indians, assumed mediation
between them and the United States, and right
TO interfere in the establishment Of their bounda
rles. At length, IN the very moment when these
kavages were committing daily inroads on the
American frontier, at the lnstlgatlon OF SPAN, as
was believed, the representatives OF that power,
complaining of the aggrcsslons OF American
citizens on the Indians, declared that the con-
tlnuation of the peace, good harmony and perfect
friendship OF the two nations, was very problem
atical for the future, unless the United States
should take more convenient measures and OF
greater energy than those adopted for long time
past"


The previous correspondence with the Spanish
Commissioners, had worn, in the opinion OF the
Executive, the appearance ola disposition to urge
disagreement, and this last declaration seemed
TO leave no room to doubt it. A special messcn-
ger was therefore immediately dispatched to
Madrid, with instruction to the American Com
missioners to require such explanations from the
Government of that country, as would clearly
ascertain its intentions in this respect, While
these explanations were expected, the representa-
tives Of the Spanish Crown at Philadelphia, per-
ceiving the impression which their last commu-
nication had made, endeavored to abatc it by pro-
LESSONS of conciliatory character. (Marshatl.)


The instructions to the American Commission
ers at Madrid extended to the subject of the nav-
CATION of the Mississippi. They were directed
to insist on the right of the United States to the
free navigation of that river, and to extend their
Southern limits to North latitude 80. The claim
to extend so far South, was founded on ancient
charters, and the settlement of the line between
Georgia and West Florida by the royal proclama-
ton of October, 1853


Their right to navigate the Mississippi was
claimed


|. Under the Treaty OF Paris in 1863


9. Under the Treaty OF Peace in 1923.


3. By the law of nature and nations.


MIR. Gardoqui, who had been NJ mister to the
United States in 1855, was appointed negohator
on the part of Span. When pressed, in the
course Of the negotiation, the subject Of limits
and navigation, he assured the American Com.
missioners, as he had said in 1885, that the right
of the United States to navigate the Mississippi,
would never be yielded by his Catholic Majesty.
AS to limits, he declared the ri ght of SPAN to
the country possessed by her, North of the thirty.
first degree of North latitude, rested on her con-
quest of it as territory originally belonging 10
Great Britain; or if it was not a part OF West
Florida, he intimated that Spain, until she had
acknowledged the independence of the United
States, had right to make conquests within
their limits.


This important negotiation remained in this
situation until Spain joined the coalition against
France, and entered into a treaty with Great
Britain. By this treaty she also engaged to take
every measure in her power to distress the trade
of France; and for this purpose to prevent neu-
trail powers from atfording any protection TO
French commerce and property


In consequence OF this Americ commerce
became the prey of Spanish as well as British
cruisers and new subjects OF complaint enga-
ged the attention of the American Commission.
crs at the Court of Madrid. (Pitkln.)


From the above and preceding statements IN
these sketches, II will be noticed that IN the tirS,
wear of President Washlngton's second term, the
foreign relations OF the United States, not only
with Great Britain and France, but also with
Spain, were in critical situation, requiring al
the wisdom and discretion of the administration
10 avoid involving the nation III the wars of Eu-
rope, which at that Tune, when the country was
Just recovering from the effects OF the Revolu-
tionary war, would have been disastrous in the
extreme. Added to these troubles, We're the rava-
ses of the A!gerines upon our commerce, and the
wars with several Indian tribes on our frontiers


Whllethe President was eXerting himSelftoaver'
these calamites and prevent a Foreign War, he


was threatened with a Civil War at home. W,
have mentioned the opposition OF the inhabitant.
of some ofihe counties OF Pennsylvania, West o
The Alcgany Mountains to the laws imposing
duties on domestic spirits. This opposition, not
withstanding all the efforts of Congress and the
Executive TO render the operations OF those law:
as little burdcnsome as possible had been contin
ued ior about three years, and was now carrie,
on 10 such length, us seriously TO put at hazar,