,.
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.. - -..-'4-_.¢¢éa.--.._...-"..-.-... _...- ....
.a
I
r
1,-,.0,,, mg Jv‘e-w-A York Daily fldvcrtzscr.
A botik was publisliedin England, in the course
~ nt ear bya ._
Pf thii bf a,Mission from the British es-
o- 3 .
:.n[?1i5hment at Cape Coast, on the coast of Africa,
a ,1 kin dom of Asliantee, situate about. “50
to.l 16 .n1cu‘]gd vrhis, it seems, was the fil‘Sl
fhll tepliis -nation of Africans had ever. been. visited
b a ' dlized inert, and the account oftlicir‘ cus-
ty cmii-tuners and g°"°mme“t‘ from the speci-
§:(i$iss,(il"t1ie work that we have seen; must be ve-
,- am“--i.,g and instructive. _
Y The 3AbTl2\l‘t[eeS are 3 P"“'°'f“l’ w""'m‘e people’
ovemed by 3 despotic sovereign ; and they ex-
jz-b-t .ome 5,,-iking evidences of wealth and luxu-_
nv ‘mingled with the utmost barbarism. The
f)’. I “’ , t to Coomassie, which is the capital
Mission tien _ , .
of the kjn.,.d(,,,,, This place was supposed by the
- F.‘-' . .
inhabitants to contain lO0,00Q peX‘_b0I]S; but the
-. 1. , who composed this Mission conclu-
-- I " _ ‘ , d ‘ f ‘-
d d that in inaking this Csllmalea the)’ ha ‘C 3‘
e ' hey "assembled on some
ence to seasons when t _
grrcat occasioii, rather than pemianent residents,
-3 ‘ . "
,- .. ~-. t1::O0O. Uion
‘which they irnagined were rbouoo , ofle “just
~,._,,,39ing 1;, they were met by 50 pe | , _
bf them wa“.im.b.’ ammdcd by a great variety ol
' itial music and dressed in a V ‘Y C-\'”“‘°”lma"
. . . ,
nld ’l‘he Officers “lore 3-‘Var cap, 01113‘
ry manner. , .
A ted with gilded rams’ horns in front, and im-
men " eatliers on the sides ;
. 2
' lorries ol eagles f _ _ _
riwjfiicgt was of red sloth, covered with fellishes.
tr‘): rsdppmres in gold and silver; they had small
a ' . . , ,
brass bells, the horns and tails ofanimals, and “W8
leonards’ tails hung down their backs 9 the)’ had
100:6 Comm n_0we,.s (much such, we presume, as
our dandies wear) with boots of red leather‘: C01“-
i,,g'- half up the thigh,and fastened by small chains
1-,] if waist hep . they were ornamented with
, 7
jjojj e1§0,»3¢s’ tails, string»; of amulets, and shreds
C 5 ‘ i i ' u u
of lcaitliet‘ 3 3 (l“i"*”‘ of P°‘5°"ed fmuws hung
from mail. pig}-,, wrist, and they held a long iron
‘ 1 in between their teetlr,aiid a spear was in their
cia , . _ 3
left ,m,,d___. Sm;-3 3 fig-ui‘t:, will‘! their black laces,
made ,, U-. ly forinidahle appezu‘aI‘-C6-
.,.heS..',,,,,,,,te oiactitze the most extensive, lu-
lj111naI),~ittt:.l shoickirig human sacrifices. This
takes Fjace more particularly at the death ofgieat
pc,.S(,,,a..-es; The King, at his mother s (168111:
'dCt 'ficeDd "000 Victims The manner is as cruel
s- '2 u '
as the custom i.s__r iabolical. _
Among [his nation, the arts have made ‘consid-
erablti l)ro‘§1'ess. Tl“—‘Y We a loom tuundejj
- ' ' °. - v " i ll‘ an
on the same principles witli the B13 :bi;e of
the hneness,_ ‘<'llCl,v’7 _blllll‘‘''[_CY ‘“ _ VI 1
their cloths is astonishing. llrcytpalnt \\ 11 6
‘- ' . ' ‘ , , . . « - - jcan
cloths not melcg.ur_tly,5.is fast as all uropeai
._’-,“.i,c They excel in pottery, and are good gold-
Qmrtr.-;'. The §?.ins.’5 SW95» bl‘-""'P"‘“’ "°."°°'*
vveiglits and pine-tongs were neatly made ol the
pmfest gold J:-fie appbarecl to be almost .58 years
of age-—-his u'iatiiaers were majestic but courte-
ous,'and his dress was mjagnificent. He Wore 21
age, of aggry beads about his temples.had_a neck-
, ' ’ -.z e ls and over his l‘l rht
Lice of gold cock -pur s ,_ K __ , Es
shoulder a red sill; cord. suspending three Sal)’
phires cased in rrold--hi:; bracelets were of the
1) . .
