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Report on Negotiations with Spain, 18 March 1792

Report on Negotiations with Spain

The appointment of Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Short as Commissioners to negociate with the court of Spain a treaty or convention relative to the navigation of the Missisipi, and which perhaps may be extended to other interests, rendering it necessary that the subjects to be treated of should be developed, and the conditions of arrangement explained, the Secretary of state Reports to the President of the United States the following Observations on the subjects of negociation between the U.S. of America and the court of Spain, to be communicated by way of instruction to the Commissioners of the U.S. appointed as before-mentioned to manage that negociation.

These subjects are

  • I. Boundary.
  • II. The Navigation of the Missisipi.
  • III. Commerce.

I. As to Boundary, that between Georgia and Florida, is the only one which will need any explanation.—Spain sets up a claim to possessions within the state of Georgia, founded on her having rescued them by force from the British, during the late war. The following view of that subject seems to admit no reply.

The several states, now composing the U.S. of America, were, from their first establishment, separate and distinct societies, dependant on no other society of men whatever. They continued at the head of their respective governments the executive magistrate who presided over the one they had left, and thereby secured in effect a constant amity with that nation. In this stage of their government, their several boundaries were fixed, and particularly the Southern boundary of Georgia, the only one now in question, was established at the 31st. degree of latitude from the Apalachicola Westwardly;1 and the Western boundary, originally the Pacific ocean,2 was, by the treaty of Paris, reduced to the middle of the Missisipi. The part which our chief magistrate took in a war waged against us by the nation among whom he resided, obliged us to discontinue him, and to name one within every state.3 In the course of this war, we were joined by France as an ally, and by Spain and Holland as associates having a common enemy. Each sought that common enemy wherever they could find him. France, on our invitation, landed a large army within our territories, continued it with us two years, and aided us in recovering sundry places from the possession of the enemy,4 but she did not pretend to keep possession of the places rescued. Spain entered into the remote Western part of our territory, dislodged the common enemy from several posts they held therein, to the annoyance of Spain, and perhaps thought it necessary to remain in some of them, as the only means of preventing their return. We in like manner dislodged them from several posts in the same Western territory, to wit Vincennes, Cahokia, Kaskaskia &c., rescued the inhabitants, and retained constantly afterwards both them and the territory under our possession and government.5 At the conclusion of the war, Great Britain, on the 30th. of Nov. 1782. by treaty acknowleged our independance and our boundary, to wit, the Missisipi to the West, and the completion of the 31st. degree &c. to the South. In her treaty with Spain, concluded seven weeks afterwards, to wit, Jan. 20. 1783. she ceded to her the two Floridas, (which had been defined in the Proclamation of 1763.)6 and Minorca: and by the 8th. article of the treaty, Spain agreed to restore without compensation, all the territories conquered by her, and not included in the treaty either under the head of cessions or restitutions, that is to say, all except Minorca and the Floridas. According to this stipulation, Spain was expressly bound to have delivered up the possessions she had taken within the limits of Georgia to Great Britain, if they were conquests on Great Britain, who was to deliver them over to the U.S. or rather she should have delivered them to the U.S. themselves, as standing, quoad hoc, in the place of Gr. Britain: and she was bound by natural right to deliver them to the same U.S. on a much stronger ground, as the real and only proprietors of those places which she had taken possession of, in a moment of danger, without having had any cause of war with the U.S. to whom they belonged, and without having declared any: but on the contrary, conducting herself in other respects as a friend and associate. Vattel. L. 3. 122.

It is an established principle that Conquest gives only an inchoate right, which does not become perfect till confirmed by the treaty of peace, and by a renunciation or abandonment by the former proprietor. Had Gr. Britain been that former proprietor, she was so far from confirming to Spain the right to the territory of Georgia invaded by Spain, that she expressly relinquished to the U.S. any right that might remain in her, and afterwards completed that relinquishment by procuring and consolidating with it the agreement of Spain herself to restore such territory without compensation.—It is still more palpable that a war existing between two nations, as Spain and Gr. Britain, could give to neither the right to seize and appropriate the territory of a third, which is even neutral, much less which is an associate in the war, as the U.S. were with Spain. See on this subject Grotius L. 3. c. 6. §.26. Puffend. L. 8. c. 6. §.17. 23. Vattel L. 3. §.197. 198.

On the conclusion of the general peace, the U.S. lost no time in requiring from Spain an evacuation of their territory. This has been hitherto delayed by means which we need not explain to that court, but which have been equally contrary to our right and to our consent.

Should Spain pretend, as has been intimated, that there was a secret article of treaty between the U.S. and Gr. Britain, agreeing if, at the close of the war, the latter should retain the Floridas, that then the Southern boundary of Georgia should be the completion of the 32d. degree of North latitude, the Commissioners may safely deny all knolege of the fact, and refuse conference on any such postulatum. Or should they find it necessary to enter into argument on the subject, they will of course do it hypothetically; and in that way, may justly say on the part of the U.S. ‘suppose that the U.S. exhausted by a bloody and expensive war with G. Britain, might have been willing to have purchased peace by relinquishing, under a particular contingency, a small part of their territory, it does not follow that the same U.S. recruited and better organised, must relinquish the same territory to Spain, without striking a blow. The U.S. too have irrevocably put it out of their power to do it by a new constitution, which guarantees every state against the invasion of it’s territory. A disastrous war indeed might, by necessity, supercede this stipulation, (as necessity is above all law) and oblige them to abandon a part of a state. But nothing short of this can justify, or obtain such an abandonment.’

The Southern limits of Georgia depend chiefly on

  • 1. the Charter of Carolina to the Lords proprietors in 1663. extending Southwardly to the river Matheo, now called St. John’s, supposed in the charter to be in Lat. 31° and so West in a direct line as far as the South Sea. See the charter in 4.* Memoires de l’Amerique. 554.
  • 2. on the Proclamation of the British king in 1763. establishing the boundary between Georgia and the two Floridas, to begin on the Missisipi in 31.° of lat. North of the equator, and running Eastwardly to the Apalachicola; thence along the sd. river to the mouth of the Flint, thence, in a direct line, to the source of St. Mary’s river, and down the same to the ocean. This Proclamation will be found in Postlethwayte, voce ‘British America.’
  • 3. on the treaties, between the U.S. and Gr. Britain, of Nov. 30. 1782. and Sep. 3. 1783. repeating and confirming these antient boundaries.

There was an intermediate transaction, to wit, a Convention concluded at the Pardo in 1739. whereby it was agreed that Ministers plenipotentiary should be immediately appointed by Spain and Gr. Britain for settling the limits of Florida and Carolina. The Convention is to be found in the collections of treaties: but the proceedings of the Plenipotentiaries are unknown here. Qu. if it was on that occasion that the Southern boundary of Carolina was transferred from the latitude of Matheo or St. John’s river, further North to the St. Mary’s? or was it the Proclamation of 1763. which first removed this boundary? [If the Commissioners can procure in Spain, a copy of whatever was agreed on in consequence of the Convention of the Pardo, it is a desireable state-paper here.]

