Western Sun, Volume 2, Number 42, Vincennes, Knox County, 23 September 1809 — Page 1

WESTERN SUN.

VINCENNES, (I. T.) FROM THE PRESS OF E. STOUT.

Vol. II.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1809.

NO. 42.

Correspondence between the minister of

Joseph Bonaparte and the Suprme Jun-

to of Spain. We have procured a translation from

our Spanish papers of this interesting corres-

spondence, of which we had heard, but which we have not before seen in print. This Ian-

guage and the sentiments of the Junta must ring freshly to the recollection of every patriotic American, the language and fentimerits of that illustrious body, commonly termed the Old Congress, when under simiilar circumstances. Our firm and patriotic fathers refused to treat, without the acknowledgment of our independence, or the evacuation of our country, by the British fleets and armies. The Spaniards with equal wisdom and firmness, insist on the evatuition of their country by the French troods, and the restoration of their king ; as Without those two points being conceded any negociation would be useless for those two objects no equivalent could be offered fin negociation. We have always felt a Conidence in tlie ultimate fuccefs of the Spajitih caufe, and circumlhnces every day intreafe our confidence. Arcr. Ledg. rfanslated from Spanish papers received I j at the ojfice of the Puttie Ledger. j Skvii.lk, April 24. iy The enemy has written to gen. Gueita, Vf4clofing the following letter addrefled to is excellency the vice prefident of the Su1 4 rrme central Junta, and the junta has rei'olvcd to publiih it, together with the an-

,jr io it, which general gueita nas ucen

ircctcu to make.

Madrid, April 18.

vest excellent sir,

C THE great part of the ovincesof Spain have already felt the horJfid effects of a cotiquefr, and the rell are im

minently threatened to experience fhortly

tiie fam calamities. The unfortunate events

tf the 27th Sc 28th of March, in which the

f rr.iie-3 of the gens, Urbina Gurlla fuller-

tuconhdcrably, have ulled with conltenaticn k terror many honorable Spaniards who ftimiot fee with indifference t lie entire def-fritAir-M nf.Mir !!. -iVi-:) f nun'rv. 1 ll V 1) 3 V

vtyed tlie king to vouthfafe to put a ftcp j) the calamities which afilift the pravinces ccupied by French troops, 5c to Uve frotri Ve like misfortunes thofe provinces which J&e not a yet been occupied by them. f'fais majefly has acceded to their prayer?, W.vlhas in cuufequence fent me to this city

Hd inform your excellency thereof, having

lutimriieu mc to concert tue means oi oo-

Uamiug fo delirablc ar.J object, with the de fity or deputies, which the fupreme central

PU may :m:iK proper to commiUion to tin effect. I cannot fuppofr for a moment that your