richest mizi-l'tut':c of beads and gold 3 his cloth was
of dark 'g.‘.ecn ; his l{I}CC-b'cln(l‘S Of ftggry.
beads, his a,,c1,,.gmngs of gold ornamerirs, of the
most delicate worltmzttisliip, and his sandals of a
soft white leather, embossed af:.r'oss,tlie‘1ris.tep
band with small gold and silver cases of sappl).l|‘='-
He was seated on a low chair, richlyornariiented
with gold and silver cases of: 5aPPh‘1'e—.lh€ belts
of his guards were cased in gold: a"_d C0‘?-"Cd
with small jaw bones of the same metal. _1i‘ilS eu.
much wore only one mossy piece of gold, _dbn‘_ut
his neck. The royal stool, entuely cased in go.d,
was di.-played under a {§[)lCll(ll{l umbrella-zlie
breasts of the attendants were adorned \r=ith_lai~ge
stars, crcsccn-‘.s‘ and gossamer wings of solid gold.
The royal relatives wore gold chajins ‘about their‘
m:Cks_ The Kim.)-’5 tangle was l.1h‘Ill:‘:ll€(l with
massy plate, silver knives, forks, and spoons. .10
abundance, and in the centre a large silver waiter
supporting a i'oas:s:cl pig--and the various cooke-
ry was of an excellent character.
_M;-. Bowditch supposes the number of men in
the 1;ingr_lom, capable of l)eart«.g at-ms, to be pi.
sing ‘200,000—-the clisposalile force to be 150,000--
the‘ whole pop-.il::'..ion to be a million. They have
a daily intwket, supplied with beef, mutton, wild-
hog, deer, monkey’s llesh, fowlsr Yams: Com, SU-
gar-cane, rice, vegetable butter, oranges, pineap-
pies, salt and dried fish, palm-wine, rum, beads,
looking-glasses, sandals, silk, cotton cloth, po\v-
duel-, vi.-trite and blue thread, and calabzishes. The
cattle are as large as English cattle-—the soil pro-
duces t"wo crops in a year-—all the fruits mention-
ed as being in the market, grow spontaneously
‘) I J
and in great abunc_lance—the oranges are very large
and of exquisite flavor; the berry which gives to
' v r of sweets makin r limes taste like
act s the a o a £3 _
honey, is common-—the Castor oil plant rises to
a large tree, and the cotton tree sometimes to 150 A
fee',l_:he government is despotic,freqtiently severe
and oppressive, and, in Ienfojrcing the cttstoms
which have been mentioned, cruel and sangtiina-
ry. They have a sort of legislative body, consis-
ting of the King, four aristocrat1'cal assessors, and
an assembly of Captains, rnak-in‘g their t/ircc es-
tates‘. _ 4 . A ._ _. ,:
'With respect to religion, they believe that
white people are tinder the care ofaj higher SOP!‘
of God, and that the blacks are left to the care of
iiifcrior deities—-thougli they expect that black
kings and black nobility will go to the upper
Gods after death, and enjoy forever_thc luxury
which was their portion on earth’. Hence cooks,
butlers, Etc. are sacrificed on their tombs. They .
have two sorts of priests, one to hold‘ intercourse
with their idols, the other to conjure, tell fortunes,
3$:C- , _ . .