To this demonstration of our rights, may be added the explicit declaration of the court of Spain that she would accede to them. This took place in conversations and correspondence thereon between Mr. Jay, M. P. for the U.S. at the court of Madrid, the Marquis de la Fayette, and the count de Florida Blanca. Monsr. de la Fayette, in his letter of Feb. 19. 1783. to the Count de Florida Blanca, states the result of their conversations on limits in these words. ‘With respect to limits, his Catholic majesty has adopted those that are determined by the preliminaries of the 30th. of Nov. between the U.S. and the court of London.’ The Ct. de Florida blanca, in his answer of Feb. 22. to M. de la Fayette, says, ‘Altho’ it is his Majesty’s intentions to abide for the present by the limits established by the treaty of the 30th. of Nov. 1782. between the English and the Americans, the king intends to inform himself particularly whether it can be in any ways inconvenient or prejudicial to settle that affair amicably with the U.S.’ And M. de la Fayette in his letter of the same day to Mr. Jay, wherein he had inserted the preceding,7 says, ‘on recieving the answer of the Count de Florida Blanca (to wit, his answer beforementioned to M. de la Fayette) I desired an explanation respecting the addition that relates to the limits. I was answered that it was a fixed principle to abide by the limits established by the treaty between the English and the Americans: that his remark related only to mere unimportant details, which he wished to recieve from the Spanish Commandants, which would be amicably regulated, and would by no means oppose the general principle. I asked him before the Ambassador of France [M. de Montmorin] whether he would give me his word of honor for it? He assured me he would, and that I might engage it to the U.S.’ See the report sent herewith.

II. The Navigation of the Missisipi.

Our right to navigate that river, from it’s source to where our Southern boundary strikes it, is not questioned. It is from that point downwards only, that the exclusive navigation is claimed by Spain; that is to say, where she holds the country on both sides, to wit, Louisiana on the West, and Florida on the East.

Our right to participate in the navigation of that part of the river also, is to be considered under

  • 1. the Treaty of Paris of 1763.
  • 2. the Revolution treaty of 1782. 3.
  • 3. the law of Nature and Nations.

1. The war of 1755.-1763. was carried on jointly by Gr. Britain and the 13. colonies, now the U.S. of America, against France and Spain. At the peace which was negociated by our common magistrate, a right was secured to ‘the subjects of Gr. Britain (the common designation of all those under his government) to navigate the Missisipi, in it’s whole breadth and length, from it’s source to the sea; and expressly that part which is between the island of New Orleans, and the right bank of that river; as well as the passage both in and out of it’s mouth; and that the vessels should not be stopped, visited or subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever.’ These are the words of the treaty Article VII. Florida was at the same time ceded by Spain, and it’s extent Westwardly was fixed to the lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, and the river Missisipi: and Spain recieved soon after from France a cession of the island of New Orleans, and all the country she held Westward of the Missisipi: subject of course to our right of navigating between that country and the island, previously granted to us by France. This right was not parcelled out to us in severalty, that is to say, to each the exclusive navigation of so much of the river as was adjacent to our several shores, in which way it would have been useless to all; but it was placed on that footing, on which alone it could be worth any thing, to wit, as a right to all to navigate the whole length of the river in common. The import of the terms, and the reason of the thing, prove it was a right of common in the whole, and not a several right, to each, of a particular part. To which may be added the evidence of the stipulation itself, that we should navigate between New Orleans and the Western bank, which being adjacent to none of our states, could be held by us only as a right of common.—Such was the nature of our right to navigate the Missisipi, as far as established by the treaty of Paris.

2. In the course of the Revolution-war, in which the thirteen colonies, Spain and France were opposed to Great Britain, Spain took possession of several posts held by the British in Florida. It is unnecessary to enquire whether the possession of half a dozen posts scattered thro’ a country of seven or eight hundred miles extent, could be considered as the possession and conquest of that country. If it was, it gave still but an inchoate right, as was before explained, which could not be perfected but by the relinquishment of the former possessor at the close of the war. But certainly it could not be considered as a conquest of the river, even against Gr. Britain since the possession of the shores, to wit of the island of New Orleans on the one side, and Louisiana on the other, having undergone no change, the right in the water would remain the same, if considered only in it’s relation to them: and if considered as a distinct right, independant of the shores, then8 no naval victories obtained by Spain over Gr. Britain in the course of the war, gave her the colour of conquest over any water which the British fleet could enter. Still less can she be considered as having conquered the river as against the U.S. with whom she was not at war. We had a common right of navigation in the part of the river between Florida, the island of New Orleans and the Western bank, and nothing which passed between Spain and Gr. Britain, either during the war, or it’s conclusion, could lessen that right. Accordingly at the treaty of Nov. 1782. Gr. Britain confirmed the rights of the U.S. to the navigation of the river, from it’s source to it’s mouth, and in Jan. 1783. compleated the right of Spain to the territory of Florida, by an absolute relinquishment of all her rights in it. This relinquishment could not include the navigation held by the U.S. in their own right, because this right existed in themselves only, and was not in Gr. Britain. If it added any thing to the rights of Spain respecting the river between the Eastern and Western banks, it could only be that portion of right which Gr. Britain had retained to herself in the treaty with the U.S. held seven weeks before, to wit, a right of using it in common with the U.S.

So that as by the treaty of 1763. the U.S. had obtained a common right of navigating the whole river, from it’s source to it’s mouth; so by the treaty of 1782. that common right was confirmed to them by the only power who could pretend claims against them founded on the state of war. Nor has that common right been transferred to Spain by either conquest or cession.

But our right is built on ground still broader, and more unquestionable, to wit,

3. on the law of Nature and Nations.

If we appeal to this, as we feel it written in the heart of man, what sentiment is written in deeper characters, than that the Ocean is free to all men, and the Rivers to all their inhabitants? Is there a man, savage or civilized, unbiassed by habit, who does not feel and attest this truth? Accordingly, in all tracts of country united under the same political society, we find this natural right universally acknoleged and protected, by laying the navigable rivers open to all their inhabitants. When their rivers enter the limits of another society, if the right of the upper inhabitants to descend the stream is in any case obstructed, it is an act of force by a stronger society against a weaker, condemned by the judgment of mankind. The late case of Antwerp and the Scheld was a striking proof of a general union of sentiment on this point: as it is believed that Amsterdam had scarcely an advocate out of Holland. And even there it’s pretensions were advocated on the ground of treaties, and not of natural right.9 The Commissioners would do well to examine thoroughly what was written on this occasion. The Commissioners will be able perhaps to find either in the practice or the pretensions of Spain as to the Douro, Tagus and Guadiana, some acknolegements of this principle on the part of that nation.—This sentiment of right in favor of the upper inhabitants must become stronger in the proportion which their extent of country bears to the lower. The U.S. hold 600,000 square miles of habitable territory on the Missisipi and it’s branches; and this river and it’s branches affords many thousands of miles of navigable waters, penetrating this territory in all it’s parts. The inhabitable grounds of Spain below our boundary, and bordering on the river, which alone can pretend any fear of being incommoded by our use of the river, are not the thousandth part of that extent. This vast portion of the territory of the U.S. has no other outlet for it’s productions, and these productions are of the bulkiest kind. And in truth their passage down the river, may not only be innocent as to the Spanish subjects on the river, but cannot fail to enrich them far beyond their present condition. The real interests then of all the inhabitants, upper and lower, concur in fact with their rights.

