Page:Memoir upon the negotiations between Spain and the United States of America which led to the treaty of 1819.djvu/132

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bf our weakness, became every day more daring, and had scarcely taken possession of Louisiana, when they demanded as a part of it, the territory be- tween the river Mermenta and the Sabine, of which possession had not been given at its delivery. Our commandants of Tehas, without force to defend this territory, made a convention with the United States, in which it was stipulated that the whole of the country should remain neutral and unoccupied by either power; and although our government did hot sanction this convention, it appears from the fact of their not having afterwards occupied the country, that they tacitly acknowledged it. I will not stop to enumerate here the infinite prejudices which we have sustained from this, since it is no- torious that it is in that country, all the armaments have been fitted out that have invaded the kingdom of Mexico: I will merely remark, that this confir- mation of our weakness discovered to the United States, that they might, without risk, attempt to unite to their territory, those possessions of the mo- narchy which most flattered their wishes.

The revolution in Spain, and our struggle with the usurper of the throne, presented them a fa- vourable occasion for it, which they did not lose. They began by exciting a party at Baton Rouge against the authorities of the king: they persuaded them to declare their independence, and to solicit their aggregation to the Republick; and this Re

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