Such is the slight account of this nation of ne-
gt-oes, a race ll]Z.‘.t'llail'C apparently, by the force
of their powers, made considerable advances to-
wards civilization and a regularly organized state,
of society; and who, it would seem, if the prop-
er pains were tal-ten. and the necessary means and
opportunity were afforded, might become awell-
informecl, well-regulated, humane, and christian-
ized people. But, it appears, that the great ob-
stacle to the introduction of the real blessings of
civilized life among them, is that terrible curse,
corru ptor,and desulator of nations-—THE SLAVE
TRADE.—So long as Spain continues‘ the traffic,
nothing can be liopetl tow’ards this object_from
the efforts of those nations who prohibit It.--;
Whllst this mission was there, 1000 slaves left
.1’ : ‘V ' j _ jjé . ! 5" j
:3 the Asliantee countryfor two Spanish 'sch_o
that were upon the coast. If this *«traffic."‘ivje is
once elfectually broken up--and that will never
be, and punished as piracy—there is little hope
that these heathen barbarians, will ecome just
and humane.—-But, it is perfectly apfiarent, from
the example of this people, that there is no ma-
terial defect of bodily or mental powers and capa-
cities in the inliabitants of Africa.
-—-n-‘-2t--n>-—-
rRoM ANGOSTURA.
_ ‘ The schr. Ann 8: Eliza, Capt M’Carter, ar-
rived here night before last from St. Viiicents, and
only 14 days from Angostura; but as Capt. M’C.
But he brings very interesting verbal accounts
ofa very great and bloody action which has been
fought between Gen. Paez and the Royalist ar-
my, 300 miles from that place--in which he in-
forms me, the Spaniards lost cjucry man, amount-
ing to 5000, in killed, wounded, and prisonct's.fi.
Great rejoicings were the order of the_day whl .
he left Guayana, such as ringing of bel§, cannon’
ading, &c. There was an American schi'.‘~' ere
which ought to have sailed the day after this ves-
sel, for St. Thomas, by which we impatiently:‘.wait
to receive the important ollicial account--w _ ,
shall be forwarded to you as soon as re 'vcd.——
This action must have been fought near Calaba-
zo, with the Royalist army of Gen. Morales, who,
with the whole of his forces, must have been an-
nihilated. The evacuation of Carraccas is at
necessary consequence, and the" entrance ol
the Patriot army. Strange as it may appear, we
have not heard a word of the expedition tha,_t;;,sail-
ed from Margarita on the 8th oflast month.°‘True
it is that no vessels have arrived from any quar-
ter that could give us intelligence of its success.’
Buenos ./.1;/res has formally surrendered to Gen.
Carrera, who marched at the head of the Moun-
taineers against them» This civil contest ai'q,se“’
from a difference in political views. The army
ofCarrcra wished for a coufederated governmefi
the other for a consolidated one. All the provi ,1
ces and l0\\nS uere highly dissatisfied with th'_
government of Buenos Ayres, which has hitherto‘
becn a burlesque upull the people’s rights. Tilt:
people of that city, also, wished fora change, and
r'efused to fight against their brothers, as they cal-
led them. It is thought this event will restore
the tranquility of that vast country ; and that the
people will join heart anti hand, to consolidate
that independence which they have so long and
so constantly fuuglit to establish. ‘ ‘We may now
soon expect (says a it tter) to ‘see the important
kingdom of Peru invaded with an overwhelming
army from Buerios Ayres and Chili, as the civil
war must now cease, in consequence of the suc-
cesses of the true friends of the People’s rights.’
-an
Cu/zturr oy"Rz'o dr Id Haciie, by L‘/2ePiatrz'ots.-—Oii
the Ilth March, Brion, with ten armed vessels
and four transports, having on board Gen. Mon-
tilli, of the Independent army, with 1100 men of
the Irish Legion, commanded by Col., O’Conner,-
made their appearance off Rio de la Hache, and
sent in a Bag of truce to demand the surrender-
of the town, when she was fired on and returned.
The next morning a landing was effected by the
whole force, with the loss of two or three men;
must of the inhabitants having retired during the
night to the woods. Shortly after they had been
in possession of the place, they were joined by
800 Indians, equipped on horseback, and a divis-
ion of the army was about proceeding against
Santa Martha.
, I. ——695&--
,The Spanish Minister in London has notified
his c_ountrymen of the decree which allows all
Spaniards abseiit on account of political opinions,
to return home. More than 300,000 Spaniards
were in exile. '
Many Clergy in Spain are among the foremost
in the cause of the, Constitution.