If we appeal to the law of nature and nations, as expressed by writers on the subject, it is agreed by them that, were the river, where it passes between Florida and Louisiana, the exclusive right of Spain, still an innocent passage along it is a natural right in those inhabiting it’s borders above. It would indeed be what those writers call an imperfect right, because the modification of it’s exercise depends in considerable degree on the conveniency of the nation thro’ which they are to pass. But it is still a right as real as any other right however well defined: and were it to be refused, or to be so shackled by regulations not necessary for the peace or safety of it’s inhabitants, as to render it’s use impracticable to us, it would then be an injury, of which we should be entitled to demand redress. The right of the upper inhabitants to use this navigation is the counterpart to that of those possessing the shores below, and founded in the same natural relations with the soil and water, and the line at which their rights meet is to be advanced or withdrawn, so as to equalize the inconveniencies resulting to each party from the exercise of the right by the other. This estimate is to be fairly made, with a mutual disposition to make equal sacrifices, and the numbers on each side are to have their due weight in the estimate. Spain holds so very small a tract of habitable land on either side below our boundary, that it may in fact be considered as a streight of the sea. For tho’ it is 80. leagues from our boundary to the mouth of the river, yet it is only here and there, in spots and slips, that the land rises above the level of the water in times of inundation. There are then, and ever must be so few inhabitants on her part of the river, that the freest use of it’s navigation may be admitted to us without their annoyance. For authorities on this subject see Grot. ch. 12. c. 2. §.11. 12. 13. c. 3. §.7. 9. 12. Puffend. L. 3. c. 3. §.3. 4. 5. 6. Wolff’s inst. §.310. 311. 312. Vattel L. 1. §.292. L. 2. §.123. to 139.

It is essential to the interests of both parties that the navigation of the river be free to both, on the footing on which it was defined by the treaty of Paris, viz. thro’ it’s whole breadth. The channel of the Missisipi is remarkeably winding, crossing and recrossing perpetually from one side to the other of the general bed of the river. Within the elbows thus made by the channel, there is generally an eddy setting upwards, and it is by taking advantage of these eddies and constantly crossing from one to another of them, that boats are enabled to ascend the river. Without this right, the whole river would be impracticable both to the Americans and the Spaniards.

It is a principle that the right to a thing gives a right to the means without which it could not be used: that is to say, that the means follow their end. Thus a right to navigate a river, draws to it a right to moor vessels to it’s shores, to land on them in cases of distress, or for other necessary purposes &c. This principle is founded in natural reason, is evidenced by the common sense of mankind, and declared by the writers before quoted. See Grot. L. 2. c. 2. §.15. Puffend. L. 3. c. 3. §.8. Vattel L. 2. §.129. The Roman law, which, like other Municipal laws, placed the navigation of their rivers on the footing of nature, as to their own citizens, by declaring them public (’flumina publica sunt, hoc est, populi Romani.’10 Inst. 2. T. 1. §.2.) declared also that the right to the use of the shores was incident to that of the water. Ib. §.1. 3. 4. 5. The laws of every country probably do the same. This must have been so understood between France and Gr. Britain at11 the treaty of Paris, when a right was ceded to British subjects to navigate the whole river, and expressly that part between the island of New Orleans, and the Western bank, without stipulating a word about the use of the shores, tho’ both of them belonged then to France, and were to belong immediately to Spain. Had not the use of the shores been considered as incident to that of the water, it would have been expressly stipulated; since it’s necessity was too obvious to have escaped either party. Accordingly all British subjects used12 the shores habitually for the purposes necessary to the navigation of the river: and when a Spanish governor undertook, at one time, to forbid this, and even cut loose the vessels fastening to the shores, a British frigate went immediately, moored itself to the shore opposite the town of New Orleans, and set out guards with orders to fire on such as might attempt to disturb her moorings. The Governor acquiesced; the right was constantly exercised afterwards, and no interruption ever offered.

This incidental right extends even beyond the shores when circumstances render it necessary to the exercise of the principal right, as in the case of a vessel damaged, where the mere shore would not be a safe deposit for her cargo till she could be repaired; she may remove it into safe ground off the river. The Roman law shall be quoted here too, because it gives a good idea of the extent, and the limitations13 of this right. Inst. L. 2. T. 1. §.4. ‘riparum quoque usus publicus est, ut volunt jura gentium, sicut et ipsius fluminis usus publicus est. Itaque et navigium ad ripas appellere, et funes de arboribus ibi natis religare, et navis onera in his locis reponere, liberum cuique est: sicuti nec per flumen ipsum navigare quisquam prohibetur.’ And again §.5. ‘litorum quoque usus publicus, sive juris gentium, est, ut et ipsius maris: et ob id data est facultas volentibus, casas ibi sibi componere, in quas se recipere possint &c.’ Again §.1. ‘Nemo igitur ad litora maris accedere prohibetur: veluti deambulare, aut navem appellere, sic tamen ut a villis, id est domiciliis, monumentisque ibi positis, et ab aedificiis abstineat, nec iis damnum inferat.’10

Among incidental rights, are those of having pilots, buoys, beacons, landmarks, lighthouses, &c. to guide the navigators. The establishment of these at joint expence, and under joint regulations, may be the subject of a future convention. In the mean time both should be free to have their own, and refuse those of the other both as to use and expence.

Very peculiar circumstances attending the river Missisipi require that the incidental right of accomodation on the shore, which needs only occasional exercise on other rivers, should be habitual and constant on this. Sea vessels cannot navigate that river, nor the river vessels go to sea. The navigation would be useless then, without an entrepot where these vessels might safely deposit their own cargoes, and take those left by the others, and where warehouses and keepers might be constantly established for the safeguard of the cargoes. It is admitted indeed that the incidental right thus extended into the territory of the bordering inhabitants, is liable to stricter modifications, in proportion as it interferes with their territorial right. But the inconvenience of both parties are still to have their weight, and reason and moderation on both sides are to draw the line between them. As to this, we count much on the liberality of Spain, on her concurrence in opinion with us that it is for the interest of both parties to remove completely this germ of discord from between us, and draw our friendship as close as circumstances proclaim that it should be, and on the considerations which make it palpable that a convenient spot placed under our exclusive occupation, and exempted from the jurisdiction and police of their government, is far more likely to preserve peace, than a mere freeport, where eternal altercations would keep us in eternal ill humour with each other. The policy of this measure, and indeed of a much larger concession, having been formerly sketched in a paper of July 12. 1790. sent to the Commissioners severally, they are now referred to that.

