Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

ALMANACS,

I have had the honor to receive your letter of the 16th in reply to mine of the 14th of this month.

It having been the invariable desire of the United States to settle all differences with Spain on just and fair conditions; it is seen with much regret, that a similar disposition is not manifested on the part of your government.

Finding by your letter, that I had distinctly understood the views of your government, as explained by you, in our late conference, and stated in my last letter; and perceiving also, that you still adhere to those views, which, being altogether inconsistent with the rights of the United States, are inadmissible; I have to repeat that this government has no motive to continue the negotiation, on the subject of boundaries.

In making this frank declaration, I cannot avoid expressing my surprize, that you should now find it necessary to refer again to your government, for instructions on any part of this subject. These differences have long existed, and, as far back as 1805, were fully discussed, as you readily admit, in every circumstance appertaining to, or connected with them, in a special mission to Madrid for the purpose. It was hoped and expected, on the restoration of the diplomatic intercourse between the two nations, that you would have been invested with full powers to settle them; and, it was in accordance with your views, when this was found not to be the case, that the requisite authority was given to the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at Madrid. It could not have been doubted, as your government had not authorized its minister here to bring these controversies to a conclusion, that the minister of the United States would have been promptly met in his offers to effect it at Madrid. I need not repeat to you the great disappointment which the President felt, when, after the lapse of so much time, he was informed, that an expression of regret in my letter to you of the 20th of June, at the delay resulting from your want of powers, and from the necessity of transferring the negotiation to Madrid, had been misconstrued into a desire that it should be transferred again to the United States.

On examining, however, the tenor of your commission, and the communications between Mr. Erving and Mr. Cevallos, both of which seemed to contemplate a prompt conclusion of the business here; the idea now brought forward in your letter, of a further resort to your government for other instructions, was surely the last to enter into the anticipations of this government.

It is proper to add, that I understood you to coincide in our late conference, fully with me, in the sentiment, that any further discussion of subjects, which had been already so often discussed and completely exhausted, would be useless, since it could not be presumed that any change of opinion on any point, would take place on either side. Each party understands its rights, and has, doubtless, made up its mind as to the conditions it is willing to adopt. To those suggested by you, as being worthy the consideration of your government, this government cannot agree.

Under these circumstances, I have again to request that you will do me the honor to inform me, whether you are willing to conclude a convention, to provide indemnity for spoliations, and the suppression of the deposite at New-Orleans, as mentioned in my last letter.

I have the honor to be, with the most perfect consideration, sir, your very obedient servant.

JAMES MONROE.

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