Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 19 November 1805
Notes on a Cabinet Meeting
Nov. 19. present the same. since our last meeting we have recd a letter from Genl. Armstrong containing Taleyrand’s propositions, which are equivalent to ours nearly except as to the sum, he requiring 7. M. D. he advises that we alarm the fears of Spain by a vigorous language & conduct, in order to induce her to join us in appealing to the interference of the Emperor. we now agree to modify our proposns so as to accomodate them to his as much as possible. we agree to pay 5. Mil. D. for the Floridas as soon as the treaty is ratified by Spain, a vote of credit obtd. from Congress, & orders delivd us for the surrender of the country. we agree to his proposn that the Colorado shall be our Western boundary, & a belt of 30. leagues on each side of it be kept unsettled. we agree that joint Commrs. shall settle all spolians, & to take paimt. from Spain by bills on her colonies. we agree to say nothing about the French spolians in Span. ports, which broke off the former conventn. we propose to pay the 5. Mills. after a simple vote of credit, by stock redeemable in 3. years, within which time we can pay it.
We agree to orders to the commandg officer at Natchitoches to patrole the country on this side the Sabine & all the red river as being in our possn except the settlemt. of Bayou Pierre which he is not to disturb unless they aggress. he is to protect our citizens & repel all invasions of the preceding country by Span. souldiers, to take all offenders without shedding blood unless his orders cannot otherwise be excuted.
MS (DLC: TJ Papers, 131:22677); entirely in TJ’s hand; follows, on same sheet, Notes on a Cabinet Meeting of 12 Nov.
present the same: that is, the four department heads, as at the 12 Nov. meeting.
In a letter of 10 Sep. to Madison, John Armstrong discussed conversations he held with an emissary of Talleyrand conveying the terms by which France might be induced to mediate an agreement between Spain and the United States. Armstrong enclosed two documents, the first being a translation of an informal proposal, the original of which had been in Talleyrand’s hand, and the second being notes of a follow-up conversation held with the emissary, whom Armstrong identified as “M.” According to the proposal, settlement of outstanding issues with Spain as well as acquisition of both Floridas would entail a guarantee of trading privileges for France and Spain in the acquired territories, a western boundary set at the Colorado River with a permanent ban on settlement within 30 leagues of that river, Spanish spoliations debts paid by bills on the Spanish colonies, and a $10 million payment by the United States to Spain. During a conversation held on 4 Sep., Armstrong informed “M” that the proposed terms sacrificed three of the four points of controversy between the United States and Spain and determined the fourth in a manner mostly to Spain’s benefit. “M” responded by outlining the advantages of consolidating such a wide expanse of territory and removing all doubts as to boundaries “amicably & honorably—without disturbing for a moment the tranquility of your people.” After Armstrong argued that France could have no legitimate complaint about the use of force to fulfill U.S. territorial and financial claims against Spain, “M” suggested that Armstrong’s real objection must be to the proposed payment of $10 million. Lowering the figure to $7 million would enable the payment of spoliations claims and leave $4 million more for Spain. Armstrong would, however, “say nothing on the subject of money” (DNA: RG 59, DD, France; , 10:313-14).