If this be agreed to, the manner of fixing on that extra-territorial spot, becomes highly interesting. The most desireable to us would be a permission to send Commissioners to chuse such spot, below the town of New Orleans, as they should find most convenient.

If this be refused, it would be better now to fix on the spot. Our information is, that the whole country below the town, and for 60. miles above it, on the Western shore, is low, marshy, and subject to such deep inundation, for many miles from the river, that, if capable of being reclaimed at all by banking, it would still never afford an entrepot sufficiently safe: that, on the Eastern side, the only lands below the town, not subject to inundation, are at the Detour aux Anglois, or English turn, the highest part of which is that whereon the fort Ste. Marie formerly stood. Even this is said to have been raised by art, and to be very little above the level of the inundations. This spot then is what we would fix on, if obliged now to decide, with from one to as many square miles of the circumjacent lands as can be obtained, and comprehending expressly the shores above and below the site of the fort as far as possible.—But as to the spot itself, the limits, and even whether it shall be extra-territorial, or only a freeport, and what regulations it shall be laid under, the convenience of that government is entitled to so much respect and attention, on our part, that the arrangement must be left to the management of the Commissioners, who will doubtless use their best efforts to obtain all they can for us.

The worst footing on which the determination of the ground could be placed, would be a reference to joint Commissioners: because their disagreement, a very probable, nay a certain event, would undo the whole convention, and leave us exactly where we now are. Unless indeed they will engage to us, in case of such disagreement, the highest grounds at the Detour aux Anglois, of convenient extent, including the landings and harbour thereto adjacent. This would ensure us that ground, unless better could be found, and mutually preferred; and close the delay of right under which we have so long laboured, for peace sake.

It will probably be urged, because it was urged on the former occasion, that if Spain grants to us the right of navigating the Missisipi, other nations will become entitled to it, by virtue of treaties giving them the rights of the most favored nation.

Two answers may be given to this. 1. When those treaties were made, no nations could be under contemplation but those then existing, or those, at most, who might exist under similar circumstances. America did not then exist as a nation: and the circumstances of her position and commerce are so totally dissimilar to every thing then known, that the treaties of that day were not adapted to any such being. They would better fit even China than America; because, as a manufacturing nation, China resembles Europe more. When we sollicited France to admit our whale oils into her ports, tho’ she had excluded all foreign whale oils, her minister made the objection now under consideration, and the foregoing answer was given. It was found to be solid, and the whale oils of the U.S. are, in consequence, admitted, tho’ those of Portugal and the Hanse towns, and of all other nations are excluded. Again, when France and England were negociating their late treaty of commerce, the great dissimilitude of our commerce, (which furnishes raw materials to employ the industry of others, in exchange for articles whereon industry has been exhausted) from the commerce of the European nations (which furnishes things ready wrought only) was suggested to the attention of both negotiators, and that they should keep their nations free to make particular arrangements with ours, by communicating to each other only the rights of the most favored European nation. Each was separately sensible of the importance of the distinction: and as soon as it was proposed by the one, it was acceded to by the other, and the word European was inserted in their treaty. It may fairly be considered then as the rational and received interpretation of the diplomatic term ‘gentis amicissimae’10 that it has not in view a nation, unknown in many cases at the time of using the term, and so dissimilar in all cases, as to furnish no ground of just reclamation to any other nation.

2. But the decisive answer is that Spain does not grant us the navigation of the river. We have an inherent right to it: and she may repel the demand of any other nation by candidly stating her act to have been, what in truth it is, a recognition only, and not a grant.

If Spain apprehends that other nations may claim access to our ports in the Missisipi, under their treaties with us, giving them a right to come and trade in all our ports, tho’ we would not chuse14 to insert an express stipulation against them, yet we shall think ourselves justified to acquiesce in fact under any regulations, Spain may, from time to time, establish against their admission.

Should Spain renew another objection which she relied much on before, that the English, at the revolution treaty, could not cede to us what Spain had taken from them by conquest, and what of course they did not possess themselves, the preceding Observations furnish sufficient matter for refutation.

To conclude the subjects of boundary and navigation, each of the following conditions is to be considered by the Commissioners as a sine quâ non.

  • 1. That our Southern boundary remain established at the completion of 31. degrees of latitude on the Missisipi, and so on to the Ocean as has been before described, and our Western one along the Middle of the channel of the Missisipi, however that channel may vary, as it is constantly varying, and that Spain cease to occupy, or to exercise jurisdiction in, any part Northward or Eastward of these boundaries.
  • 2. That our right be acknoleged of navigating the Missisipi, ‘in it’s whole breadth and length, from it’s source to the sea,’ as established by the treaty of 1763.15
  • 3. That neither ‘vessels,’ cargoes, or the persons on board ‘be stopped, visited or subjected to the payment of any duty whatsoever.’ Or if a visit must be permitted, that it be under such restrictions as to produce the least possible inconvenience. But it should be altogether avoided, if possible, as the parent of perpetual broils.
  • 4. That such conveniences be allowed us ashore, as may render our right of navigation practicable, and under such regulations as may bonâ fide respect the preservation of peace and order alone, and may not have in object to embarras our navigation, or raise a revenue on it. While the substance of this article is made a sine quâ non, the modifications of it are left altogether to the discretion and management of the Commissioners.

We might add, as a 5th. sine quâ non, that no phrase should be admitted in the treaty, which would express or imply that we take the navigation of the Missisipi as a grant from Spain. But, however disagreeable it would be to subscribe to such a sentiment, yet were the conclusion of a treaty to hang on that single objection, it would be expedient to wave it, and to meet, at a future day, the consequences of any resumption they may pretend to make, rather than at present those of a separation without coming to any agreement.16

We know not whether Spain has it in idea to ask a compensation for the ascertainment of our right.

