John Jay Papers

To John Jay from Diego de Gardoqui, 19 September 1788

From Diego de Gardoqui

Nueva York 19. de Septiembre de 1788.

Mui Señor mio. Mis ultimos achaques me han privado de contextar à la appreciable de V.S. de 5. del Corriente con la puntualidad que acostumbro, pero me aprovecho del primero Momento, para acusar su Rezivo con los Extractos No. 1. 2. 3. y 4., que se sirbe incluirme de Orden del Honorable Congreso.

Tendrè particular cuidado de Remitirlos à S. M. por primera ocacion, como pruevas de la atencion de este Govierno para la continuacion de Amistad que felizmente subsiste entre S. M. y los Estados Unidos.

No obstante permitame V.S que añada para que lo Represente al Honorable Congreso, que tengo Razones suficientos para crèr, que permanecen aùn varios de los Mismos Malevolos Compañeros del que diò lugar à dichos Extractos y que hàn tenido Repetidas Juntas ocultas en un Sitio llamado The North Fork, que creo ès en la Carolina Septentrional, y aunque por mis informes los miro despreciables, no dejo de sentir los motivos justos que tengo de Recelar que hai Sugetos Respetables en aquellas vezindades, que sino los apoyan, à los menos los consienten.

Me aprovecho asimismo de esta ocacion para acusar el Rezivo de la apreciable de V.S. de 16. del Corriente, en que me incluie Copias del Extracto de la Asemblea de la Georgia de 30. de Enero de este año, y de la Carta de Nuestro Governador de la Florida de 12. de Diciembre de 1784 y en que, entre otras cosas, me pide que contribuia al Remedio de los inconvenientes que acontecen en aquella Frontera.

Lo que V. S. me expone, y lo que dirè mas abaxo, son otras tantas pruevas de lo que en mis varios oficios hè expuesto al Honorable Congreso sobre la urgente Necesidad de que no se difiriese el arreglo de los derechos de ambas Naciones sobre principios de equidad, y Justicia, à cuio fin se dignò comisionarme el Rey mi Amo con la disposicion mas generosa para con los Estados Unidos, y V.S. sabe bien, que por mi parte siempre hè estado pronto a trabaxar en una obra tan importante, como loable.

A pesar de que esta dilacion perjudica gravemente à los Vassallos de S. M. particularmente del estado Mercantil, cuia balanza està contra España, sin la menor Necesidad, no solo permite su Real benevolencia la introduccion de todos los productos de los Estados Unidos sin innovar los Reglamentos que existian antes de la Guerra, sino que, sobre las muchas anteriores, hà dado ultimamente otra Nueva prueva de liberalidad, Reduciendo por su poderosa influxo à que los Yndios Creckes que se hallan baxo de su Real proteccion convengan en la cesacion de hostilidades para tratan el acomodo de las diferencias que tienen con el Estado de la Georgia, de suerte que pueden asegurarse los Estados Unidos, que deben à las expresas ordenes que diò S. M. à los Comandantes de aquellas Fronteras, el que se haia atajado la efusion de sangre que causaba una Nacion aguerrida, y enconada con la Georgia.

Estoì tan persuadido de la generosidad, y Rectitud con que el Rey mi Amo quiere que se observen los derechos de buena vezindad, que V. S. me asequra de parte del Honorable Congreso, que como se me afianze la Reciprocidad, me animarè à pactar à nombre de S. M., el que no se protexeran ni abrigaràn en los Dominios de unos, ni otros los Malhechores que se hubiesen huido, ô Retirado de los del otrom, y que sus personas seràn buscadas, y entregadas, siempre que se Reclame con todos los efectos, bienes, Alaxas, ô Embarcaciones que hubiesen llevado consigo suios, ô agenos, sin dilacion, ni dificultad alguna, y sin otra deduccion que la se los Gastos que hubiesen causado en su busca, y entrega, procediendo en todo con la Mexor buena fè.

Considerando que este ès el unico medio para cortar las continuas calamidades que ocurren en aquellas Fronteras, pido à V. S. que lo Represente al Honorable Congreso, y que añada otra miu lastimosa, de que acabo de tener aviso, en la muerte atroz cometida por ciertos Ludovico y Guillermo Ashely sobre la persona de Henrrique O’Neille Comisionado por Nuestro Governador de la Florida en la parte Española del Rio Santa Maria, asi como otra no menos horrible cometida, segun mis informes, por dos nombrados Murees, sobre un Juan Hartley Residente tambien baxo de la proteccion de España, de cuios hechos espero que el Honorable Congreso harà que se dè la Satisfaccion que pide una injuria tan Notoria, como iniqua

Descanso en que V.S. promoverà el Remedio de tantos males, y deseo que los Estados Unidos contribuian por su parte àque el celo de S.M. por el bien de la humanidad tenga el debido efecto sin dilacion. Quedo con toda estimacion, y Respeto B. L. M. de V. S. su mas obed.te y seg.ra Serv.r

Diego de Gardoqui

Señor Dn. Juan Jay Ministro de Negocios Estranxeros de los Estados Unidos de America

[Translation]

New York 19th: September 1788.

Sir,

My late Indisposition has prevented my answering your Favor of the 5th. of this Month with usual Punctuality, but I embrace the moment to acknowledge its Receipt with the Extracts No. 1. 2. 3. & 4. which you was pleased to enclose to me by Order of the Honorable Congress.1

I shall take particular Care to transmit them to his Majesty by the first Opportunity as Proofs of the Attention of this Government to the Continuance of the Friendship which so happily subsists between his Majesty and the United States.

