Prussia, Hamburgh, and Bremen. The certificate which accompanied the letter of March 3, 1817, from the Senate of Hamburgh, (testifying that, in the city and port of Hamburgh, American ships, their loading and importations, are perfectly treated on the same footing as, and in every respect equalized with, our own Hamburgh ships, their loading and importations, in regard to the custom-house and all other duties and tonnage,) I had the honor to transmit to the Department of State, and afterwards delivered the duplicate in person. This, I understood at the time, was fully satisfactory, and wanted only the determination of his excellency the President of the United States to entitle the city of Hamburgh to the privileges prescribed in the act of Congress under date of March 3, 1815. of mercantile States, in order to raise us again to ter of the 11th of the same month, conveying to our former useful importance. It will be an ob- ine the exequator as Consul General for the Reject of our greatest care to improve our friendly public of Hamburgh. At the same time, I took relations with the Government of the United the liberty to renew my application to be inStates, and nothing would give us more satisfac-formed from your department of the determination than the mercantile intercourse which con- tion of his excellency the President of the United nects our town with the United States assuming States relative to the act of Congress of March the greatest importance, and resting upon the 3, 1815, as far as it may interest the commerce most solid foundation. To promote this desira- with Hamburgh; but till now I still remain ble object, we have, immediately after the reor- without any communication on that subject. ganization of the constitutional Government of this Republic, caused the custom-house laws to be reported, and the duties to be determined as moderate as possible. These custom-house laws, which establish for the inhabitants of the United States, in respect of their ships, goods, and importations, a perfect equality with our own citizens, and the importations under our own flag, have passed and have already been promulgated last year. We are led, however, to dwell upon them at present, and to refer to these laws, the board of trade of this place having called our attention to an act of Congress dated the 3d of March, entitled "An act to repeal so much of the several acts imposing duties on the tonnage of ships and vessels, and on goods, wares, and merchandise imported into the United States, as im- I observe now a proclamation, under date of poses a discriminating duty on tonnage between the 24th of July last, on the same subject, relaforeign vessels and vessels of the United States, tive to the Hanseatic city of Bremen, which inand between goods imported into the United duces me to a renewal of my application to give States in foreign vessels and vessels of the Uni-the same relief to the trade and navigation of ted States;" desiring we might give to your excellency the assurance required by the said act of Congress of the 3d of March. To this effect we certify to your excellency by these presents: That, by virtue of the existing laws of Hamburgh, and particularly the custom-house laws, the American ships, their loading and importations, are not subject in our city and its ports to any higher duties on the tonnage and on the goods than our own Hamburgh ships, their loading and importations; and beg leave to request that your excellency may please to order that the trade and navigation of this city, as much as respects German produce and manufactures, may be relieved from the additional burdens which have till now been exacted, and that they may be admitted to the same privileges which have been bestowed on the trade and navigation of other nations in amity with the United States. We have the honor to sign, with the sentiments of high consideration and respect, your excellency's most obedient servants, the Burgomasters and Senate of the free Hanseatic city of Hamburgh, WILHELM AMSINCK, Burgomaster, President. T. H. HEÏSED, Secretary. Given the 13th of November, 1815. Mr. Buck to the Secretary of State. Hamburgh. In expectation of a speedy, favorable reply, I have the honor to remain, with great consideration, sir, your most obedient servant, C. N. BUCK, Consul General from Hamburg. Hon. JOHN Q. ADAMS. Mr. Buck to the Secretary of State. HAMBURGH CONSUL GENERAL'S OFFICE, Philadelphia, Jan. 23, 1819. SIR: Since I last had the honor of conferring with you on the subject of the commercial relations between the free and Hanseatic city of Hamburgh and the United States of America, further advices have been received by me; in consequence of which, I take the liberty of addressing this letter to you. I am instructed, sir, by the Senate of Hamburgh to express to you that they have received the communication of the President's proclamation of the 1st August, A. D. 1818, by which all discriminating duties on the tonnage and merchandise of the respective States are abolished; that the Senate of Hamburgh also derive the highest satisfaction from the manifestation of liberal and amicable dispositions on the part of the United States to their republic, and that the continuation of those friendly dispositions will always be duly appreciated by them. HAMBURGH CONSULATE GENERAL, But I am also instructed by the Senate of Philadelphia, August 1, 1818. Hamburgh to represent to you, sir, that the conSIR: Under date of the 25th May last, I had cluding part of the proclamation of the President, the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your let-in which it is stated that the aforesaid discrimi Prussia, Hamburgh, and Bremen. nating or countervailing duties on merchandise imported "are repealed, so far as the same respect the produce or manufacture of the said free and Hanseatic