  • 1. In the first place, she cannot in reason ask a compensation for yielding what we have a right to, that is to say, the navigation of the river, and the conveniences incident to it of natural right.
  • 2. In the second place, we have a claim on Spain for indemnification for nine years exclusion from that navigation, and a reimbursement of the heavy duties (not less, for the most part, than 15. per cent on extravagant valuations) levied on the commodities she has permitted to pass to N. Orleans. The relinquishment of this will be no unworthy equivalent for any accomodations she may indulge us with beyond the line of our strict right: and this claim is to be brought into view in proper time and manner merely to be abandoned in consideration of such accomodations.—We have nothing else to give in exchange. For as to territory, we have neither the right, nor the disposition to alienate an inch of what belongs to any member of our union. Such a proposition therefore is totally inadmissible, and not to be treated of for a moment.17

III. On18 the former conferences on the navigation of the Missisipi, Spain chose to blend with it the subject of Commerce, and accordingly specific propositions thereon passed between the negociators. Her object then was to obtain our renunciation of the navigation, and to hold out commercial arrangements, perhaps, as a lure to us; perhaps however she might then, and may now, really set a value on commercial arrangements with us, and may recieve them as a consideration for accomodating us in the navigation, or may wish for them, to have the appearance of recieving a consideration. Commercial arrangements, if acceptable in themselves, will not be the less so, if coupled with those relating to navigation and boundary. We have only to take care that they be acceptable in themselves.

There are two principles which may be proposed as the basis of a commercial treaty. 1. that of exchanging the privileges of native citizens. Or 2. those of the most favored nation.

  • 1. With the nations holding important possessions in America, we are ready to exchange the rights of native citizens; provided they be extended thro’ the whole possessions of both parties. But the propositions of Spain, made on the former occasion, (a copy of which accompanies this) were, that we should give their merchants, vessels, and productions the privilege of native merchants, vessels and productions, thro’ the whole of our possessions; and they give the same to ours, only in Spain and the Canaries. This is inadmissible because unequal: and as we believe that Spain is not ripe for an equal exchange on this basis, we avoid proposing it.
  • 2. Tho’ treaties, which merely exchange the rights of the most favored nations, are not without all inconvenience, yet they have their conveniences also. It is an important one, that they leave each party free to make what internal regulations they please, and to give what preferences they find expedient to native merchants, vessels and productions. And as we already have treaties on this basis with France, Holland, Sweden and Prussia, the two former of which are perpetual, it will be but small additional embarrasment to extend it to Spain. On the contrary, we are sensible it is right to place that nation on the most favored footing, whether we have a treaty with them or not: and it can do us no harm to secure, by treaty, a reciprocation of the right.

Of the four treaties beforementioned, either the French or the Prussian, might be taken as a model. But it would be useless to propose the Prussian, because we have already supposed that Spain would never consent to those articles which give to each party access to all the dominions of the other: and, without this equivalent, we would not agree to tie our own hands so materially in war as would be done by the 23d. article, which renounces the right of fitting out privateers, or of capturing merchant vessels.—The French treaty therefore is proposed as the model. In this however the following changes are to be made.

We should be admitted to all the dominions of Spain, to which any other foreign nation is, or may be, admitted.

Art. 5. being an exemption from a particlar duty in France, will of course be omitted, as inapplicable to Spain.

Art. 8. to be omitted as unnecessary with Marocco, and inefficacious and little honorable, with any of the Barbary powers. But19 it may furnish occasion to sound Spain on the project of a Convention of the powers at war with the Barbary states, to keep up, by rotation, a constant cruize, of a given force, on their coasts, till they shall be compelled to renounce for ever, and against all nations, their predatory practices. Perhaps the infidelities of the Algerines to their treaty of peace with Spain, tho’ the latter does not chuse to break openly, may induce her to subsidize us, to cruize against them with a given force.

Art. 9. and 10. concerning fisheries, to be omitted as inapplicable.

Art. 11. The first paragraph of this article, respecting the Droit d’Aubaine, to be omitted: that law being supposed peculiar to France.

Art. 17. Giving asylum in the ports of either to the armed vessels of the other, with the prizes taken from the enemies of that other, must be qualified as it is in the 19th. art. of the Prussian treaty;20 as the stipulation in the latter part of the article ‘that no shelter or refuge shall be given in the ports of the one, to such as shall have made prize on the subjects of the other of the parties’ would forbid us, in case of a war between France and Spain, to give shelter in our ports to prizes made by the latter on the former, while the first part of the the article would oblige us to shelter those made by the former on the latter; a very dangerous covenant, and which ought never to be repeated in any other instance.

Art. 29. Consuls should be received at all the ports at which the vessels of either party may be received.

Art. 30. concerning Freeports in Europe and America. Freeports in the Spanish possessions in America, and particularly at the Havanna, San Domingo in the island of that name, and St. John of Porto Rico, are more to be desired than expected. It can therefore only be recommended to the best endeavors of the Commissioners to obtain them. It will be something to obtain for our vessels, flour &ca. admission to those ports, during their pleasure.21. In like manner, if they could be prevailed on to reestablish our right of cutting logwood in the bay of Campeachy, on the footing on which it stood before the treaty of 1763. it would be desireable, and not endanger to us any contest with the English, who, by the revolution treaty, are restrained to the South Eastern parts of Yucatan.

Art. 31. The act of ratification on our part may require a twelve-month from the date of the treaty, as the Senate meets, regularly, but once a year, and to return it to Madrid for exchange may require four months more. It would be better indeed if Spain would send her ratification to be exchanged by her representative here.22

The treaty must not exceed 12. or 15 years duration,23 except the clauses relating to boundary and the navigation of the Missisipi, which must be perpetual and final. Indeed these two subjects had better be in a separate instrument.

There might have been mentioned a Third species of arrangement, that of making special agreements, on every special subject of commerce, and of settling a tariff of duty to be paid on each side, on every particular article. But this would require, in our Commissioners, a very minute knolege of our commerce; as it is impossible to foresee every proposition, of this kind, which might be brought into discussion, and to prepare them for it by information and instruction from hence. Our commerce too is, as yet, rather in a course of experiment, and the channels in which it will ultimately flow are not sufficiently known to enable us to provide for it, by special agreement: nor have the exigencies of our new government, as yet, so far developed themselves, as that we can tell to what degree we may, or must, have recourse to Commerce, for the purposes of revenue. No common consideration therefore ought to induce us, as yet, to arrangements of this kind. Perhaps nothing should do it, with any nation, short of the privileges of natives, in all their possessions, foreign and domestic.24

It were to be wished indeed that some positively favorable stipulations respecting our grain, flour, and fish, could be obtained, even on our giving reciprocal advantages to some other commodities of Spain, say her wines and brandies. But 1. if we quit the ground of the most favored nation, as to certain articles for our convenience, Spain may insist on doing the same for other articles for her convenience; and thus our Commissioners will get themselves on the ground of a treaty of detail, for which they will not be prepared. 2. if we grant favor to the wines and brandies of Spain, then Portugal and France will demand the same: and in order to create an equivalent, Portugal may lay a duty on our fish and grain, and France a prohibition on our whale oils, the removal of which will be proposed as an equivalent.