The St. Ja2'2z«'.s C/zroniclc, a paper of respecta-
ble autlior'ity,_gives to the Spanish news, however
important it may be, a more interesting interest,
by the publicationlof the following intelligence:
‘ Vie do not speak from ,light authority when
we state the fact, that.thejneiglil)oring kingdom
of Portugal is forward in its preparations to follow
the example of Spain’, and that the_consolid.trion
of the whole Peninsula into one poo erf-.1 and free
monarchy is at hand. rl‘l‘lliS_i’$’, _we believe, the
first public intimation of the pr‘ol>_al'Jility of air
event, which must exercise an itnpoi-rant influ-
ence upon the fate of Europe." ,, _ ,,
Mad1‘i(l, fl/Iurclz 7.—-i-This day the Grand In-
quisitor received a note in the King’s own hand,
notifying him that his functions had cea's_ed, and
that the Inguzsition no longer c.r.s-ized.‘ I T he In_q‘ui-
siiion at Barcelona has but-n burnt by the mob. _
Cadiz, ]l’IurC/1‘ 24.—'I'lie King is (letermined to
pursue the assassin-. who committed the massa-
sacre in this city, with the utmost vengeance.-'-
He has given orders to have them arrested.
‘.B01‘(11.'(1u.1‘, [Vin-cl: I8.-—I send you the news-
papers, froin which you will perceive that we are
about to be depiiusd of the liberty ofthc press and
person. Party spirit is very high--one of our
newspapers, the Tribune, in the opposition, was
burnt at the '1 heatre on Sunday night, and there
have been several duels in consequence.’
—.._.m'3l$€iI‘%‘3li"Zléj'---—
PROVIDENCE, May 8.
A: most dreadful lire has been raging for sever-
al days,in the woodlands which stretch fromVVest-
port on the sea-coast, to Berkley, Ms. It was
occasioned we understand, by the inadvertance of
a woman in VVestport, who ordered fire to be put
to‘ some robbisli inher garden. The fire made
its wayillirough the garden fence tothe adjoin-
ing field,‘ and from thence with astonishing rapid-
ity to a cedar swamp‘. _ In its progress to the
north-wesit, it had, at the last accotints, (on_Sat-
urday afternoon) reached a" peat swamp in Berk-_
ley, 15‘ miles from the place wh'ere it bégari ; and
had,‘it is said, destroyed‘ seven dwellinghouses,
besides barns. cribs, hay-stacks, Sic. It was con-
sidered beyond liuinan control. The peat in the
Berkley swamp, is said to be very deep; and it
is feared cannot be extinguished without a heavy
rain. An immense body of smoke, in the’ form
of a cloud, whose two extremes touchedithe hori-
zon at its southeast and n'o_rgthw_est points. rose 0-,
ver this town‘ on S'unda'y afternoon, and went oil‘
in a westerly direction.
Extract of a letter‘, dated St. Thomas, ./Jjzril 18. .,
Angostura, he brings neither letters nor papers..."
disnirunn.
_, _ Enuirg, viss.
: ‘ —M=r Channing‘itrtrodti’1 d a bill for a
Mr. Bowdich, contairi- be, until the prosecution of it shall be declared'fo' ipublic act, regulatingsalar-ies %fl]f_C8S. By this
act it is‘propos'ed to reduce tli"”’Cl>mpensation of
members of the Senate, from $3 to $2; that of
members of the House of Representatives, from
82 to $1 59 perday. ’
, A bill authorizing the erection of a public sign
post in each town in the state, was passed. . , _
A bill for a public act (which hail been
duced by Mr. Ster1ing,.) giving the Superior cot-irt
original jurisdictidfiin certain cases, uiiderivept a
second reading. The professed object‘o,f..thef4‘l3ill_
is to diminish litigation, and also to savéiexpen.
ces in certain arses vyhere litigation ispursued.
did not intend coming to this Island when he left Mr. Nat/ran Jo/zn.9’on,*-,"la”‘l'tcr' aj’l'e_iv_ig_bt*i'ef-remarlts
is the importance-and,5liHiculty The subject,
moved that a committee be raisfi , to consist of
. V eral of the most able and exp-r°"\,t‘:iiced jurists
in the house, tofliom the _spbjQot might be re-
jjoiged fot"1,_c%isi‘j_ "ation'.~ ‘V ..