city of Hamburgh," has given to the Senate of Hamburgh sincere cause of objection and regret, as they cannot but perceive in the said modification a most injurious operation in relation to their carrying trade and peculiar interests, and which would, in its necessary tendency, almost destroy totally the basis on which the Senate of Hamburgh determined on the abolition of all discriminating or countervailing duties, and would almost entirely exclude their shipping from the ports of the United States. This objection, sir, is considered by the Senate of Hamburgh as being further strengthened, by perceiving that the more favorable stipulation has been entered into by the United States, in relation to the same subject, with the Government of the Netherlands; the injurious consequences of which the Senate of Hamburgh are most sensibly aware of. In addition, sir, I take the liberty of communicating to you that I am instructed by the Senate of Hamburgh to have a conference with you on the above subject, and to receive from the Government of the United States a statement of their views and decisions in relation to the same. I consequently take the liberty to request of you that the subject of the above communication will be laid before the President of the United States, with a hope that the Congress of the United States will pass an act that will meet the views of the Senate of Hamburgh, to extend to them the privilege that such goods, produce, and manufactures, as most usually are first shipped from Hamburgh, may be considered as their native productions, when imported in Hamburgh vessels in the ports of the United States. With great consideration, I have the honor to renew to you, sir, the assurances of my particular respect, and, in the expectation of your answer, I remain, with great regard, sir, your most obedient servant, C. N. BUCK, Consul General of Hamburg in the U. S. Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Secretary of State, U. S. BREMEN. upon goods in Bremen vessels. The collector of this port appears to be decidedly of opinion that the Treasury Department, by the act of Congress of the 3d March, 1815, is fully authorized to give the desired construction to that law, and direct the collectors accordingly. The request of the Bremen Government being founded upon equity and justice, the Senate of Bremen was confident in the hope that it would be granted by the American Government without delay. I did not think it necessary to proceed again to Washington for the purpose of communicating with you in person on a subject which I understand required no further discussion. However, if it is not acceptable I should address you in writing, I beg to be instructed, and I shall do myself the honor to wait upon you at Washington. With the highest consideration, I remain, sir, your very humble servant, H. D. WICHELHAUSEN. Hon. JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, Secretary of State. The Burgomasters and Senators of the Free Hanse Town of Bremen to the President of the United States: SIR: We have been informed by Mr. Wichelhausen, who had the honor to present to your excellency our letter of the 20th January, 1818, of the proclamation you were pleased to issue on the 24th July last, for the purpose of giving effect to the act of Congress of 3d March, 1815, in favor of Bremen vessels entering American ports. By this formal equalization of duties, and the simultaneous reimbursement of such as have been paid since the 12th of May, 1815, so far as they exceed the equalization decreed by law, the American Government has given a new and signal proof of that spirit of justice which characterizes its proceedings. We offer to your excellency our sincere acknowledgments for this evidence of your good will towards us, and for your favorable reception of our fellow-citizen, Mr. Wichelhausen. We presume, however, that your excellency will not hesitate to direct that the provisions of the act of the 3d March, 1815, be made applicable to such products and manufactures as, by the general course of trade carried on here, are exported from our port. The very terms of that SIR: I had the honor of addressing you on the act, referring the products or manufactures of the 2d and 28th of December, 1818, to which, how-nation to which the foreign vessels belong, seem ever, I have not been favored with an answer. Mr. Wichelhausen to the Secretary of State. BALTIMORE, Jan. 26, 1819. I understand the collector of this port received yesterday a letter from the Treasury Department, stating circulars would be issued in a few days to give directions that Swedish vessels should be put on the same footing with American vessels, and that goods in Swedish vessels should pay no more duty than goods in American vessels. Permit me to hope that this opportunity will be seized by the Treasury Department to include the necessary instructions respecting the duty most clearly to designate articles of the growth or industry of Germany, as composed of a body of States, of which Bremen forms an integral part, and to stipulate the equalization of duties in favor of such goods, when exported in Bremen vessels. The treaty concluded with the Government of the Netherlands, extending the equalization of duties to such produce or manufactures as can only be, or most usually are, first shipped from a port or place in the Kingdom," &c., as well as the tenor of the American act of naviga Relations with Spain. tion of 1st May, 1817, seem to remove all doubt as to a correspondent application of the act of Congress to goods shipped from our port. The first of these points is, that the direct and official relations between Spain and the United States having been broken off since the year 1808, It is only in this view that the object of the act the affairs of both nations, as well as their