Thus much however, as to grain and flour, may be attempted. There has, not long since, been a considerable duty laid on them in Spain. This was while a treaty on the subject of commerce was pending between us and Spain, as that court considers the matter. It is not generally thought right to change the state of things, pending a treaty concerning them. On this consideration, and on the motive of cultivating our friendship, perhaps the Commissioners may induce them to restore this commodity to the footing on which it was on opening the conferences with Mr. Gardoqui on the 26th. day of July 1785.—If Spain says, ‘do the same by your tonnage on our vessels,’ the answer may be that our foreign tonnage affects Spain very little, and other nations very much: whereas the duty on flour in Spain affects us very much, and other nations very little. Consequently there would be no equality in reciprocal relinquishment, as there had been none in the reciprocal innovation: and Spain by insisting on this, would in fact only be aiding the interests of her rival nations, to whom we should be forced to extend the same indulgence. At the time of opening the conferences too, we had as yet not erected any system, our government itself being not yet erected. Innovation then was unavoidable on our part, if it be innovation to establish a system. We did it on fair and general ground: on ground favorable to Spain. But they had a system, and therefore innovation was avoidable on their part.’25

It is known to the Commissioners that we found it expedient to ask the interposition of France lately to bring on this settlement of our boundary, and the navigation of the Missisipi. How far that interposition has contributed to produce it, is uncertain. But we have reason to believe that her further interference would not produce an agreeable effect on Spain. The Commissioners therefore are to avoid all further communications on the subject with the Ministers of France giving to them such explanations as may preserve their good dispositions. But if ultimately they shall26 find themselves unable to bring Spain to agreement on the subjects of navigation and boundary, the interposition of France, as a mutual friend, and the guarantee of our limits, is then to be asked, in whatever light Spain may chuse to consider it.

Should the Negociations, on the subject of navigation and boundary, assume, at any time, an unhopeful aspect, it may be proper that Spain should be given to understand that, if they are discontinued, without coming to any agreement, the government of the U.S. cannot be responsible for the longer forbearance of their Western inhabitants27 At the same time the abandonment of the negociation should be so managed, as that, without engaging us to a further suspension of the exercise of our rights, we may not be committed to resume them in the instant. The present turbid situation of Europe cannot leave us long without a safe occasion of resuming our territory and navigation, and of carving for ourselves those conveniences on the shores which may facilitate and protect the latter effectually and permanently.

We had a right to expect that, pending a negociation, all things would have remained in statu quo, and that Spain would not have proceeded to possess herself of other parts of our territory. But she has lately taken and fortified a new post at the Walnut hills above28 the mouth of the Yazoo river, and far29 above the 31st. degree. This garrison ought to30 have been instantly dislodged, but for our wish to be in friendship with Spain, and our confidence in her assurances ‘to abide by the limits established in our treaty with England.’ Complaints of this unfriendly and uncandid procedure, may be brought forward, or not, as the Commissioners shall see expedient.

Th: Jefferson
Mar. 18. 1792.

* Mr. Short is desired to purchase this book at Amsterdam, or Paris, as he may not find it at Madrid, and when it shall have answered the purposes of this mission, let it be sent here for the use of the Secretary of state’s office.

PrC of final draft (DLC); entry in SJPL: “Report Th:J. Observations on subjects of negociation with Spain as instructions. Documents accompanyg. it. viz. proceedings of Congress in 1782. on same subject.—do. in 1785.—Gardoqui’s propositions and other papers. Florida Blanca—Fayette: Jay’s transfer of negociation to new government 1788. McIntosh’s letter of Nov. 15. 81.”; all brackets inserted by TJ. Dft (same); on a separate sheet TJ provided translations of Latin passages referred to in the report (see note 10 below). Tr (DNA: RG 59, SDR). PrC of extract of last two paragraphs of Report in DLC: TJ Papers, 72:12491. On this same day TJ wrote to Van Staphorst and Hubbard in Amsterdam requesting them to deliver to Short “this packet under cover to you” personally or through some person designated by Short, and urging them “not to let it go out of your hands till you receive his orders for it” (PrC in DLC; Tr in DNA: RG 59, DCI). A note in a clerk’s hand dated 19 Mch. 1792 states that “The Commission for Messrs. Wm. Carmichael and William Short for forming certain treaties with Spain was dated the 18. Inst. and sent under cover thro’ Mr. Remsen at N York to Messrs. van Staphorst & Hubbard Bankers at Amsterdam” (N in ViW). See TJ to Remsen, 18 Mch. 1792.

TJ’s report on negotiations with Spain was prepared with his usual care and inspired by his conviction that opening the Mississippi to American trade was necessary to strengthen the ties that bound the West to the union (see Editorial Note on threat of disunion in the West, at 10 Mch. 1791, for an extended analysis of the political and diplomatic background of TJ’s policy toward Spain). Yet there is general agreement among Jefferson scholars that this document is one of TJ’s less impressive state papers. This assessment stems from the fact that the official American position on the disputed southwestern boundary with Spain was so weak and the official Spanish position on the navigation of the Mississippi so strong, in relation to prevailing standards of international law and diplomacy, that TJ was obliged to support American claims on these two issues with arguments that were often more ingenious than persuasive. In regard to the former, TJ’s argument in favor of the 31° boundary between the United States and West Florida was vitiated by the fact that Spain could point to a 1764 commission issued under the authority of George III that made a line of 32° 26’ the northern boundary of that colony—a commission Great Britain did not nullify when she ceded West Florida to Spain in 1783. With respect to the latter, TJ’s contention that the United States had a natural right to the free navigation of the Mississippi from the source to the sea was contrary to generally accepted principles of international law, which did not admit the right of a riparian state to the free navigation of a river beyond its boundaries. In addition to problematical defenses of American claims, TJ’s instructions to Carmichael and Short also failed to achieve their intended effect because of a crucial shift in the European balance of power. Spain, which had agreed to negotiate in 1791 because of the mistaken apprehension that the United States and Great Britain were about to effect a rapprochement at her expense, was just on the verge of entering into an alliance with Britain against revolutionary France when Short finally arrived in Madrid in February 1793 to begin his joint mission with Carmichael. Secure in this alliance, Spain steadfastly refused for the remainder of TJ’s tenure as Secretary of State to accept any of the claims made in this report, thereby frustrating TJ’s efforts to reach a negotiated settlement (Samuel F. Bemis, The American Secretaries of State and their Diplomacy, 10 vols. [New York, 1927–1929], ii, 44–51; Bemis, Pinckney’s Treaty description begins Samuel Flagg Bemis, Pinckney’s Treaty: America’s Advantage from Europe’s Distress, 1783–1800, rev. edn., New Haven, 1960 description ends , p. 40–5, 163–72; Malone, Jefferson description begins Dumas Malone, Jefferson and his Time, Boston, 1948-1981, 6 vols. description ends , ii, 406–11; Peterson, Jefferson description begins Merrill D. Peterson, Thomas Jefferson and the New Nation, New York, 1970 description ends , p. 456–7; A. Berriedale Keith, Wheaton’s Elements of International Law, 2 vols. [London, 1929], 6th ed., i, 385).