, ut of this motion grew a desultory fine of
considerab1e_leqgtliji‘ in wliirli M€ssr"§_:« Ste ’. g‘;
_:_lnge_:j;f§oll§,j 256,3, Merwin, N. Johpsori, Cue nd
urrows p“2ir’t‘icipafe(l. The motion was finally
negatived, and the bill. postponed \te_:,a tl_tii:d.?'_iead-
ing. it - *'
1:’ Th if j .1 to enlarge the jurisdiction of Justices
was t ”"§alled up, and passed to a seconil read-
-'-—"allows an appeal in all cases-‘lwhere the sum in
demand shall cqtceed $20-—where the amount of
debtbor damages démandetl shall exceed $10, an"
assistant justice may be called in. The compen-
sation of each justice, for trying every action, is
placed at 50 cents—-questions irivolvin . the title
of lands, to be,.di;spo_“;“"‘,'A of as under th'e'.’old law.]
Mr. C/1u?'c/zE ' vv uldbrielly stattf-tlie mo-
tives which indu ed hihirllo introduce this bill. It
was intended to sa e expense now incur-re'd
in litigating small :5
nected he us "up. The costs on such
cases e- I efor the“-‘County Courts, as much
a,§,tl_ie;Vlwere_on larger claims. lfjustice, could,
-as‘ proposed by the hill under consideration, be
«brought to our; wn Aorsl, it would be better for
lfiants‘, thp Se ubjdcted to the expense of
. ravel to attend courts in county towns. There
was no more dangdr to be apprehended from iii-
creasing the jurisdiction of justices to $30 now,
than there was from the old law, that placed it at
$15. The docketsof our county courts are en-
cumbered by a multitude ofsmall czises, which too
often serve only to enhance the expeiices of par-
ties. delay the progress of actions, and waste the
time of all who are called from their business to
attend the trials. Indeed, the expense of prose-
cuting small suits before the county courts, in
litigated cases, amounted to a denial ofjusiice ; in
such cases, the plaintiff had better throw his claim
int the fire. But, justices now have the power
of awarding judgment to as large an amount, on
bonds and notes attested by two witnesses, as they
will have in the cases included by the provisions
of this law. VVhy not then allow them the juris-
diction proposed, with liberty to either party to
appeal in cases provided for by the bill ? On this
subject, we have the experience of our ancestors
in our favor.—'l‘lte plaintiff, under the present
system, may select his own Justice. It is not
uncommon for him to bring his action before a
man who, however acceptable to him, may not
possess the entire confidence of his adversary.—-
To_reniedy this, and to secure to both parties a
tribunal which shall meet the approbation ofeach,
and in-su_re,a fair‘ trial, the bill permits the defen-
dant to insist on an‘ associate justice in certain ca-
ses. ,_ j .
Mr. Jo/irzsorz ivasiii favour of the general pro-
visions of the bill, but wished it might be refer-
red -to a committee; as were also Messrs. Bur-
rows and Cue. A motion for referring was made
and negatived, and the bill was continued for a
third reading. ' _ _ __ _ ;.
A bill to allow the Governor a Secretary, to
keep an Executive Journal, was read for the first
time. _ , ,_ , _ _
The bill relating to mill seats, which was con-
tinued from last session, was lost. 4, ,
M’ay 8.—Mr. Channing’s resolution to reduce
the compensation of members, was read a second
time, and postponed to make room for one from
Mr. Alsop, appointing a committee to inquire in-
to the expediency ofreducing the salaries and fees
of the Legislature and of the officers of the State.
Mr. .-‘tls'op’s resolves passed, and a committee of
one from each’ county appointed to investigate the
subject proposed. '
Mr. Johnson introduced a resolve for a com-
mittee to regulate the fees and emoluments of
judges and clerks ofprobate—stating that to some
of the duties of those oliices, there was no definite
compensation affixed by law. The resolve was
adopted, and a committee of three appointed.