respeccan be attained of removing all the obstacles tive frontiers, should now be placed in the same which have hitherto obstructed the commerce of state and situation in which they were at that the Americans with foreign nations. It appear period; and that, in conformity to this principle, ing to be highly interesting to both nations to the part of West Florida which the United States favor, as much as possible, the trade carried on took possession of during the glorious insurrecbetween the American ports and that of Bremen, tion of Spain, and have retained until this day, we have submitted to your excellency the evi- should be restored to His Catholic Majesty. dences of our sincere desire to grant the most spe- This just and conciliatory measure, at the same cial favors to the American commerce, and we time that it will convince the King, my master, therefore flatter ourselves that we shall receive of the purity and sincerity of the sentiments of the most unqualified proof of the establishment of the American Government, and of their disposithat reciprocity which forms the avowed_princi-tion to arrange and terminate amicably the sevple of the wise policy of the American Govern-eral points of negotiation, will not in the least ment-a policy eminently calculated to render impair the right which it may believe it has to their country prosperous and happy. the whole or a part of the territory occupied, since it will remain subject, exactly as it was before its occupation, to a frank and friendly discussion between the two Governments. With these sentiments, inspired by a full and entire confidence, we recommended anew to your excellency the interest of our city; and we renew to you the assurances of the very high consideration with which we have the honor to be, sir, Your Excellency's most devoted Burgomasters and Senators of the free Hanse Town of Bremen. GEORGE DE GRONING, Burgomaster presiding. SPAIN. INDEMNIFICATION-LIMITS-FLORIDA. - The second point is as simple and obvious as the first, and I will treat of it with that confidence with which I ought to be inspired by the indisputable justice of my importunity, the justification of the American Government, and the importance of the affair. It is known to you, and is universally public and notorious, that a factious band of insurgents and incendiaries continue with impunity, in the province of Louisiana, and especially in New Orleans and Natchitoches, the uninterrupted system of raising and arming troops to light the flame of revolution in the kingdom of New Spain, and to [Communicated to the Senate, February 22, 1819.] rob the pacific inhabitants of the dominions of To the Senate of the United States: the King, my master. The invasion of the internal provinces, the horrible assassinations comI transmit to the Senate a treaty of amity, set-mitted in San Antonia de Bexar, and the names tlement, and limits, between the United States of the perfidious perpetrators of such unheard-of of America and His Catholic Majesty, concluded crimes, have acquired the publicity which great and signed this day, for the decision of the Sen-crimes always will acquire. All Louisiana has ate as to its ratification. Copies of the corre spondence between the Secretary of State and the Minister from Spain, connected with this subject, since the renewal of the negotiation, are likewise enclosed. FEBRUARY 22, 1819. JAMES MONROE. Translation of a letter from the Minister of Spain to the Secretary of State. WASHINGTON, Dec. 30, 1815. SIR: The diplomatic relations between the King, my master, and the United States, being happily restored, and both Governments being disposed mutually to strengthen the ties of the most pure and perfect friendship, it is my duty to inform the President of whatever may contribute to so desirable an object, and remove the obstacles which may prevent it. On the important points on which this note must turn, I have written to you under other circumstances less favor. able than the present. I will now confine myself to a plain and simple explanation of them. witnessed these armaments; the public enlistments, (los enganches publicos;) the transportation of arms; the junction of the insurgents, and their hostile and warlike march from the territory of this Republic against the possessions of a friendly and neighboring Power. Neither threats, nor the laws, nor the indignation of well-disposed citizens, nor even the proclamation of the Presistrain these highway robbers, have been sufficient dent of the 1st of September last, intended to reto stop their nefarious plans. On the contrary, they prosecute them with the greatest ardor and rancor, more and more exasperated at seeing the glorious triumphs of the Spanish nation, the adhesion of his subjects to an adored monarch, and the approaching re-establishment of the relations between our respective nations. It is known to me that they are now enlisting in New Orleans men for other expeditions, both by land and water, to invade again the dominions of His Catholic Majesty, under the direction of ringleaders Jose Alvarez de Toledo and Jose Manuel de Herrera, who has just arrived in that city with the appoint ment (as he says) of Minister to the United States Relations with Spain. under whose jurisdiction it has been executed, that they may give him competent satisfaction, with a knowledge of the act, by causing the delinquents to be punished as guilty of high treason against both Governments. from the self-styled Mexican Congress, who has delivered to Toledo fifteen hundred commissions in blank from that body of insurgents, that he may confer them on a like number of officers which he is recruiting in the territory of this Union. I omit mentioning to you other innu- The third and last point is reduced to this: that merable acts of this kind, which prove the pub- the President