Permit me nevertheless to add, that it may be represented to Congress, that I have sufficient Reasons to believe, that there still remains many of the same illdisposed Associates who have given Occasion to the said Extracts, and who have held repeated private Meetings in the Place called The North Fork, which I believe is in North Carolina, and although, according to my Advices, I regard them as contemptible, I cannot forbear to feel the Force of the just Reasons which I have to suspect that there are some respectable Citizens in those Neighbo^u^rhoods, who if they do not assist, at least countenance them.

I profit at the same Time of this Opportunity to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favor of the 16th. of this Month, in which you enclose me Copies of an Extract from the Assembly of Georgia of the 30th. January of this Year, and of the Letter from our Governor of Florida of the 12th. December 1784, and in which, among other Things, you desire me to promote the remedying of the Inconveniences, which happen on that Frontier.2

What you mention to me, and what you observe more below, are so many Proofs of what I have represented to Congress in my various Communications respecting the Necessity of not deferring the Regulation of the Rights of both Nations on Principles of Equity and Justice; For which purpose the King my Master, with the most generous Disposition towards the United States, was pleased to Commission me— And you know that for my Part, I have always been ready to apply to a Work, which is as important as it is commendable.

Notwithstanding this Delay greatly injures the Subjects of his Majesty, particularly the Commercial Part, whose Balance is against Spain, yet without the least Necessity, his royal Benevolence not only permits the Introduction of all the Productions of the United States without altering the Regulations which existed before the War, but also in Addition to the many former ones, he has lately given this new Proof of his Liberality by prevailing by his powerful Influence on the Creek Indians, who are under his royal Protection, to agree to a Cessation of Hostilities, for treating about an Accommodation of their Differences with the State of Georgia— so that he can assure the United States that they owe to the express Orders given by his Majesty to the Commandants on that Frontier, the ceasing of that Effusion of Blood, which was caused by a Nation warlike and embittered with Georgia.

I am so well persuaded of the Generosity and Rectitude with which the King my Master desires to maintain the Rights of good Neighborhood, which you assure me of on the Part of the Honorable the Congress, that provided they assure to me Reciprocity, I shall be encouraged to contract in the Name of his Majesty, that there shall not be protected nor countenanced in the Dominions of the one nor of the other, the Malefactors who have fled or retired from the one or the other, & that their Persons shall be apprehended and delivered as soon as demanded, with all their Effects, Goods, Money or Vessels, which they may have taken with them their own or other’s, without Delay or any Difficulty and without other Deduction than that of the Charges they may have occasioned by their being apprehended and delivered; proceeding in all Things with the greatest good Faith.

Considering that this is the only Way to check the continual Calamities which happen on those Frontiers, I request you to represent to the Honorable Congress, and to add another deplorable one, of which I am just informed, in the atrocious Murder committed by certain Lodewyck and William Asheley, on the Person of Henry O’Neille commissioned for our Governor of Florida in the Spanish part of the River St: Mary, as well as another not less horrible, committed, according to my Information, by two of the Name of Murces, on one John Hartley, also a Resident under the Protection of Spain, for which Acts I hope that the Honorable Congress will cause that Satisfaction to be given, which an Injury so notorious as well as iniquitous demands.

Confiding that you will promote the Remedying of such Evils, and desirous that the United States will on their Part contribute that the Zeal of his Majesty for the good of Humanity may have its due Effect without delay I remain with all Esteem & Respect, &c.3

(signed) Diego De Gardoqui

LS, in Spanish, with English translation, DNA: PCC, item 97, 222–32 (EJ: 03653). LbkC, in Spanish, with English translation, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 446–52 (EJ: 02320); LbkC of translation, DNA: PCC, item 125, 171–74 (EJ: 03740).

1See JJ’s letter of 5 Sept., Dft, NNC (EJ: 05845); LbkCs, with enclosures, DNA: PCC, item 125, 161–68 (EJ: 03737); DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 434–43 (EJ: 02316). Enclosures: extract of Secretary at War Henry Knox to the President of Congress, 25 Jan. 1788; extract of Knox to General Josiah Harmar, 14 Nov. 1787; extract of Harmar to Knox, 15 June 1788; and Lieutenant John Armstrong’s report to Major John P. Wyllys, 28 Apr. 1788; DC description begins William A. Weaver, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, 10th September, 1783, to the Adoption of the Constitution, March 4, 1789 (7 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1833–34) description ends , 6: 255–61. These documents dealt with unrest along the western frontier, and responded in part to inflammatory letters of John Sullivan, and to reports of possibilities of coups in Kentucky and in the state of Franklin. Armstrong, sent to investigate, reported that no British agents were then at work in Franklin and that there were two factions there, one in favor of becoming a new state and one opposed, which led to violence. He also reported that various Indian nations were planning a general campaign along the frontier in the summer.

2See JJ’s letter of 16 Sept., enclosing an extract of minutes of the Georgia assembly, 30 Jan. 1788, and a letter from the governor of Florida of 12 Dec. 1787, concerning asylum given slaves who escaped to Florida from border states. Dft, NNC (EJ: 05847); LbkCs, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 444–46 (EJ: 02318); DNA: PCC, item 125, 169–70 (EJ: 05847).

3JJ transmitted Gardoqui’s letter to the president of Congress on 22 Sept. LS, DNA: PCC, item 80, 3: 589–90 (EJ: 00367); LbkC, DNA: Domestic Letters description begins Domestic Letters of the Department of State, 1784–1906, RG 59, item 120, National Archives (M40). Accessed on Fold3.com. description ends , 3: 452 (EJ: 02321). The letter was read in Congress on 23 Sept. and referred back to JJ to report. No further action was taken. For the transfer of all the Spanish negotiations to the new U.S. government, see JJ to Gardoqui, 17 Oct. 1788, below.

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