Mr’. Johnson laid on the table a resolve for a
committee to inquire into the subject of support-
ing state paupers. It was referred to a commit-
tee of one from each county. Mr. Pettibone in-
troduced aj resolve for a committee to take into
consideration the subject of Agriculture, which
was also réfei"red toa committee of one from each
county. .
The report of the revision of the Statutes of
the State, were referred to a select committee.
A resolve for the encouragement of domestic
manufactures, r'econiin'endi'ng their use to the
citizens of this and of other states, gave rise to
sundry patriotic observations from several gentle-
men ; the resolve was sanctioned by the general
approbation of the House. ~
The bill increasing the jurisdiction of Justices
of the Peace, was resumed, and again created
some discussion. Mr. Ingersoll maintained that
the provisions ofthe bill were opposed to the _Con-
stitution of the United States,‘ and of this State.
The Constitution, (said he)’ guarantees the trial
by jury, and provides that it shall be preserved
inviolable. VVhat trial he would ask, is here de-
signated ? VVould_gentlemen contend for a‘ prin-
ciple so arbitrary ? To understand the meaning
of the Constitution, we mu'st revert to the laws
wliicli existed, and to the state of trials by jury
at the time of adopting‘thatinstrument. At that
time the jurisdiction of the Jnsti'i':es of the Peace
was limited at fifteen dollars. All cases overthat
amount, withjthe exception of notes and bonds‘,
vouched by two‘ witnesses,‘ might be laid immedi-
ately before rt jury. The framers of the Consti-
tution certainly did not intend to abridge this
-right; they meant to secureit. This law,.if pas-
ing‘. [This bill extends tlicii_;jt1risdiction to
ductioifby other Legislatures, for a train of inno-
vations, involying serious consequencesjri If the
right of depljfiziiig the people of a trial by jury
‘for the sumioffiventy or of seventeen dollars be
assumed, there is no saying where it would stop.
If the Legislature can"‘do it‘-_",i_‘;I',i"this, they can do it
in any other in_s,t,ance, and proceed until they.
reach the supremecourt. However anxious he
might be to render justice clieaper, and amelior-
ate the condition of the people; and he believed
on this subject he would go as far as any man ;
yet he could not consent to make it clieaper than
the Constitution had made it. For these reasons
he was opposed to the bill in its present shape.
Messrs. Swift, Denison, and Alsop, also oppos-
posed it:Ql) the principle ttliljll Mr. Inger‘sol]...[he
unconstitutionality of the raw; and Mr. Bur-rows
supported it on the same grounds \\ hich Mr,
Chu.rcl_r a_ssumed. Some amendments were made,
the 2d, 3d and 4th sections stricken otit, and the
blljlfyvas laid upon the table for further considera-
‘ JVOt€.——_T!] addition to the proceedings of the le-
gislature contained in the above sketch, the house
of.reprcsentatives have acted on the following
;l5'ill5. 2.
A bill to enable Courts of Probate to oréler the
sale of real estate of minors, without limitation of
the aniountfiivas passed to a third reading.
The bill toiregulaie the recovery of damages
°“ lfills °ft“-.1‘-3- .S°_‘l' , read asecond time, and
pasded for V ir:d re-adifir. .,
The bill"‘e l:Cl]flIllg_lllc jurisdiction of the Su-
perior C‘$'tfI’=).'§ after some discussion, passed;
The Sign post ill was returned from the Sen.
ate with a different vote, and a committee of con.
fcrence was appointed.
The bill on marriages, ititroducedby Mt'.Chan.
ning, passed with some amendments.
A committee was appointed, on motion of Mr.
Coe,to examiiietlielaws on attach nient,and report.
The committee on the Ohio and Pen-nsyltania
Resolves, recommending an amendmtnt of the
Constitution of the U. States, to prevent the r..’c.-.;-
tion of branches of the U. S. Bank in airy state,
reported that such alteration was not expedient.
The report was accepted without debate.
The following are among the comniittees ap-
pointed :
On tlze communicatz'rm_/ram Virgz'nz°a--Inge;-5011,
Pitkin and Beers. On Salaries ¢17zd1"c’c’S---Lull‘tcl'
Loomis, D. M. Cook, Brewster, Graves, Skinner,
Austin, M. VVilcox and Sibley. On ’1'axatz'an.~_.