will be pleased to give the neceslicity of these armaments, and the impunity with sary orders to the collectors of the customs not to which they continue. I will confine myself to admit into the ports of the United States vessels stating to you that the most common practice of under the insurrectionary flag of Carthagena, of nations, and the authority of the best writers on the Mexican Congress, of Buenos Ayres, or of public law, would give a right to the King, my the other places which have revolted against the master, to require of this Government to deliver authority of the King, my master, nor those comup these traitors as incendiaries, enemies of all ing from them; that they should not permit them social order, and disturbers of the peace of his to land, or to sell in this country, the shameful subjects; but as the object of my Sovereign is not proceeds of their piracy or atrocities, and much to avenge himself of these banditti, but to shield less to equip themselves in these ports, as they his subjects against their barbarity, I confine my- do, for the purpose of going to sea, to destroy and self to asking of you to obtain of the President to plunder the vessels which they may meet with orders for the prosecution of the principal persons under the Spanish flag. This tolerance, subverconcerned in this sedition, that is to say: Jose sive of the most solemn stipulations in the treaAlvarez de Toledo, Anaya, Ortez, the self-styled ties between Spain and the United States, and minister Manual de Herrera, Doctors Robinson diametrically opposed to the general principles and Humbert, Majors Piere and Preire, and their of public security and good faith, and to the laws followers; that they may be punished with all the of nations, produces the most melancholy effects rigor which the laws prescribe in cases of this on the interest and the prosperity of the subjects kind; that the troops which they have raised of His Catholic Majesty. Certain it is that neimay be disarmed and dispersed, and that the ne- ther Carthagena, nor any other place in the cessary measures be taken to prevent, in future, Spanish dominions in this hemisphere, which has these evil spirits from having an opportunity of revolted, can be in communication with any pursuing their designs, and attempting to com- Power friendly to Spain, since neither on its part, promit the good intelligence which subsists be- nor on that of any other Government, has their tween our respective Governments. The Presi-independence been acknowledged; and it is, condent cannot but have seen with sensibility as well the total want of effect of his proclamation of the lenient measures which he had adopted against these criminals, who boast of recognising no law, subordination, or moral principle, as the protection and support which they have received, and do receive, from the authorities at New Orleans, contrary to his express orders. His Excellency, as he is encharged by this Republic with watching over its security and the observance of its The three preceding points are of such estabtreaties and laws, cannot but consider himself lished equity and justice, that it would be offenauthorized to restrain the projects and hostile sive to the delicacy of this Government to supmeasures of a set of adventurers who make open pose that it could delay, under any pretext, to war against a friendly Power from the territory determine on them in the manner I have proof this Confederation, compromitting its tranquil- posed, and which I have an express order to relity and high character, by availing himself of quest (solicitar) in the name of the King, my the means which the Constitution, the laws, and master. The prompt interposition of the Presihis prudence offer to him for obliging these per-dent, that His Majesty may be gratified, would sons to abandon their designs, and to manifest to be a new testimony of his friendly disposition His Catholic Majesty the just indignation with towards Spain; an evident proof that he is dewhich the United States view the hostile plans and the sedition of that band of incendiaries. I am certain that it cannot be concealed from the distinguished talents of the President and yourself, that the point of which I treat is not one under the civil (or municipal) law-in which case my Sovereign must have recourse to the ordinary tribunals-but that it is a manifest and flagrant violation of the most sacred laws which bind together nations mutually, perpetrated by the citizens or residents of the Union, of which the King, my master, gives information, with positive and notorious proofs to the Government sequently, an offence against the dignity of the Spanish monarchy, and against the sovereignty of the King, my master, to admit vessels from such places, manned and commanded by insurgents, and armed in the dominions of this Confederation; particularly as they are all pirates, who do not respect any flag, are justly considered the disgrace of the seas, and are execrated by all nations. termined to put an end to the incalculable extortions and injuries which Spain has suffered for the space of seven years, from the gang of adventurers who have assailed her from the bosom of this Republic; a means of fixing the frank and sincere system of good neighborhood which so much interests both States; and, finally, a sure preliminary to the removal of all the difficulties which may present themselves in the negotiations which ought to terminate all the pending discussions between the two Governments, and to fix forever between them a perpetual and solid friendship. Relations with Spain. If, as I flatter myself, the President gives all the attention which is due to affairs of such transcendent importance, and yields to my solicitations, I can assure his Excellency, and yourself, that there will be nothing which the