France did not pretend to keep possession of the places rescued by her forces on the North American continent during the Revolutionary War because in the 1778 Treaty of Alliance she had pledged not to make any territorial acquisitions at the expense of the United States (Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, 8 vols. [Washington, D.C., 1931–1948], ii, 38). TJ conveniently ignored the fact that George III’s proclamation of 1763, which set the northern boundary of West Florida between the Mississippi and the Chattahoochee at 31°, was superseded in the following year by a supplementary royal commission to the governor of that colony, which enlarged West Florida by making its northern boundary a line between the same two rivers at approximately 32° 26’. Since the peace treaty between Great Britain and Spain in 1783 did not define the boundaries of West Florida, in striking contrast to the treaty between Great Britain and the United States, Spain had ample legal justification for denying American claims to the more southerly boundary (Bemis, Pinckney’s Treaty description begins Samuel Flagg Bemis, Pinckney’s Treaty: America’s Advantage from Europe’s Distress, 1783–1800, rev. edn., New Haven, 1960 description ends , p. 41–3; Cecil Johnson, British West Florida 1763–1783 [New Haven, 1943], p. 5–7). The preliminary treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain did indeed contain a secret article, which the Continental Congress refused to ratify, stating that if the British recovered West Florida from the Spanish before the war ended, its northern boundary would be the same as that set forth in the royal commission of 1764. The American peace commissioners agreed to the inclusion of this article in the belief that it would be in the interest of the United States for West Florida to be under the control of the British, who recognized the right of the United States to navigate the Mississippi from the source to the sea, rather than the Spanish, who did not. TJ obviously wanted the Spanish to ignore this rejected article because it compromised American boundary claims in the southwest (Miller, Treaties, ii, 101, 105; Richard B. Morris, The Peacemakers: The Great Powers & American Independence [New York, 1965], p. 344–5, 441–3). TJ was needlessly concerned about the Convention of the Pardo because the joint commission it established to deal with the disputed boundary between Florida and Georgia, as well as other points of conflict between Great Britain and Spain that eventually led to the so-called War of Jenkins’ Ear, failed to resolve any of these issues. It was the famous proclamation of 1763 that extended Georgia’s southern boundary to the St. Mary’s river (John Tate Lanning, The Diplomatic History of Georgia: A Study of the Epoch of Jenkins’Ear [Chapel Hill, N.C., 1936], p. 124–73, 235). The report sent herewith was an extract of a 17 Aug. 1786 report by then Secretary for Foreign Affairs John Jay to the Continental Congress on the status of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Spain (ASP, description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Washington, Gales & Seaton, 1832–61, 38 vols. description ends Foreign Relations, i, 250–1). TJ’s account of the 1783 correspondence between Lafayette and the Spanish Secretary for Foreign Affairs Floridablanca is misleading on two points. John Jay was not involved in these conversations, and Lafayette’s letter of the same day to Mr. Jay was in fact a note added by Lafayette to Floridablanca’s letter to him of 22 Feb. 1783. Lafayette did, however, retain copies of all three documents cited by TJ for the use of Jay, who at the time was both a peace commissioner in Paris and minister to Spain (Stanley J. Idzerda and others, eds., Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution [Ithaca, N.Y., 1977-], iv, 99–106).

In the late case of Antwerp and the Scheld the Emperor Joseph II in 1784–1785 led the abortive effort to secure the right of free navigation for the Austrian Netherlands on the Scheldt, which was closed by treaty to Imperial ships from Antwerp to the sea. TJ was particularly interested in this precedent because the Emperor’s contention that the closing of the Scheldt violated natural law foreshadowed TJ’s own defense of the American right to navigate the Mississippi. Simon Nicholas Henri, an Imperial publicist, developed the argument from natural law for opening the Scheldt in Dissertation sur l’ouverture et la navigation de l’Escaut (Brussels, 1784) and Nouvelles considérations sur l’ouverture de l’Escaut (Brussels, 1784), and TJ probably had these works in mind when he urged Carmichael and Short to examine thoroughly what was written on this occasion (S. T. Bindorf, The Scheldt Question to 1839 [London, 1945], p. 100–7, 129–43; Walter W. Davis, Joseph ii: An Imperial Reformer for the Austrian Netherlands [The Hague, 1974], p. 120–33). TJ’s description of the incident at New Orleans involving the Spanish governor and the British Frigate was based upon a memorandum containing an account of these events by Philip Barbour, a long-time resident of West Florida, that James Madison prepared for TJ’s use about this time (MS in DLC: TJ Papers, 80: 13911; printed in Rutland, Madison, xiv, 242). The paper of July 12. 1790. was in fact an opinion on American policy during the Nootka Sound crisis that TJ submitted to the President alone. At that time TJ actually sent Carmichael and Short a 2 Aug. 1790 outline of policy on the Mississippi in which he suggested that Spain cede to the United States all the territory she claimed east of the Mississippi in return for an American guarantee of all Spanish possessions west of it (see Documents i, ii, and vi in Editorial Note and group of documents on the war crisis of 1790, at 12 July 1790).

The former conferences were John Jay’s futile efforts to resolve Spanish-American differences through direct negotiations with Don Diego Gardoqui during the last four years of the Confederation Congress (Bemis, Pinckney’s Treaty description begins Samuel Flagg Bemis, Pinckney’s Treaty: America’s Advantage from Europe’s Distress, 1783–1800, rev. edn., New Haven, 1960 description ends , p. 60–108). The enclosed propositions consisted of a summary of the terms offered by Gardoqui for a treaty of commerce between the United States and Spain that Jay submitted to the Continental Congress on 3 Aug. 1786 (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, D.C., 1904–37, 34 vols. description ends , xxxi,, 477–8; ASP, description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Washington, Gales & Seaton, 1832–61, 38 vols. description ends Foreign Relations, i, 249–50).

1In Dft, TJ first wrote “Missisipi Eastwardly,” then modified it to read as above.

2Preceding four words interlined in Dft.

3This sentence, from page 2 of the Dft, is a substitute for “Circumstances obliging us afterwards to discontinue our foreign magistrate, and to name one within every state, this brought on us a war on the part of the former magistrate, supported by the nation among whom he resided.” See Hamilton’s Notes on Report of Instructions for the Commissioners to Spain, with Jefferson’s Comments, 1–5 Mch. 1792.

4In Dft, TJ first wrote “and finally in capturing <their> one whole <armies> army,” but struck it out after Hamilton questioned its accuracy.

5Preceding two sentences were substituted in Dft for “Spain entered, without leave, into our territory, took several posts in possession of the common enemy, abandoned some, and retained others. This conduct afforded us just cause of war against Spain but that was not a moment to go to war with our associates.”

6In Dft, parenthetical phrase originally read: “being the country South of Georgia.”

7In Dft, the sentence to this point originally read: “And Mr. Jay in his Report to Congress of Aug. 17. 1786. after inserting those letters,” deleted.