Ocrilencv. or the Junta, over which veil

fide, will relate ta take a ttrp o.i which

rl.d?)3 drp?fi-5 the falvation of the Anda-

K;i, aril the Meity rt tie . .'.ole

i bnfir.r fa i moi important by its nature,

V.i very urgent

rould therefore be very inexpedient to attempt to enter into a difcutuon upon the fubject in writing, which would give rife to numberlefs replies and altercations, as ditFicult to prevent on paper, as eafy to avoid in a verbal conference. I thus promife myfelf from the enlightened mind and patriotifm of your excellency, and the junta, that you will appoint one or more peilons to treat with me on the fubjecl, and with them I will agree as to the place we are to hold our conferences. God preferve your excellency many years. (Signed) JOAQUIN MARIA SATELQ. To the ligniur prefident of the? fupreme central junta. J ORDER OF THE JUNTA TO GENERAL CUESTA. Royal Prlace of Seville, April 21. Most excellent sir, THE fupreme junta upon feeing the letter nddrellcd to the viceprefident of by don Juaquin Maiia Satclo, and the infidious propofals made to them on the part of the French government, have .immediately recollected the facrednefs of the character with wiHi. they are inverted, and the foltmnity of th'e -oath they have made to the naticiuwi j-Jaiiverfal approbation. If atJ. "in veiled wiih fullicient powers to treVf the lelloration of our beloved, king, "and of the immediate evactntion by the French troops of all the SpaniO) territory, let him make thofe powers known in the manner pra&ifed by all nations, and we will liilen to him in concert with our allies. Othenvife to junta cannot derogate from the high ftation in which it is placed, norac contrary to the national will ; which is not to lilten to any propofid, nor admit any truce, or enter into any negociation, but upon thofe two preliminary conditions which are grounded upon ctrrnal uecetlity and j u flier. Any other kind of negociation, would, without faving the (Ute, dilgrace the junta, who have bound themfelvcs in the mod folemn manner to bury themfelves in the ruins of the monarchy, fooner than liilen to any propofal derogatory to the honor and independence of the SpaniHi nation. His mtj-Uy defnes your excellency to exprefs to Satelo, his roy&l refulution, and C'j'um inJs me to communicate to you his royal order, for your information and obfcrvance. God preferve you many years. (Signed) MARTIN I)E GARY. Th: fignior den Gregaria Cuclh. Svvu.lt., May 8th. Secord later cf dm J.q-um Maria Satelo, ts t:.': - ez;:::.i if the Supreme Ccntrj. ej,i..:a. .I a Arril 27tl:, 1S09. ?I t excel.'. s: r', I n.i) j,' ger. Luelta, 1! n i - r - ' ' '' . '' i i

prcme junta has made to my letter cf the lOtliinll. and on perilling it, I cannot do lefs than make the following obfervattona to your excellency : 111. That the propofals contained In my faid letter cculd never defrrvc the epithet of iufidious. The avowed object of them is to remedy the evils which thofe provinces occupied by French troops have fufiered, and to 14 vc from limilar misfortunes thofe provinces which the French have not as yes occupied. Thsfe propofals were dircdll made to th government, through a general in their confidence ; a verbal conference U fuggclled to contert and agree upon the means to attain the objeel ; which means, before they could be brot into eflrdt mutt; neceflarily receive the fan&ion and approbation of the junta. The moft fcrupuloua delicacy cannot point out in the purport o fuch a piopofal, nor in the manner fuggefled to enter into the difcuflion, nor in ths channel thro' which it was directed to the government that kind of diflimulation, o cunning and artifice, thofe attempts at iVdition which would be neceflary to qualify ic as an iufidious overture. If the public good did not weigh more with me than the fuggeflion of felf love, I would have defiftcd from ailing further upon my comn)iflion not to run the rifk of being again charged with a reproach that 1 do not deferve. 2d. That I am well aware both of the obligations contracted by the Supreme Junta, at the time of its iuftallation, and off the great probity of the members who compoiV it, and, therefore, if I confidercd that the prcpofals I had to make, were any wife incomjktible with their character, I would not only do an injury to their honour, but that 1 wculu'jforfeit the good character which I havfeV - borne, and which I fuppofe the jufit liot hefitate in the leaffc io concede Ce. 3d 'and hit. 'Yim before treating of the mean?, it isntceflary to know whether youc excellency, and the body over which yoii prtfide willi to enter into the negociation. In that cafe the power of the negociator j will be fnft examined, and afterwards the reciprbcal conditions that will be propofed will bedifcufied on and agreed upon. This is the natural order of fuch negociations, and the IcaQ innovation in that order would be the more injurious, in proportion as tha matter in difcullion would be more delicate. What objection can the junta have, what: danger can they apprehend from likening through their deputies to thofe very things which they have no difficulty in reading themfelves ? I have already pointed one the inconvenience of carrying on the negociation by writing, and the very anfwer of your excellency, Ihews the iiripoifibility of avoiding, on paper, thofe miuiiterpretationsf which could not take place in a verbal conference, or if they did, would be tafily done away. Thus 1 take the liberty of calling ycur attention again to tny note of the ISth ir.H. If notwithstanding all that I have f..id,youi excellency, and the junta, will not condefteiul to the propeftd conference, I will, neveithelcfi;. hve I w s the 1-tisfactioa of having lought the welfare of my beloved country, although v.ith th'. grief cf having failing in my attempt, perhaps beciufe my iitei.tions have beep, dcfcrvcdly n;ifintcrpretf d. God preferve you mar-v yrars. fSi-ned) lOAOUIN M. SATELO.

Iw: ciiic.iri.t iinir vitc-prt i.-c:.:.

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