King, my master, will not be disposed to do to satisfy this Republic, which may be compatible with his dignity and with the interests of his subjects. I renew to you the assurances of my particular respect, and of my constant desire to please you, and pray God to preserve your life many years. LUIS DE ONIS. Hon. JAS. MONROE, &c. Translation which accompanied a note of the 2d January, 1816, from the Chevalier de Onis to the Secretary of State. the Mexican insurgents and those of the internal provinces cease to be furnished, by the citizens of this Republic, with arms, ammunition, and troops. I shall never have the vain presumption to offer you, or the wise Magistrate that is at the head of this Administration, any observations on the consequences that might result against the interests of this Republic by the independence of Spanish America. My wishes are only directed to equal you in moderation, and to re-establish, on the most firm and permanent basis, the relations between our Governments. This sincere desire will, I hope, serve as an apology for me, while I take the liberty to present an hypothesis in this note. I grant, for a moment, that all the Mexican empire erects itself into an independent State; SIR: Since the last note I had the honor to ad- that it adopts the wise Constitution of this Condress you, under date of the 30th December, I federation; establishes a complete system of lehave received positive information that the expe- gislation; and, finally, that it enjoys all the blessdition which the traitor Toledo was preparing in ings of liberty in the same full extent as this ReNew Orleans against the dominions of the King, public. It is beyond question that the climate of my master, has been suspended until the arrival Mexico is more temperate than that of the Uniat that city of two bodies of troops, (one thousand ted States; the soil richer and more productive; men from Kentucky, and three hundred from the productions and fruits more abundant, rich, Tennessee,) commanded by two American citi- and of a superior quality; and that provisions, zens, that were to be united in twenty-four days labor, wood, houses, clothing, &c., are, in conseto the army of the insurgents. I abstain, sir, quence of the mildness and regularity of the clifrom offering to you any observations on a sub- mate, much cheaper than in this country. If this ject of such high importance, and so well estab-event should take place, do you not think, sir, as lished. I am well persuaded that his Excellency I do, that so many alluring prospects, and so the President will easily perceive that if the many evident advantages, will deprive this ReStates of Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, and public of the successive emigrations from Europe, Georgia continue, as they do, allowing their citi- and, what is more, of a very considerable part of zens to commit hostilities against a friendly Pow- the most useful and industrious inhabitants of er, notwithstanding the orders he has issued for this Confederation, who would carry with them dispersing and disarming the gang of desperadoes to Mexico their flour and saw-mills, machines, headed by Toledo, Humbert, Anaya, Bernardo manufactures, their enterprising genius-in a Gutierrez, Istri, Doctor Robinson, Majors Piere word, their general instruction, and all the means and Preire, and their followers, the King, my that actually promote and vivify the commerce master, will have reason to suspect that, if those of these States? I flatter myself that this event meetings are not authorized by the Government, will not happen; but I am fully convinced that they are at least tolerated. All the assurances I the consequences of this hypothesis can be demay give to my Sovereign of the friendly dispo- monstrated almost with a mathematical certainsitions of his Excellency the President will not ty; and that if the citizens of Kentucky, Tennessuffice, when compared with the evident proofs I see, Louisiana, and Georgia, should reflect deeply had the honor to communicate to you in this and on this subject, far from giving any aid to those my former note; particularly when His Majesty vagabonds, greedy of the acquisition of gold, and is well convinced of the resources and authority regardless of the happiness of their country, they of the Federal Government, and the promptitude would unite themselves with the authorities of with which their orders are strictly observed in the King, my master, to punish that gang of perthe whole Union. I do not entertain any appre- fidious traitors that hide themselves in these hension of the result of the expedition of these States with the criminal design of devastating incendiaries. The European wars being termi- their country. I hope, sir, you will have the nated, His Majesty will be able to direct all his goodness to overlook this digression, to which I attention, and his powerful armies, to stifle at have been carried by my warm desire of strengthonce the growth of that insurrection; but the ening the most perfect friendship between the philanthropic heart of my Sovereign, the hu- two nations, and to inform his Excellency the manity by which he is distinguished, and which President that the orders I claim in His Catholic constitutes the character of the Spanish nation, Majesty's name, directed to the trial and punishinduce him to wish to re-establish order among ment of the ringleaders of those armies, and to the seduced rather by mildness than by the force the prohibition of exporting arms of any kind of arms, which cannot be effected without the from this country to the provinces, against my effusion of the blood of his beloved subjects. Sovereign's authority, are of the greatest importThis object cannot fail to be obtained as soon as ance, and are supported by the existing treaty of 15th CoN. 2d SESS.-52 |