State of the Union Addresses (1790-2008)United States. Presidents
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State of the Union Addresses (1790-2008)
United States. Presidents
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
It will be seen by the documents transmitted herewith that the
declaration mentioned relates to a clause in the 8th article concerning
certain grants of land recently made by His Catholic Majesty in Florida,
which it was understood had conveyed all the lands which until then had
been ungranted; it was the intention of the parties to annul these
latter grants, and that clause was drawn for that express purpose and
for none other. The date of these grants was unknown, but it was
understood to be posterior to that inserted in the article; indeed, it
must be obvious to all that if that provision in the treaty had not the
effect of annulling these grants, it would be altogether nugatory.
Immediately after the treaty was concluded and ratified by this
Government an intimation was received that these grants were of anterior
date to that fixed on by the treaty and that they would not, of course,
be affected by it. The mere possibility of such a case, so inconsistent
with the intention of the parties and the meaning of the article,
induced this Government to demand an explanation on the subject, which
was immediately granted, and which corresponds with this statement.
With regard to the other act alleged, that this Government had tolerated
or protected an expedition against Texas, it is utterly without
foundation. Every discountenance has invariably been given to any such
attempt within the limits of the United States, as is fully evinced by
the acts of the Government and the proceedings of the courts. There
being cause, however, to apprehend, in the course of the last summer,
that some adventurers entertained views of the kind suggested, the
attention of the constituted authorities in that quarter was immediately
drawn to them, and it is known that the project, whatever it might be,
has utterly failed.
These facts will, it is presumed, satisfy every impartial mind that the
Government of Spain had no justifiable cause for declining to ratify the
treaty. A treaty concluded in conformity with instructions is
obligatory, in good faith, in all its stipulations, according to the
true intent and meaning of the parties. Each party is bound to ratify
it. If either could set it aside without the consent of the other, there
would be no longer any rules applicable to such transactions between
nations.
By this proceeding the Government of Spain has rendered to the United
States a new and very serious injury. It has been stated that a minister
would be sent to ask certain explanations of this Government; but if
such were desired, why were they not asked within the time limited for
the ratification?
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