8Text from “Gr. Britain” to this point interlined on page 11 in Dft to rebut Hamilton’s criticism of TJ’s reference to Spanish naval victories. The insertion is a modification of the comment TJ wrote in the margin of Hamilton’s notes.

9In Dft, this sentence interlined as a continuation of the preceding one, and the following sentence written in margin opposite reference to case of Antwerp and the Scheldt.

10On a separate sheet, TJ appended the following: “Translations of passages in the Instructions of Mar. 18. 1792. to Carmichael and Short ‘Flumina publica &c.’ ‘rivers belong to the public, that is to say to the Roman people.’ ‘Riparum &c.’ ‘The use of the banks belongs also to the public, by the law of nations, as the use of the river itself does. Therefore every one is free to moor his vessel to the bank, to fasten his cables to the trees growing on it, to deposit the cargo of his vessel in those places: in like manner as every one is free to navigate the river itself.’ ‘Littorum &c.’ ‘The use of the shores also belongs to the public, or is under the law of nations, as is that of the sea itself. Therefore it is that those who chuse have a right to build huts there, into which they may betake themselves.’ ‘Nemo &c.’ ‘Nobody therefore is prohibited from landing on the sea-shore, walking there, or mooring their vessel there, so nevertheless that they keep out of the villas, that is, the habitations, monuments and public buildings erected there, and do them no injury.’ ‘Gentis amicissimae.’ ‘The most favored nation.’” (Dft in DLC: TJ Papers, 72:12519).

11In Dft, text from Vattel citation above (Vattel L. 2. §.129) to this point was written in margin below sketch of Mississippi. “Thus by” deleted here to join following text with this sentence.

12Preceding sentence and first five words of this sentence interlined in Dft as substitute for “Yet we always used,” deleted.

13TJ inserted the remainder of this paragraph and the one following in the margin of Dft, with slightly different wording.

14This paragraph written in margin of page 22 in Dft, and this word substituted for “wish” as TJ noted in margin to Hamilton’s comment on the statement. In Dft, TJ also deleted “to pass through” after “admission.”

15On page 23 of Dft, TJ responded to Hamilton’s criticism by deleting the original condition number 3, which read as follows: “That no phrase be admitted in the treaty which would express or imply that we take this by grant from Spain.” He then renumbered the following two paragraphs, and interlined a new one as indicated in following note.

16TJ added this paragraph to Dft after Hamilton questioned the wisdom of making this stipulation a sine qua non.

17See TJ’s comment on Hamilton’s note about this part of page 25 of the Dft, 1–5 Mch. 1792, as well as Memoranda of Consultations with the President, 11 Mch.-9 Apr. 1792. This is one of the two points over which TJ took strong issue with Hamilton.

18Beginning with this paragraph, the 7 Mch. 1792 report to the President was comprised of this section on commerce as far as the text indicated by note 26. TJ introduced it as follows:

“March 7th. 1792

“The Secretary of State having understood from communications with the Commissioners of his Catholic Majesty, subsequent to that which he reported to the President on the 22d. of December last, that though they considered the navigation of the Missisippi as the principal object of negociation between the two Countries, yet it was expected by their Court that the conferences would extend to all the matters which were under negociation on the former occasion with Mr. Gardoqui, and particularly to some arrangements of commerce, is of opinion that to renew the conferences on this subject also, since they desire it, will be but friendly and respectful, and can lead to nothing without our own consent, and that to refuse it, might obstruct the settlement of the questions of navigation and boundary: and therefore reports, To the President of the United States, the following

“Observations and Instructions to the Commissioners of the United States, appointed to negociate with the Court of Spain a treaty or convention relative to the navigation of the Missisippi; which observations and instructions he is of opinion should be laid before the Senate of the United States, and their decision be desired, whether they will advise and consent that a treaty be entered into by the Commissioners of the United States with Spain conformable thereto.

“After stating to our commissioners the foundation of our rights to navigate the Missisippi, and to hold our Southern boundary at the 31st. degree of latitude, and that each of these is to be a sine qua non, it is proposed to add as follows.”

The report concluded with the text described in note 25 below. (Dft in DLC; entirely in TJ’s hand; last paragraph represents beginning and ending of that portion of the draft report of instructions on negotiations with Spain that TJ wanted put into this report isolating for Senate approval the subject of commerce. RC in DNA: RG 59, MLR; entirely in Remsen’s hand, except for signature; docketed by Lear: “Report of the Secretary of State on the subject of commerce with Spain. 7th March 1792”; with enclosure: “Articles proposed by Don Diego Gardoqui to be inserted in the Treaty with the United States”. PrC of RC in DLC; not signed. Tr in DNA: RG 59, SDR; copy of the PrC of RC, but does not include the Gardoqui statement. Tr in DLC: Washington Papers; at top of text of report is a covering letter dated 7 Mch. 1792 from Washington to the Senate submitting the report for their consideration and asking their advice and consent “to the extension of the powers of the Commissioners as proposed and to the ratifycation of a treaty which shall conform to those instructions …” At top of the copy is a note stating that the “following Message and Report were this day laid before the Senate.” This transcript included the Gardoqui statement and the whole was part of the proceedings of the first session of the second Congress. Tr’s of covering note from Washington to the Senate in DLC and MoSHI).

19Remainder of paragraph interlined in Dft.

20Remainder of paragraph on page 28 of Dft originally read: “as the stipulation therein entered into by the U.S. and France towards each other, is, in it’s nature, exclusive and incommunicable to any other.” When Hamilton questioned this, TJ modified statement to read as above.

21Much of this paragraph interlined in Dft. Remainder of paragraph written in margin of page 28 of Dft and keyed for insertion at this point.

22This paragraph interlined in Dft to accommodate partially Hamilton’s observation on time requirements for ratification. Last sentence not included in 7 Mch. 1792 report to the President.

23The figures for the years and the remainder of paragraph added at a late stage in Dft. They were left blank in 7 Mch. 1792 report to the President.

24The next two paragraphs were added at this point in Dft as a response to Hamilton’s suggestion that commodities be included in any treaty of commerce with Spain, and they constituted the end of the 7 Mch. 1792 report to the President. See textual note 3 at Hamilton’s Notes on Report of Instructions for the Commissioners to Spain, with Jefferson’s Comments, 1–5 Mch. 1792.

25Text of 7 Mch. 1792 report to the President ends here.

26Text from comma in preceding sentence to this point interlined in Dft for the following deleted words: “unless intervening circumstances should have rendered it acceptable to Spain, or unless they should.”

27Before submitting the Dft to Hamilton, TJ had deleted the following phrase at this point: “nor inattentive to their rights.” Hamilton expressed agreement with this deletion in his notes on the draft.

28Preceding four words interlined in Dft.

29Preceding two words substituted in Dft for “miles,” deleted.

30Preceding two words substituted in Dft for “would,” deleted.

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