Foote, lngersoll, VVarren, Tweedy. Keyes, Me;-..
win, Coe and C. VVilley. On that /tart oj z/zc Gui).
er7zor’s sfzerc/r ru/zic/z relates to t/2: bourzdaries be-
tween this State and Massachusetts-—4Swil1, Weld,
and Hitchcock.
The above statement (says the New-Haven Re.-
‘ gister of Sa;urday,) comprizes all the legislative
proceedings of general interest up to the present
time.
_ _ --1:-9:3-é>‘—
0117? relations =wz't/z Sfraz'7z.-—-The following Mes-
sage was, on Tuesday, tr-ansmitfed to bothiHous—
es of Congress, by the President oftlic U. States.
To the Senate and Haas-c q/'1'i’e_/zrcsc7ztatz'ves qf‘
the U/zinc! -5"-.‘atcs.
I comi‘nun'icate to Congress a correspondence
which has taken place between the Secr;.t_ary of
State and the Envoy Extraordinary_ and Minister
Plenipotentiary of His Catholic Majesty, since
the message of the 27th _March last, respecting-
the treaty, which was_ concluded between the U.
States and Spain, on the 22d Feb. l8l9.
After the failure of His, Catholic Majesty for,
so long a time to ratify the treaty, it was expect-
ed ihat this Minister would have broughtwith
him tlieratification, or that (he would have been
authoi'i:ied to give air order for the delivery of the
‘territory coded by it, to the United States. It
appears, however, that the treaty is still unratili-
ed, and that the Minister has no authority to sur-
render the territory. The object of his mission
has been, to make complaints, and to demand ex-
planations, respecting aii imputed system of lios-
tility, on the partof citizens of the United States,
against the subjects and dominions of Spai‘n,'and
an ur*>friendly_,policy in their Government, and to
Obtain W-fW,SIiPl3l't1tiUnS, against these alleclged in-'
jurics_,_as the cpndit_ion on which the treaty should
be ratified. ‘Unexpected as such complaints-
and such a tIt:ln2A!n(_l’ were, under existing cir-
cum_stances, it was thought proper, without cum.
promitting the government as to the course to
be pursued, to meet them pror'np_tly, and_ to give
the expla'nations_that were desired, on every sub‘.
ject, with the utmost candor. The result has pro-
ved, what was sufficiently well known before, that
the charge of systematic hostility, being adopted"
and pursued by citizens of the U. States, against
the dominions and subjects of Spain, is utterly
destitute offoundation, and that their government;
in all its branches, has maintained, with the ut.
most rigor,that neutra1ity,in the civil war between
Spain and her colonies, which they were the first
to declare. No force has been collected, nor in.
cursions made, from within the U. States, against
the dominions of Spain; nor have any naval e-
quipments been permitted, in favor of either par-.4
ty against the other. Their citizens have been
warned of the obligations incident to the neutral
condition of their country; the public oflicers
have been instructed to see that the laws were ful-
ly executed ; and severe examples have been
made of some who violated them.
In regard to the stipulation proposed, as the
condition of the ratification of the treaty, that the
U. States shall abandon the right to recognize the
Revolutionary colonies in S. America, or to form
other relations with them,when in their judgment:
it may be just and expedient so to do, it is mani-
festly so repugnant to the honor, and even to the
independence of the U. States, that it has been
impossible to discuss it. In making this propo.
sal, it is perceived that His Catholic Majesty has
entirely mis-conceived the principles on which
this government has acted, in being a party to a
negociation so long‘ protracted, for claims so well
founded and reasonable, as he likewise has the
sa‘crifices_whic'li the U. States have made, com-
paratively, with Spain, in fire treaty to which in
is proposed to annex so extraordinary and im.
proper a éondition.
Had the Minister of Spain offered an unquati-
fied pledge that the treaty should be ratified by
his sovereign, or‘: "J:-in‘g made acquainted with the
expl'anaiions which had beengiven by this govern.
merit, there would have been a strong mutivc for
accepting and submittingit to the Senate for their
' 1""? “ I . .1‘. II I ‘ .3 ‘ii’: I. '.
scd, wopjld be but an entering wedge for the intro‘-
l
Norwalk Chronicler